La Palma · Spain · Cave & cavern
La Catedral
Two lava cathedrals and a run of arches, all inside 12 m
Area photo: Frank Vincentz · CC BY-SA 3.0
Two caves big enough to earn the name, linked by a run of arches, all inside 12 m on the Los Cancajos coast. Getting in is the awkward part, a steep slope down from the seafront boulevard, and after that it is a short, shallow dive built entirely around lava structure, with a large shoal of grunts holding the door of the bigger cave.
Where it is and how deep
28.6478° N, 17.7564° WPublished position for this site.
The dive
The dive is short on depth and long on structure: nothing goes past 12 m and the caves themselves sit at under ten. The smaller of the two is the one divers remember. Hexagonal columns line it, regular enough to look chiselled by hand rather than left behind by cooling lava, and apertures in the ceiling drop shafts of light into the chamber while setting up small, surprising currents in the water.
The larger cave takes a wide opening as the way in and a crack as the way out, with arches strung between the two systems to link the route into one dive. A big shoal of grunts holds the door of the largest cave, and rays are often out on the sand nearby. Near the bottom, Canary damselfish defend their holes against anything that comes close regardless of its size, and are at their most territorial in the breeding season.
Marine life and season
- Stingrays
- Reef fish swarms
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good |
Season follows La Palma: Diving runs year round; the south-coast centre rates September to November best, when the trade winds ease and the water is warmest. Dives and boat transits inside the marine reserve are capped.
Know before you go
- The way in is down a steep slope from the Los Cancajos boulevard, so take it slowly and think about the climb back out before kitting up.
- Openings in the roof of the smaller cathedral generate unexpected water movement inside the chamber; stay off the walls and keep a hand free.
Sources
- La Catedral — Scubago
- Guía de Buceo La Palma 2019 — Cabildo de La Palma / Oceanográfica
In The Logbook
- Where to dive, month by monthTrip planning · 13 min read
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