La Catedral

The reference line lands on the shallowest shelf of the massif, and from there your guide picks a route through the rock depending on the day's conditions. The volcanic rock here is contorted into shapes that read as almost gothic, which is where the name comes from. Arches lead into vaulted caverns. Narrow dykes drop through chimneys carved almost straight down toward sand. The full formation runs from about 6 metres to somewhere past 40, and the deepest chimneys are where the cathedral shape really shows. Nitrogen narcosis and disorientation are real risks this far down in a maze of passages, so this isn't a dive to do without a guide who already knows the layout. Currents pick up near the shipping channel to the east, which your guide will time the entry around rather than leave to chance.

Every account of this site treats it the same way, geology first and marine life second. The rock is the draw: an eroded volcanic mass carved into arches, vaulted chambers and near-vertical dykes that genuinely earn the cathedral comparison. Sunlight through the cave openings catches divers' attention too, enough that it's been singled out as a spot worth bringing a camera. There's no ship history here, unlike its wreck-diving neighbours nearby, just a rock formation that's breathtaking on its own terms. It's also one of the more actively dived entries in the area. Buceo Canarias, Buceo Norte and Karapat Dive all run trips out to it.

Bring a torch and a DSMB. Both are standard kit here given the cave terrain and depth, and nitrox is worth arranging too if your agency allows it at this range. Visibility swings from around 15 metres in winter to 30 or more in summer, when the water also runs warmest. Weather rules this dive more than most. It only goes ahead when conditions allow, sometimes as rarely as once a month, and Buceo Canarias itself won't guarantee availability in advance. Treat it as a book-ahead-and-confirm dive rather than something to add on the day. The boat ride out runs 25 to 40 minutes depending on which port you leave from.