What is the water temperature in the Canary Islands by month?

The sea swings only about 5–6°C across the year. It bottoms out around 18–19°C in February and March, climbs through 20–21°C in early summer, and peaks at roughly 23–24°C in September and October before cooling gradually through late autumn. Because the ocean lags the air, the warmest water arrives in early autumn rather than mid-summer, and the coldest in late winter rather than January.

What wetsuit do I need for the Canary Islands?

In late summer and autumn (August–October), most divers are comfortable in a 3–5mm suit. Spring, early summer, and late autumn call for a 5mm. In late winter (January–April), a 7mm — or a 5mm with a hooded vest — is the sensible choice, especially if you're doing multiple dives a day, since cold builds cumulatively. If you tend to run cold, size up a season; rental stock at local dive centers generally reflects these ranges.

When is visibility best for diving in the Canary Islands?

Visibility is good year-round — typically in the 15–30 metre range — because the volcanic islands have little runoff to cloud the water. The most consistently clear stretches come during settled periods in late summer and autumn. The worst days follow big winter swells that stir up shallow sandy sites. Day-to-day sea state matters more than the calendar month, so trust your local operator's daily site choice.

When can you see angel sharks in the Canary Islands?

The prime window runs roughly from November to April, when critically endangered angel sharks move onto shallow sandy bottoms and sightings on the right sites become realistic rather than lucky. Sightings taper off as the water warms in late spring. Angel sharks are strictly protected — never touch, chase, or disturb one — and no season guarantees an encounter; wild animals keep their own calendars.

What is the single best month to dive the Canary Islands?

If forced to pick one, September or October: the sea is at its 23–24°C peak, summer crowds have thinned, seas are typically settled, visibility is often at its best, and prices begin to soften. That said, divers chasing angel sharks should aim for the cooler months instead, and May–June offers similar calm with better value. There is no bad month — only mismatched expectations.

Trip Planning

Best Time to Dive the Canary Islands: Month-by-Month Guide

Q: Can you dive in the Canary Islands in winter?

Yes, comfortably. Winter water sits around 18–20°C, which a 7mm wetsuit — or a 5mm with a hooded vest — handles well; a drysuit is a comfort option, not a requirement. Sheltered south and southwest coasts stay diveable on most days even when Atlantic swell closes out the north shores. Winter is also the prime season for angel shark sightings, and the islands are quieter and cheaper than in summer.

Canary Divers · Updated 2026-07-19 · 6 min read

Best Time to Dive the Canary Islands: Month-by-Month Guide

In shortYou can dive the Canary Islands year-round — there is no closed season. Water ranges from roughly 18–19°C in late winter to 23–24°C in September–October, which is the warmest, most settled window and the pick for easy diving. Winter (November–April) is prime time for angel shark sightings, while May–June and November–December offer the best value with fewer crowds. Match the month to your priority: warmth, wildlife, or price.

Contents

When Is the Best Time to Dive the Canary Islands?
Why the Canaries Are a Year-Round Dive Destination
Canary Islands Water Temperature by Month
The Diving Year, Season by Season
Visibility: What to Expect and When
Can You Dive in the Canary Islands in Winter?
Matching the Month to Your Priorities

When Is the Best Time to Dive the Canary Islands?

The short answer: you can dive the Canary Islands all year round, and the "best" month depends on what you want from the trip. Water temperatures typically range from around 18–19°C in late winter to 23–24°C in late summer and early autumn, and there is no true off-season. For the warmest water and the most settled conditions, September and October are hard to beat. For the famous angel shark encounters, the cooler months from roughly November to April are the prime window. For budget and crowd reasons, late spring and late autumn shoulder seasons often deliver the best overall value.

That's the summary. The rest of this guide breaks down water temperature, visibility, swell, marine life, and crowds month by month, so you can match your trip to your priorities rather than to a generic "best time" that may not fit them.

Why the Canaries Are a Year-Round Dive Destination

The archipelago sits off the coast of northwest Africa at roughly the same latitude as the Sahara, but the surrounding Atlantic is moderated by the cool Canary Current. The result is a famously mild, stable marine climate: the sea never gets tropical-bathtub warm, but it never gets genuinely cold either.

Three practical consequences follow:

No closed season. Dive centers across the islands operate every month of the year.
Modest seasonal swing. The difference between the coldest and warmest sea temperatures is only about 5–6°C — you adjust your wetsuit, not your travel dates.
Conditions vary more by coast than by month. On any given day, a sheltered south or southwest coast usually offers diveable conditions even when the north side of the same island is blown out. Which island you choose matters as much as when you go — our comparison of all seven islands for diving covers that side of the decision.

Canary Islands Water Temperature by Month

Exact figures vary slightly by island and by year, but the pattern below is reliable. Note that the sea lags the air: the coldest water arrives in late winter (February–March) and the warmest in early autumn (September–October), not in mid-summer.

