El Hierro - Mar de las Calmas Marine Reserve

Spain

A state-and-regional marine reserve off the sheltered south coast of El Hierro, centred on the fishing village of La Restinga, prized for volcanic seascapes, high visibility, and around 40 dive sites.

Established in 1996 (Orden BOE no. 30 and regional Decreto 30/1996), this reserve protects roughly 750-1,180 ha off southern El Hierro. Sheltered from the trade winds, it offers near year-round diving with visibility up to 40 m. The seabed, shaped by volcanic activity including a 2011-2012 underwater eruption, features pinnacles, walls, canyons and caves, with the seamount El Bajón regarded as the reserve's signature dive. Source: BOE, Gobierno de Canarias, thescubanews.com.