Spain · El Hierro
Best Time to Dive in El Hierro, Canary Islands
27.62°N 17.99°W
Go June to October for the calmest water — seas top 1.5 m on 46% of days, against 72% the rest of the year. Too few records to show a wildlife season, so the weather picks the month. The wider season runs May to October.
- Best time
- Jun–Oct
- Water
- 20–24 °C
- Visibility
- 20–35 m
- Season runs
- May–Oct
- Dived from
- day boat and shore diving
- Tidal range
- 0.8–1.8 m
- Species logged
- 3
Worth knowing: 73% of days see seas over 1.5 m.
Where it is
111 km across · coastline from Natural Earth 10m
Diving in El Hierro, Canary Islands — monthly breakdown
A year of scuba diving conditions at a glance. Hover a month to isolate it.
| January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conditions | Poor | Moderate | Poor | Good | Excellent | Excellent | Moderate | Moderate | Excellent | Good | Moderate | Poor |
| Water temp (°C) | 21 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 22 |
| Visibility (m) | 20–30 | 20–30 | 20–30 | 20–30 | 25–35 | 25–35 | 25–35 | 25–35 | 25–35 | 25–35 | 25–35 | 20–30 |
| Marine life | Quiet | Busy | Steady | Peak | Busy | Busy | Quiet | Quiet | Busy | Quiet | Steady | Quiet |
| Best time | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak |
Excellent Good Moderate PoorPeak season Jun–Oct
Long-term averages, 2016–2025. Visibility is estimated from satellite chlorophyll-a. Water temperature is the surface mean; it is cooler at depth.
The El Hierro, Canary Islands diving season
April to June · Shoulder season
3 monthsJFMAMJJASOND
- Water temperature
- 21–22 °C
- Visibility
- 25–35 m
- Rain
- 2 days a month
Diving conditionsSwell is common, and crossings can be rough.
Marine lifeAngelshark (likely) peaks at El Hierro, Canary Islands in these months.
July to August · Shoulder season
2 monthsJFMAMJJASOND
- Water temperature
- 23–24 °C
- Visibility
- 25–35 m
- Rain
- 0 days a month
Diving conditionsIt rains less. The wind is up.
September to October · Peak season
2 monthsJFMAMJJASOND
- Water temperature
- 24–24 °C
- Visibility
- 25–35 m
- Rain
- 2 days a month
Diving conditionsThe wind eases.
Marine lifeAngelshark (likely) peaks at El Hierro, Canary Islands in these months.
November · Shoulder season
1 monthJFMAMJJASOND
- Water temperature
- 23–23 °C
- Visibility
- 25–35 m
- Rain
- 3 days a month
Diving conditionsIt rains more. The wind eases.
December to March · Off season
4 monthsJFMAMJJASOND
- Water temperature
- 20–22 °C
- Visibility
- 20–30 m
- Rain
- 3 days a month
Diving conditionsIt rains more.
Marine lifeAngelshark (likely) peaks at El Hierro, Canary Islands in these months.
- Spring tides run 1.8 m against 0.8 m on neaps, so currents build around the full and new moon.
- Water temperature is satellite sea-surface temperature, so expect it cooler below the thermocline.
- Visibility is estimated from satellite chlorophyll-a.
Canary Islands water temperature and weather
81 underwater observation records · 16 surveyed years of ocean data · 10 years of sea temperature
Water & weather
El Hierro, Canary Islands water temperature by month
The dashed line is the monthly average. Eight days in ten fall inside the band.
10th to 90th percentile rangemonthly mean
18
rough days a month
Seas top 1.5 m on 61% of days. Enough to cancel a day boat
1
blowy days a month
Gusts over 40 km/h, about where a day boat stays in port
2
wet days a month
0 of them bring heavy rain
| Month | Swell | Gusts over 40 km/h | Wet days | Heavy rain | Air | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 2.7 m | 0% | 3 | 0 | 22 °C | 10.4 h |
| February | 2.9 m | 4% | 3 | 1 | 22 °C | 11.1 h |
| March | 3.1 m | 2% | 3 | 0 | 22 °C | 11.8 h |
| April | 2.7 m | 2% | 3 | 0 | 23 °C | 12.7 h |
| May | 2.0 m | 2% | 2 | 0 | 24 °C | 13.4 h |
| June | 1.7 m | 1% | 1 | 0 | 26 °C | 13.7 h |
| July | 1.9 m | 6% | 0 | 0 | 28 °C | 13.6 h |
| August | 2.0 m | 3% | 1 | 0 | 29 °C | 13.0 h |
| September | 1.9 m | 2% | 2 | 0 | 28 °C | 12.2 h |
| October | 2.0 m | 0% | 3 | 0 | 27 °C | 11.3 h |
| November | 2.5 m | 0% | 3 | 1 | 25 °C | 10.6 h |
| December | 2.8 m | 3% | 4 | 0 | 23 °C | 10.3 h |
Swell is the rough end of the month: nine days in ten come in under it. Sea temperature covers 10 years, waves 4.
