Feriones

Feriones is a Lanzarote reef dive that rewards patience more than ambition. It sits off the island's eastern coast, a short boat ride from the Puerto del Carmen dive centres, and it works as a reliable backup when the more famous sites further south are blown out by the north easterly trade winds that dominate the Canary archipelago. The profile runs along a volcanic rock shoulder that descends in loose terraces from a few metres at the top to about 25 metres on the sand, and the entire layout fits comfortably within recreational Open Water limits. Entry is a standard boat giant stride followed by a short descent onto the upper reef. The plan is a slow drift along the shoulder, reef on your chosen side, with natural niches and small swim throughs at regular intervals to punctuate the pace. Because the Lanzarote coast is volcanic, the underwater architecture has that distinctive black and chocolate rock character, and the light shifts through the arches in ways that reward anyone paying attention. Beginner level is correct as long as you respect the current that can pick up on the deeper sections of the profile. The marine life is pure eastern Atlantic. Trumpetfish hang motionless over the rocks, Atlantic damselfish stream over the upper reef in steady numbers, and octopus drape themselves in the cracks during early morning dives. Moray eels of several species occupy the darker recesses, and the occasional dusky grouper holds territory around the larger bommies. The blue side of the reef sees passing schools of amberjack and the odd barracuda in late afternoon. Water is warm by Atlantic standards, ranging from 18 degrees in winter to 23 in late summer, and visibility holds between 15 and 25 metres outside of storm events. The site dives year round, with the cleanest runs in the early summer and autumn shoulders.