Buceo La Vieja

Located in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Buceo La Vieja is a family-run PADI centre situated only 30 metres from the Playa de Las Canteras on Rue Olof Palme. Founded by Juan Carlos and Yemi, the centre brings years of experience from their early training in Valencia to the volcanic waters of the Canary Islands.

The centre provides a welcoming environment for both local divers and those visiting the island. Whether you are looking to complete your first certification or refine your skills through advanced specialties, the team adapts their instruction to the local sea conditions and your personal requirements.

The team is led by Yemi, an IDC Staff Instructor and Master Scuba Diver Trainer, and Juan Carlos, a PADI Instructor. Their combined expertise ensures that instruction is handled with a high level of professional oversight, covering everything from basic skills to advanced techniques.

As a family-operated business, they maintain a personal approach to diving. The centre is primarily Spanish-speaking, providing a focused and local atmosphere for those looking to integrate into the Gran Canarian diving community.

Buceo La Vieja offers a comprehensive PADI curriculum. Beginners can start with Discover Scuba Diving or work through the PADI Open Water Diver and Advanced Open Water Diver courses. For those looking to progress their career, they provide Divemaster training and PADI Rescue Diver.

Specialised training is also available to refine specific skills. You can enrol in the PADI Enriched Air (Nitrox) course, Deep Diver, or Drift Diver training. They also offer buoyancy control and night diving courses to help you master more technical aspects of diving.

The centre is equipped with new Cressi kit available for daily hire, covering your essential needs for shore or boat dives. The facilities include a dedicated reception area, a relaxation zone for between dives, and a classroom for theory work.

For practical dive preparation, there is a rinsing area, lockers for your belongings, and on-site oxygen safety equipment. Nitrox is available for divers looking to extend their bottom time.

The local waters are home to a diverse array of reef fish and larger pelagics. You can expect to see schools of fish including various grunts, sea bream (Sparidae), and wrasse (Labridae). Larger predators such as Great barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda), tuna (Thunnus), and jack (Carangidae) are also part of the ecosystem.

In the sandy areas and around ledges, you will find various rays and sharks. Look out for stingrays, electric rays (Torpedinidae), and potentially angel sharks (Squatina). Other residents include octopus (Octopus vulgaris), cuttlefish (Sepiidae), and various species of moray eel (Muraenidae).

For those interested in macro life, the reefs offer plenty of detail. You may encounter nudibranchs, seahorses (Hippocampus kuda), and various crustaceans such as spider crabs. Scorpionfish (Scorpaenidae) and frogfish (Antennarius) often hide amongst the rocks and reef structures.

Diving in the area involves various conditions depending on the specific site. While many sites like Taliarte and Las Merinas offer low or no current, others like El Cabrón are known for strong currents that require advanced certification.

Access to many of the local spots is via land, with several sites being easily accessible directly from the beach or local quays.