La Catedral – Canary Islands – Gran Canaria
Site Overview
La Catedral is a large cavern beside Sardina del Norte on Gran Canaria, famous for its cathedral-like opening and dramatic light effects. Glassfish cloud the interior, moray eels peer from the rock and beams of light illuminate the volcanic walls, making it a favourite for wide-angle photography. As an overhead-environment dive it suits advanced divers with good buoyancy, who can explore the swim-throughs without disturbing the silt. La Catedral adds a spectacular highlight to any north-coast Gran Canaria trip. The site rewards careful planning, good buoyancy and respect for Spain’s marine-protection rules, and remains a favourite among divers who value dramatic volcanic or Mediterranean scenery, historic wrecks and rich marine life across a long, varied season. The site rewards careful planning, good buoyancy and respect for Spain’s marine-protection rules, and remains a favourite among divers who value dramatic volcanic or Mediterranean scenery, historic wrecks and rich marine life across a long, varied season. The site rewards careful planning, good buoyancy and respect for Spain’s marine-protection rules, and remains a favourite among divers who value dramatic volcanic or Mediterranean scenery, historic wrecks and rich marine life across a long, varied season. The site rewards careful planning, good buoyancy and respect for Spain’s marine-protection rules, and remains a favourite among divers who value dramatic volcanic or Mediterranean scenery, historic wrecks and rich marine life across a long, varied season.
Dive Briefing
"Enter from the shore and descend to the cavern mouth at 6 m. Enter with a torch, staying neutrally buoyant and off the floor to keep the silt down, and watch the light beams on the glassfish. Exit and ascend with a safety stop in open water. Follow your guide closely, monitor your air and thermal comfort, watch your depth and complete a safety stop before exiting at the designated point to keep the dive safe and enjoyable. Follow your guide closely, monitor your air and thermal comfort, watch your depth and complete a safety stop before exiting at the designated point to keep the dive safe and enjoyable. Follow your guide closely, monitor your air and thermal comfort, watch your depth and complete a safety stop before exiting at the designated point to keep the dive safe and enjoyable. Follow your guide closely, monitor your air and thermal comfort, watch your depth and complete a safety stop before exiting at the designated point to keep the dive safe and enjoyable."
Signature Marine Life
Glassfish
Parapristipoma spp.
Best: Year-round
Moray Eel
Muraena helena
Best: Year-round
Barracuda
Sphyraena viridensis
Best: Year-round
Anemone
Anemonia viridis
Best: Year-round
Bream
Diplodus spp.
Best: Year-round
Safety & Hazards
- Overhead environment
- Silt out if kicked
- Confined spaces
- Surge on entry
- Depth and nitrogen management
Traveler Notes
Who is this for?
Best for advanced divers comfortable in overhead environments and with strong buoyancy who want a dramatic lit cavern. It attracts wide-angle photographers seeking the cathedral light. Training divers build cavern skills here under supervision. It suits confident divers who value dramatic scenery, walls, caves, wrecks and rich marine life, and who plan their trips around the best seasonal and slack-water windows for their certification level. It suits confident divers who value dramatic scenery, walls, caves, wrecks and rich marine life, and who plan their trips around the best seasonal and slack-water windows for their certification level.
For Non-Divers
Non-divers can enjoy boat trips, coastal walks, beaches and local cuisine while divers explore the site.
Quick Stats
Dive Logistics
- North Gran Canaria Diving
- Sardina Dive
Photography Info
Best for: wide_angle
Nearby Stay
Local Dive Lodge
Sardina del Norte • 3km away
Coastal Guesthouse
Sardina del Norte • 5km away