El veril de playa chica (zona derecha)

El Veril de Playa Chica (zona derecha) — the right-hand zone of the Playa Chica reef — is the beginner-accessible section of one of Lanzarote's most famous dive sites, where the reef that drops away from the iconic Playa Chica beach at Puerto del Carmen is explored on its more sheltered, shallower right-hand face. Playa Chica is a legendary name in Canary Islands diving, and the right-hand zone provides an introduction to its quality at depths and conditions that suit those early in their diving experience. Playa Chica — the Small Beach — is a small sandy cove at the eastern end of Puerto del Carmen, sheltered by a natural headland that protects it from the main resort town. From this beach, divers enter some of Lanzarote's most celebrated underwater terrain: the reef that drops away from the shore has been producing extraordinary encounters for decades and is responsible for many divers' most memorable Canarian experiences. The right-hand zone is the more accessible, shallower face of this reef. Entry from the beach is straightforward, and the reef begins immediately as the sandy shore transitions to basalt formations. The right-hand zone explores the reef at depths appropriate for beginner divers, typically between five and fifteen metres, where the encrusting community on the volcanic rock is already impressive: sponges in varied colours, sea anemones in clusters on sheltered undersides, and the algae-covered surfaces that support the grazing wrasse and parrotfish. Large moray eels occupy crevices in the basalt at all depths, and common octopus are reliably present. Sea turtles are a consistent feature of Playa Chica diving — loggerhead turtles have long used this section of Lanzarote's coast and show a comfortable tolerance of divers. A sighting on the right-hand zone is a realistic expectation rather than a hopeful aspiration. The sandy transitions between reef and beach provide habitat for angel sharks on this and all Playa Chica dives. A superb beginner introduction to one of the Canary Islands' most celebrated dive areas.