La Herradura

La Herradura is situated to the west, just two minutes by boat from the port of La Restinga, making it one of the closest dive sites within the Marine Reserve of the Sea of Calms.

This diving area is suitable for exploration both on the flat coastal lava plateau and down deeper the slope for encounters with larger pelagic marine life over enormous boulders scattered over a white sandy bottom. We begin by gently cruising on the flat rocky ground towards the slope where, with a bit of luck and a good eye, there are good chances of spotting pelagics in the bluw. The view of the sandy bottom down below indicates it is time to turn west, getting back to the rocky platform to then zigzag canyons on a big U-turn shaped like a horseshoe, hence the name of this dive site. Among these sunbathed shallow canyons, we will lazily drift back towards the boat, where the surrounding low walls full of crevices host many of the Macaronesian sea life, all cohabiting around sandy patches and shady cavities that serve as protection and food source.

In the shallower areas, we observe plenty of Juvenile Ornate Wrasses, White and Banded sea breams and Cowbreams, Dusky Grouper, Trumpet and Parrotfish. These areas are also home to more solitary animals such as large Groupers, Spiny Pufferfish, Perch, Lobsters, and all types of Moray Eels. The ocean depths allow us to spot all types of Rays, Bogues, Jacks, Greater Amberjacks, Barracudas, and even, if you visit between May and October, encounters with Mobula Rays and other types of pelagics.

Conditions at La Herradura are optimal for diving year-round, occasionally having mild to moderate marine currents on days with extreme tidal cycles. On windy days and with ground swell, entry gets more challenging and visibility diminishes, but it can still be possible to make and enjoy the dive with more experienced divers. Visibility in these waters ranges from 10 to more than 30 meters.

Any level of certification and experience, whether beginner or advanced diver, is suitable for this dive site with good conditions, with a depth limit of up to 30 meters.