Reefwander
Rocky volcanic headland of Loma Pelada meeting the sea under a clear sky — Cabo de Gata-Níjar

Cabo de Gata-Níjar · Spain · Cave & cavern · Reef

Cañones San Andrés

Gliding through light-filled rock canyons inside 12 m

Area photo: Konrad Hädener from Thun, Switzerland · CC BY 2.0

Cañones San Andrés threads natural canyons and passages through the rock off Isla de San Andrés, with light falling through the openings and a maximum depth of 12 m. Rated perfect for beginner divers, it also suits photographers who like working shallow, and it opens on a cave full of groupers.

Where it is and how deep

Depth profile of Cañones San Andrés: typical dive to 12 m (to 40 ft) 18 m · Open Water30 m · Advanced40 m · Recreational limit12 mtypical dive
Depths on a shared scale to 40 m (130 ft); dashed lines mark common certification limits.

36.9934° N, 1.8863° WApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.

The dive

Cañones San Andrés is dived by boat from Carboneras with a maximum depth of just 12 m. The dive starts at a cave full of groupers; from there you exit through a corridor and glide through the natural canyons and passages that name the site, where the openings overhead let in columns of light — the entrances themselves are the scenery.

Company on the swim is constant: bream, barracuda and salps accompany the group, all in large shoals. The site is rated perfect for beginner divers, and the same qualities serve experienced photographers and videographers who enjoy shallow work — bright light, easy terrain and generous bottom time inside 12 m.

Marine life and season

  • Groupers
  • Barracuda
  • Reef fish swarms
Month-by-month season rating for Cañones San Andrés
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Season follows Cabo de Gata-Níjar: Visitor season peaks spring through summer; surface water swings from 10-15 °C in winter to 21-30 °C in summer, with 22 °C still logged in October.

Sources

  1. Cañones San Andrés dive site — Scubago
  2. Cañones San Andrés dive site (SSI MyDiveGuide) — SSI MyDiveGuide

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