Pick your week
48 weeks from the daily record. Darker is better, against this site's own year. Pick a month for the detail.
| Week 1 | January week 1: Poor | February week 1: Moderate | March week 1: Poor | April week 1: Moderate | May week 1: Good | June week 1: Good | July week 1: Moderate | August week 1: Good | September week 1: Excellent | October week 1: Excellent | November week 1: Moderate | December week 1: Poor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 2 | January week 2: Poor | February week 2: Poor | March week 2: Poor | April week 2: Moderate | May week 2: Good | June week 2: Excellent | July week 2: Moderate | August week 2: Moderate | September week 2: Excellent | October week 2: Excellent | November week 2: Moderate | December week 2: Poor |
| Week 3 | January week 3: Poor | February week 3: Poor | March week 3: Poor | April week 3: Excellent | May week 3: Excellent | June week 3: Excellent | July week 3: Moderate | August week 3: Moderate | September week 3: Good | October week 3: Moderate | November week 3: Moderate | December week 3: Poor |
| Week 4 | January week 4: Moderate | February week 4: Poor | March week 4: Poor | April week 4: Excellent | May week 4: Excellent | June week 4: Excellent | July week 4: Moderate | August week 4: Moderate | September week 4: Excellent | October week 4: Moderate | November week 4: Poor | December week 4: Moderate |
Excellent Good Moderate PoorBest week to go: third of June
January, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Poor | 21 °C | 2.8 m | 17 km/h | 10% |
| Week 2 | Poor | 21 °C | 3.0 m | 18 km/h | 9% |
| Week 3 | Poor | 21 °C | 2.7 m | 18 km/h | 9% |
| Week 4 | Moderate | 20 °C | 2.5 m | 16 km/h | 7% |
February, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Moderate | 20 °C | 2.4 m | 17 km/h | 7% |
| Week 2 | Poor | 20 °C | 2.7 m | 17 km/h | 8% |
| Week 3 | Poor | 20 °C | 3.3 m | 17 km/h | 9% |
| Week 4 | Poor | 20 °C | 3.2 m | 17 km/h | 10% |
March, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Poor | 20 °C | 3.0 m | 18 km/h | 8% |
| Week 2 | Poor | 20 °C | 3.1 m | 17 km/h | 4% |
| Week 3 | Poor | 20 °C | 3.1 m | 19 km/h | 8% |
| Week 4 | Poor | 20 °C | 3.0 m | 19 km/h | 16% |
April, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Moderate | 20 °C | 3.1 m | 16 km/h | 15% |
| Week 2 | Moderate | 20 °C | 2.9 m | 15 km/h | 8% |
| Week 3 | Excellent | 20 °C | 2.3 m | 15 km/h | 7% |
| Week 4 | Excellent | 21 °C | 2.2 m | 15 km/h | 8% |
May, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Good | 21 °C | 2.2 m | 15 km/h | 7% |
| Week 2 | Good | 21 °C | 2.2 m | 16 km/h | 6% |
| Week 3 | Excellent | 21 °C | 1.9 m | 17 km/h | 5% |
| Week 4 | Excellent | 21 °C | 1.7 m | 16 km/h | 7% |
June, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Good | 22 °C | 1.7 m | 16 km/h | 10% |
| Week 2 | Excellent | 22 °C | 1.7 m | 16 km/h | 7% |
| Week 3 | Excellent | 22 °C | 1.7 m | 16 km/h | 2% |
| Week 4 | Excellent | 23 °C | 1.9 m | 18 km/h | 0% |
July, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Moderate | 23 °C | 2.0 m | 19 km/h | 0% |
| Week 2 | Moderate | 23 °C | 1.9 m | 19 km/h | 0% |
| Week 3 | Moderate | 23 °C | 1.9 m | 21 km/h | 0% |
| Week 4 | Moderate | 23 °C | 1.9 m | 20 km/h | 0% |
August, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Good | 23 °C | 1.8 m | 18 km/h | 0% |
| Week 2 | Moderate | 24 °C | 2.0 m | 20 km/h | 1% |
| Week 3 | Moderate | 24 °C | 2.1 m | 22 km/h | 2% |
| Week 4 | Moderate | 24 °C | 2.1 m | 20 km/h | 3% |
September, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Excellent | 24 °C | 2.0 m | 18 km/h | 3% |
| Week 2 | Excellent | 24 °C | 2.0 m | 16 km/h | 3% |
| Week 3 | Good | 24 °C | 1.9 m | 16 km/h | 6% |
| Week 4 | Excellent | 24 °C | 1.8 m | 17 km/h | 6% |
October, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Excellent | 24 °C | 2.0 m | 17 km/h | 4% |
| Week 2 | Excellent | 24 °C | 2.0 m | 15 km/h | 8% |
| Week 3 | Moderate | 24 °C | 2.2 m | 14 km/h | 11% |
| Week 4 | Moderate | 24 °C | 2.1 m | 14 km/h | 10% |
November, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Moderate | 24 °C | 2.4 m | 15 km/h | 9% |
| Week 2 | Moderate | 23 °C | 2.6 m | 16 km/h | 9% |
| Week 3 | Moderate | 23 °C | 2.4 m | 15 km/h | 13% |
| Week 4 | Poor | 23 °C | 2.5 m | 15 km/h | 15% |
December, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Poor | 22 °C | 2.7 m | 17 km/h | 12% |
| Week 2 | Poor | 22 °C | 2.9 m | 18 km/h | 9% |
| Week 3 | Poor | 22 °C | 2.8 m | 18 km/h | 11% |
| Week 4 | Moderate | 21 °C | 2.6 m | 17 km/h | 13% |
10 years of daily records, averaged into weeks.
