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MapSpeciesParksDiving
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  4. Spain
  5. El Hierro / La Restinga
Volcanic/WallMarine Protected Area

El Hierro / La Restinga

Depth: 5–40 mLevel: Advanced Open WaterAll year round
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The Mar de las Calmas owes its name to the shelter the island provides from the prevailing winds, which gives exceptionally calm conditions over a volcanic seabed of lava flows, arches and caves.

Depth

5–40 m

Recommended level

Advanced Open Water

Average visibility

25 m

Protection status

Punta de la Restinga - Mar de las Calmas Marine Reserve of Fishing Interest (1,180 ha: 237 of integral reserve and 943 of buffer zone)

UNESCO designation

Biosphere Reserve (island of El Hierro)

Did you know?

The reserve served as a natural laboratory during the 2011-2012 submarine eruption off La Restinga, which made it possible to study in real time how a protected marine ecosystem responds to an extreme natural impact.

Sources consulted: MAPA - Reservas Marinas de España · FAO-GFCM (MedPAN)

Location

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El Hierro / La Restinga: 102 documented species

Ecosystem

WallVolcanic

Similar dive sites

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Same country: Spain

Same country: Spain

Same country: Spain

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Water temperature

21 °C

Current

Moderate

Access

Boat

Best season

All year round

Recommended certification

Open Water

Approx. price

50 USD / dive

Plan your dive

Best season
All year round
Approx. price
50 USD / dive
See location

Same country: Spain

Spain · Canary Islands
See on the interactive map→
Blue MarlinVulnerable

Blue Marlin

Makaira nigricans

Greater PipefishLeast Concern

Greater Pipefish

Syngnathus acus

AngelsharkCritically Endangered

Angelshark

Squatina squatina

European EelCritically Endangered

European Eel

Anguilla anguilla

Greater ArgonautLeast Concern

Greater Argonaut

Argonauta argo

Atlantic Bluefin TunaEndangered

Atlantic Bluefin Tuna

Thunnus thynnus

Little TunnyLeast Concern

Little Tunny

Euthynnus alletteratus

Great BarracudaLeast Concern

Great Barracuda

Sphyraena barracuda

MackerelLeast Concern

Mackerel

Scomber scombrus

Short-snouted SeahorseVulnerable

Short-snouted Seahorse

Hippocampus hippocampus

Red ScorpionfishLeast Concern

Red Scorpionfish

Scorpaena scrofa

Sperm WhaleVulnerable

Sperm Whale

Physeter macrocephalus

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