“Those that swim in the Canary Islands swim in one of the cleanest oceans on the planet,” says María Dolores Gelado, a chemist and oceanographer. “There is hardly any cases of high contaminants, and during some studies carried out periodically by the Spanish Institute of Oceanography no contaminants have been found at all,” she continues.
The Canary Islands have been recognised as a paradise for all kinds of water sports since the 1970’s, including:
- Surfing
- Sailing
- Windsurfing
- Kitesurfing
- Body Boarding
- Scuba Diving
- Snorkelling
In light of World Ocean Day, Elena Eiras, a surf teacher from Fuerteventura, recommends the following for the Atlantic Ocean to remain one of the least polluted places in the world: “The first thing, and the most obvious, is to leave the beach the same if not better than we found it. If we love the ocean, it’s very important to join in with the cleaning of the beaches, or pick up any garbage that we find, even if it’s not ours. It doesn’t take much effort. At the same time, all the little things related to our surf session can be more sustainable: the transportation, the food that we take to snack on, and even the sunscreen”.
The islands are visited by thousands of surfers every month thanks to their extensive network of surf schools and reputation as one of the best surfing destinations in Europe. Playa de Las Américas (Las Américas Beach) in Arona, is the last, and decisive, stop on the national circuits of the Liga Fesurfing and Liga Iberdrola Fesurfing. La Santa, Lanzarote, holds the Islas Canarias Santa Pro World Surfing Championship. While Tenerife hosts the Puntablanca Young Series.
The Canary Islands are not only an ideal place for surfing, they are also a favourite spot for bodyboarding and kitesurfing. In fact, several events of the Professional Windsurfing Association (PWA) World Windsurfing & Kitesurfing Championship are held in Pozo Izquierdo, in Vecindario, Gran Canaria. La Cícer, on Las Canteras Beach hosts OPEN LPA Surf City, the final test of the National Circuit that crowns the male and female champions of the FESurfing and Iberdrola leagues. The setting for this event is spectacular with panoramic views of the ocean and waves.
Josep Pons is one of the PWA World Cup windsurfers and currently teaches windsurfing in Pozo Izquierdo, Gran Canaria. He says that: “Pozo Izquierdo, together with Hawaii, is recognized as one of the best spots in the world for windsurfing, thanks to its constant wind and waves. Windsurfing, like surfing and unlike other sports, is difficult to timetable. But in Pozo Izquierdo, because of the frequency and consistency of the wind, windsurfing becomes a sport like any other, which you can do at any time of the day.”
The Windsurfing & Kiteboarding World Cup, also known as the Fuerteventura Grand Slam, is recognized as one of the biggest competitions in the world. It has been taking place in the Canary Islands for more than 30 years. The spectacle is exhilarating, especially in the Playas de Jandía (Jandía Beaches) area in Fuertenetura.
For more information on the Canary Islands, please visit www.hellocanaryislands.com
ENDS
Further Information:
Best spots for water sports in the Canary Islands
Sailing
-Playa de Las Alcaravaneras (Alcaravaneras Beach) – Las Palmas de Gran Canaria- and on the west coast of Gran Canaria towards the south.
-Playa de Santa Catalina (Santa Catalina Beach). Hermigua. La Gomera.
-Costa de Radazul (the Radazul coast). El Rosario. Tenerife.
-Playa de Las Conchas (Las Conchas beach). La Graciosa.
-Playa de Tazacorte (Tazacorte beach). La Palma.
-Puerto Calero (Calero Port). Yaiza. Lanzarote.
-Charco de Bajamar. San Cristóbal de La Laguna. Tenerife.
South/windsurfing
-Playa de Nogales (Nogales Beach). Puntallana. La Palma.
-El Médano Granadilla de Abona. Tenerife.
Zone north of El Hierro
-Playa de Las Américas (Las Américas Beach) in Tenerife, between the municipalities of Adeje and Abona.
-La Santa. Tinajo, in Lanzarote.
-Playas de El Cotillo (El Cotillo beaches). Fuerteventura.
Kitesurfing/bodyboarding
-Playa de Pozo Izquierdo (Pozo Izquierdo Beach). Vecindario. Gran Canaria.
-La Císer. Playa de Las Canteras (Las Canteras Beach). Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
-Playa de la Caleta de Caballo (La Caleta de Caballo Beach). Lanzarote.
-Playa de Santiago (Santiago Beach). Alajeró, in La Gomera.
South/windsurfing/kiteboarding/wing foil
-Playa de El Burrero (El Burrero Beach). Ingenio. Gran Canaria.
-Playa de Sotavento (Sotavento Beach). Jandía. Fuerteventura.
-Playa de Costa Teguise (Costa Teguise Beach). Lanzarote.
Snorkelling
-Playa de Caleta de Sebo (Caleta de Sebo Beach). La Graciosa.
-Playa de Los Cancajos (Los Cancajos Beach). Santa Cruz de La Palma.
-Playa de Los Cristianos (Los Cristianos Beach). Arona. Tenerife.
-El Puertito de Adeje (The Little Port of Adeje). Tenerife.
-Playa de La Zamora (La Zamora Beach). Fuencaliente. La Palma.
-Isla de Lobos. Fuerteventura.
-Playa de Costa Calma (Costa Calma Beach). Fuerteventura.
Kayaking/snorkelling
-Coasts of Mogán, Arguineguín, and Maspalomas. Gran Canaria.
-Playa de La Goleta (La Goleta Beach). Corralejo. Fuerteventura.
-Playa Blanca (Blanca Beach). Yaiza. Lanzarote.
-La Playa del Papagayo (Papagayo Beach). Lanzarote. Here you can combine kayaking and snorkelling.
-Kayak the southeast of Tenerife, close to Los Cristianos. Arona.
Scuba diving
-La Restinga. El Pinar. El Hierro.
-Playa Blanca (Blanca Beach). Yaiza. Lanzarote.
– El Cabrón Marine Reserve along the Gran Canaria coast, in Arinaga.
-Playa de Chinguarime (Chinguarime Beach). Alajeró. La Gomera.