The verdict
Best places to dive with angelsharks
Squatina squatina
The most reliable place to dive with angelsharks is Lanzarote, Canary Islands, from All year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January: 2 of 4 at peak | February: 3 of 4 at peak | March: 2 of 4 at peak | April: 3 of 4 at peak | May: 2 of 4 at peak | June: 2 of 4 at peak | July: 2 of 4 at peak | August: 2 of 4 at peak | September: 3 of 4 at peak | October: 2 of 4 at peak | November: 2 of 4 at peak | December: 2 of 4 at peak |
Most sites at peak Some at peak
Based on 711 OBIS records of angelshark (Squatina squatina) within 60 km of 4 dive destinations.
Top destinations to dive with angelsharks
Ranked on how reliably they turn up, then on how long the record runs.
| # | Destination | Country / area | Season | Reliability | Evidence | Dive type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lanzarote, Canary Islands | Spain | All year | Near-guaranteed | 19 of 24 years | Day boat, Shore |
| 2 | Gran Canaria, Canary Islands | Spain | All year | Near-guaranteed | 14 of 21 years | Day boat, Shore |
| 3 | Tenerife, Canary Islands | Spain | All year | Likely | 14 of 29 years | Day boat, Shore |
| 4 | El Hierro, Canary Islands | Spain | Feb, Apr, Sep | Likely | 6 of 16 yearsfew records | Day boat, Shore |
When to dive with angelsharks
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lanzarote, Canary Islands | Jan: Peak season | Feb: Peak season | Mar: Peak season | Apr: Peak season | May: Peak season | Jun: Peak season | Jul: Peak season | Aug: Peak season | Sep: Peak season | Oct: Peak season | Nov: Peak season | Dec: Peak season |
| Gran Canaria, Canary Islands | Jan: Peak season | Feb: Peak season | Mar: Peak season | Apr: Peak season | May: Peak season | Jun: Peak season | Jul: Peak season | Aug: Peak season | Sep: Peak season | Oct: Peak season | Nov: Peak season | Dec: Peak season |
| Tenerife, Canary Islands | Jan: Possible | Feb: Possible | Mar: Possible | Apr: Possible | May: Possible | Jun: Possible | Jul: Possible | Aug: Possible | Sep: Possible | Oct: Possible | Nov: Possible | Dec: Possible |
| El Hierro, Canary Islands | Jan: Not common | Feb: Peak season | Mar: Possible | Apr: Peak season | May: Possible | Jun: Not common | Jul: Not common | Aug: Not common | Sep: Peak season | Oct: Not common | Nov: Not common | Dec: Not common |
Peak season Possible Not common
Angelshark month by month
- January
- Best at Lanzarote, Canary Islands and Gran Canaria, Canary Islands.
- February
- The one peak month at El Hierro, Canary Islands. Also good at Lanzarote, Canary Islands and Gran Canaria, Canary Islands.
- March
- Best at Lanzarote, Canary Islands and Gran Canaria, Canary Islands.
- April
- The one peak month at El Hierro, Canary Islands. Also good at Lanzarote, Canary Islands and Gran Canaria, Canary Islands.
- May
- Best at Lanzarote, Canary Islands and Gran Canaria, Canary Islands.
- June
- Best at Lanzarote, Canary Islands and Gran Canaria, Canary Islands.
- July
- Best at Lanzarote, Canary Islands and Gran Canaria, Canary Islands.
- August
- Best at Lanzarote, Canary Islands and Gran Canaria, Canary Islands.
- September
- The one peak month at El Hierro, Canary Islands. Also good at Lanzarote, Canary Islands and Gran Canaria, Canary Islands.
- October
- Best at Lanzarote, Canary Islands and Gran Canaria, Canary Islands.
- November
- Best at Lanzarote, Canary Islands and Gran Canaria, Canary Islands.
- December
- Best at Lanzarote, Canary Islands and Gran Canaria, Canary Islands.
What to expect in the water
Water temperature and the suit to pack at the top sites, in the months angelsharks are there.
| Destination | Season | Water | Suit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lanzarote, Canary Islands | All year | 19–23 °C | 5 mm with hood and gloves |
| Gran Canaria, Canary Islands | All year | 19–23 °C | 5 mm with hood and gloves |
| Tenerife, Canary Islands | All year | 20–24 °C | 5 mm with hood and gloves |
| El Hierro, Canary Islands | Feb, Apr, Sep | 20–24 °C | 5 mm with hood and gloves |
What else you'll see with angelsharks
Animals at their peak in the same places and months.
Diving with angelsharks: common questions
- Where is the best place to dive with angelsharks?
- The most reliable place to dive with angelsharks is Lanzarote, Canary Islands, from All year.
- When is the best time to dive with angelsharks?
- February, April, September, when 3 of the 4 best-evidenced destinations are at their peak. It varies by place: Lanzarote, Canary Islands peaks All year; Gran Canaria, Canary Islands peaks All year; Tenerife, Canary Islands peaks All year.
- What wetsuit do you need to dive with angelsharks?
- At Lanzarote, Canary Islands from All year, the water is 19 °C to 23 °C, so bring a 5 mm with hood and gloves.
- How many places can you dive with angelsharks?
- besttimetodive.com has angelsharks on record at 4 of the destinations it scores. Not an exhaustive list — these are the sites we hold verified data for.