The small island of El Hierro in the Canary Islands has been put on a yellow volcano warning by the government.  This action follows a series of “earthquake swarms” that have occurred in the last few months on the island with one recording a level of 3.8 in magnitude recently.  Tourists and residents near the foot of the Volcano have been evacuated as a precaution.  150 tremors have been recorded on the island since yesterday, promting fears of volcanic activity and possible landslides and residents of the island have been put on standby for possible evacuation procedures.

El Hierro has over 200 small volcanic craters on the island, with the last eruption occurring back in 1973 creating lava flows.  A geological survey on the island has been underway during the last month to try to determine the cause of the frequent tremors.  The Canary Islands actually owe their existence to volcanic activity as they are all volcanic in origin, due to their position on the African plate on which they sit.  Despite these current warnings for El Hierro, La Palma is actually the most active of the Canary Islands with regards to tectonic activity and the last volcanic eruption here was in 1971.

The goverment has played down any talk of disaster and has stressed the ‘yellow’ alert is precautionary to ensure safety of the island’s inhabitants and they have been reassuring residents that the raised alert level does not indicate that an eruption is imminent.

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The Canary Islands have over 900 miles of coastline which, together with the great weather conditions, make them the ideal location for scuba diving. The waters here are some of the clearest in the world as there is very little plankton produced in the area.

The ocean here benefits from the Gulf Stream giving the waters a low of 19C in the winter and up to 25C in the summer. The water becomes cooler as you get further away from the African Coast making it cooler off El Hierro than off Lanzarote. The difference in temperature affects the different species of marine life seen. You will see tropical and sub-tropical North Atlantic species and Mediterranean species.

Diving in Fuerteventura

With water temperatures ranging from 18C in the winter to 24C in the summer, this is the ideal place for both beginners and advanced divers. There are lots of different sites here including reef, wrecks and drop offs. Amongst the marine life here are octopus, barracudas, moray eels and sea bream.

Diving in Gran Canaria

Again an ideal location for all grades of diver as the ocean temperature stays between 20C and 24C all year round. In the east of the island is the Marine reserve at Arinaga, in the south there are wrecks, reefs, walls and caves, while in the north there are reefs and wrecks. Marine life here includes loggerhead turtles, angel sharks, rays, sting rays, bull rays, octopus, barracuda, octopus, sea horses, trumpet fish, parrot fish, groupers and puffers.

Diving in Tenerife and Lanzarote

Both of these islands have lots of sites ranging from house reef dives and wrecks, to wall dives night dives. Once more both are ideal locations for all grades of diver as the ocean temperature stays between 20C and 24C all year round. Life under the water includes octopus, moray eels, barracuda, sea bream and much more.

Diving in La Palma

With ideal visibility all year round many of the fish here swim close to the surface giving a great opportunity for snorkellers. Whilst diving in the caves, canyons and tunnels you will meet rays, moray eels, trumpet fish, groupers, barracudas and in the summer you may even see tuna and turtles.

Diving in La Gomera

There are only a few dive centres here but like the other islands there is an abundance of marine life to be seen, including rays, moray eels, trumpet fish, groupers, barracudas and in the summer you may even see tuna and turtles. Again with clear visibility all year round many of the fish here swim close to the surface giving a great opportunity for snorkellers.

Diving in El Hierro

Here you will find 25 sites and several dive centres. The main diving is from the village of La Restinga which is a protected marine park. El Hierro became a marine sanctuary in 1996 and in 2000 was also declared a UNESCO biosphere reservation.

Diving is something that can be enjoyed by all the family so why not take a look at the many last minute holiday deals that are around.

With much more to do and see please visit my Canary Islands blog for more information on this beautiful group of islands.