Diving

The southeast coast of La Palma, where the municipality of Villa de Mazo opens up, offers a unique diving setting within the island. This is an abrupt and volcanic coastline, with cliffs, lava fields, and black sand coves that allow dives from land in usually clear waters. Visibility is usually good, and the water temperature ranges between 18 °C in winter and 24 °C in summer.

However, it is a coastline exposed to the dynamics of the Atlantic: swells from the east or southeast can quickly alter conditions and make entering the water difficult. Therefore, it is always advisable to consult the weather forecast and seek advice from local diving centers before planning a dive.

Below the surface, the relief reflects the island’s volcanism: submerged lava flows, blocks of lava, arches, and corridors that create natural shelters for marine life. Among the most frequent species are salemas, sargos, parrotfish, vieja, barracuda, and boga, as well as octopuses, cuttlefish, and damselfish in the rocky hollows. Sponges, sea urchins, and algae complete an underwater landscape of great photographic interest.

Mazo concentrates three recognized dive sites—La Bajita, El Pocito and La Salemera—that well summarize the variety of its coast: from gentle and accessible dives to more technical routes between edges and volcanic formations. All this makes the municipality an attractive alternative for those who want to discover diving on the eastern slope of La Palma, in an authentic and uncrowded natural environment.

La Bajita

La Bajita is one of the best-known diving spots on the coast of Villa de Mazo. Access is from the shore, through a small natural platform, which makes it a comfortable and safe dive. The bottom combines sand and volcanic rock, with shallows and small walls that add variety to the route. The depth ranges between 5 and 16 meters, which allows dives adapted to different levels, although it is especially appreciated by divers of initial and intermediate level. Visibility is usually good, and you can see typical Atlantic coastal species such as salemas, sargos, vieja, and small schools of boga. Algae, sponges, and some octopus hidden in hollows appear on the rocky walls. It is a quiet dive, ideal for underwater photography.

El Pocito

El Pocito is a somewhat more technical enclave, located in a stretch of rocky coast that gives way to an irregular bottom. Access is more demanding than in La Bajita and requires some experience to enter and exit safely. The bottom is dominated by volcanic rock and detached blocks, which form cracks, edges, and channels where marine life is concentrated. The depth generally remains at medium levels, between 8 and 20 meters, which offers enough route for a complete dive without great decompression requirements. It is common to find schools of grunts, salps, and sargos, as well as damselfish sheltered in cavities. The structure of the terrain offers good coverage against currents, although on days with heavy seas, precautions should be taken. It is a dive for divers with average experience.

La Salemera

The fishing village of La Salemera gives its name to this dive, which combines the attraction of the coastal volcanic landscape with a varied seabed. It is accessed from the shore, in a small black sand cove that facilitates entry into the water. Below the surface, the relief is marked by lava flows and formations that generate natural arches, corridors, and cavities of interest. The average depth is around 10-18 meters, which allows for comfortable exploration. On its walls you can see sponges and small invertebrates, and it is common to see rock fish, barracuda, and parrotfish, as well as some cuttlefish or squid on the sandy bottom. La Salemera is a quiet dive, highly appreciated for relaxed recreational diving, with the possibility of extending the stay on the surface enjoying the marine environment of the place.