Gear & storms
What to wear
Off the coldest water of each month, not the average — that is what the suit has to cope with.
| January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suit | January: 5 mm + | February: 5 mm + | March: 5 mm + | April: 5 mm + | May: 5 mm + | June: 5 mm | July: 5 mm | August: 5 mm | September: 5 mm | October: 5 mm | November: 5 mm | December: 5 mm + |
- Dec–May5 mm with hood and gloves
- Jun–Nov5 mm full suit
Swell through the year
The rough end of each month — nine days in ten come in under it.
Amber is over 1.5 m.
Tides
Tropical storms
No tropical storm has come within 250 km in 30 years of records. Swell and wind set the season, not cyclones.
- NOAASea surface temperature, from OISST and MUR
- ERA5Wind, waves, rain and air temperature, via Open-Meteo
- OBISMarine species records within 60 km
- IBTrACSTropical cyclone tracks, 1996 to 2025
El Hierro, Canary Islands marine life — what you'll see diving
Only 81 records have been logged within 60 km. A thin record is not an empty reef.
| Species | When | Observed window | Reliability | Evidence | Records |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bottlenose dolphin | May | Hit-or-miss | 28 | ||
| Angelshark | Feb, Apr, Sep | Likely | 10 | ||
| Loggerhead turtle | Apr, Jun, Nov | Likely | 9 |
Peak Present
- Observed window
- Months with records. Peak is where most of them fall.
- Reliability
- Near-guaranteed in 60% of surveyed years or more
- Likely 30% to 60%
- Hit-or-miss under 30%
- Evidence
- Years it was seen, out of the years anyone surveyed.
- Records
- OBIS sightings within 60 km.
These are sightings people logged, not a full survey of the reef. A species missing from a month may just mean nobody recorded one.
Diving El Hierro, Canary Islands — common questions
- When is the best time to dive El Hierro, Canary Islands?
- Go June to October for the calmest water — seas top 1.5 m on 46% of days, against 72% the rest of the year. Too few records to show a wildlife season, so the weather picks the month. The wider season runs May to October.
- When is the diving season in El Hierro, Canary Islands?
- The diving season in El Hierro, Canary Islands runs May to October, and it is at its best June to October.
- Is the diving in El Hierro, Canary Islands good for beginners?
- Yes. It suits Open Water divers, so it works for a first trip after certification.
- How warm is the water in El Hierro, Canary Islands?
- Between 20 and 24 °C at the surface across the year, coldest in March and warmest in September. It runs cooler below the thermocline.
- What wetsuit do I need in El Hierro, Canary Islands?
- A 5 mm with hood and gloves covers the coldest water of the year. In the warmest months a 5 mm full suit is enough.
- What is the visibility like in El Hierro, Canary Islands?
- Roughly 20 to 35 m depending on the month. That is estimated from satellite chlorophyll-a rather than measured in the water.
- What will I see diving El Hierro, Canary Islands?
- The most consistently recorded species are Bottlenose dolphin (hit-or-miss), Angelshark (likely) and Loggerhead turtle (likely), from 81 records within 60 km.
- Does El Hierro, Canary Islands get tropical storms?
- No. None has passed within 250 km in 30 years of records.
- Is there current in El Hierro, Canary Islands?
- The tide rises and falls 1.8 m around the full and new moon, against 0.8 m in between. How much of that becomes current depends on the shape of the channel.
- When should I avoid El Hierro, Canary Islands?
- December–January are the weakest months for conditions.
- How do you dive El Hierro, Canary Islands?
- Mostly from day boats and the shore. Trips run through the season, May–Oct.