Month	Typical water temp	Suggested exposure suit
January	19–20°C	7mm, or 5mm + hooded vest
February	18–19°C	7mm, or 5mm + hooded vest
March	18–19°C	7mm, or 5mm + hooded vest
April	18–20°C	5–7mm
May	19–20°C	5mm
June	20–21°C	5mm
July	21–22°C	5mm
August	22–23°C	3–5mm
September	23–24°C	3–5mm
October	23–24°C	3–5mm
November	21–22°C	5mm
December	20–21°C	5mm

Suit suggestions are conservative, because most divers do two or three dives a day on a Canaries trip and cold builds cumulatively. If you run cold, size up a season; local rental stock generally reflects these ranges.

The Diving Year, Season by Season

January to March: Coolest Water, Angel Shark Prime Time

Late winter brings the year's coolest sea — typically 18–19°C — and the strongest chance of Atlantic swell reaching exposed north and west coasts. Sheltered southern shores remain diveable on most days, which is why winter diving here is normal rather than niche.

What makes winter genuinely special is the marine life. This is the heart of the season when critically endangered angel sharks move onto shallow sandy bottoms, and sightings on the right sites become realistic rather than lucky. If an angel shark is the animal on your wish list, this is your window — our full guide to angel sharks in the Canary Islands covers where the odds are best and how to behave around a protected species.

Winter is also low season for beach tourism, so dive boats and house reefs are quieter, and flights and accommodation are often cheaper than in summer.

April to June: Warming Water, Long Days, Fewer Crowds

Spring is the quiet achiever of the Canaries dive calendar. Water climbs from the high teens back toward 20–21°C, daylight stretches out, and the winter swell pattern eases. Angel shark sightings taper off as the water warms, but reef life is in full swing and conditions become more forgiving for newer divers.

May and June in particular combine mild seas, modest crowds, and shoulder-season pricing. If you have flexible dates and no single must-see species, this stretch is one of the best-value times to come.

July to September: Warmest Diving, Busiest Islands

High summer delivers the easiest diving of the year: water in the low 20s rising to its 23–24°C peak by September, calm seas on the leeward coasts, and long, settled days. It's the most comfortable season for anyone nervous about cold water, and a good time for snorkelers and try-divers traveling with you.

Two caveats:

Trade winds. Summer trade winds can whip up chop and surface swell on northern and eastern shores, so operators concentrate on sheltered coasts — plan accordingly if a specific north-coast site is on your list.
Crowds and cost. July and August are peak European holiday season. Boats fill, popular sites see more traffic, and travel costs peak with them.

September quietly fixes both problems: the water is at its warmest, families have gone home, and prices begin to soften. Many experienced Canaries divers consider it the single best month.

October to December: Warm Sea, Shoulder-Season Calm

Early autumn is the sweet spot extended. October water is still around 23–24°C, visibility is often at its best after the settled summer, and the islands are noticeably quieter. Through November and December the sea cools gradually into the low 20s, the first winter swells arrive on exposed coasts, and — the trade-off in your favor — angel sharks begin returning to the shallows.

A December trip is a genuinely good compromise: comfortable 20–21°C water in a 5mm suit, low-season prices, and a realistic shot at the archipelago's signature shark.

Visibility: What to Expect and When

Visibility in the Canaries is good by any standard — the volcanic islands have little river runoff and no silty deltas, so the water over the rock and sand is characteristically clear. As a general rule:

Typical range: roughly 15–30 metres on most sites, most of the year.
Best stretches: settled periods in late summer and autumn, when calm seas leave nothing stirred up.
Worst days: during or just after big winter swells, which can churn shallow sandy sites, and occasionally during a calima — a Saharan dust haze that dims light above water more than clarity below it.

Day-to-day sea state matters far more than the calendar month. A calm week in February can out-perform a rough week in August, which is why local operators' daily site choice is worth trusting.

Can You Dive in the Canary Islands in Winter?

Yes — comfortably, and thousands of divers do exactly that every year. Winter diving in the Canaries means 18–20°C water, which a 7mm wetsuit (or a 5mm with a hooded vest) handles well; drysuits are a comfort choice for some, not a requirement. Southern and southwestern coasts stay workable on most days even when swell closes out the north shores, and operators simply pick sites to suit the day.

Winter is also when the marine-life calendar peaks, angel sharks above all. The honest downsides are shorter daylight, a higher chance of a blown-out day on exposed coasts, and cooler surface intervals — bring a windproof layer for the boat.

Matching the Month to Your Priorities

Warmest, easiest diving: September–October.
Angel sharks: November–April, peaking in the cooler months.
Best value for money: May–June and November–early December.
Fewest other divers: late autumn through winter, outside holiday weeks.
Traveling with non-divers who want beach weather: June–September.
Nervous about cold: August–October, in a 3–5mm suit.

There is no bad month — only mismatched expectations. Pick the priority above that matters most, choose your island to match (the dive-sites guides compare coasts and conditions island by island), and let the local operator pick the day's site.

Scuba diving carries real risk. Conditions described here are typical patterns, not guarantees — always confirm current sea state with a local dive center, dive within your certification and experience, and follow your guide's briefing.