La Graciosa diving 6: Gerardias reef
After having dived several days in the area of the River where we have dived in Grunts, White Trevally II, White Trevally Cave and Anchor Reef diving spots, and in the northeastern part of the island where we visited the Fingers dive spot, today it’s time to go explore the north.
Located between La Graciosa and Montaña Clara islands, this is a spectacular reef. The weather forecast for today is good, flat sea and the sun is sining, perfect for a somewhat long zodiac trip, around 25-30 minutes.
Zodiac at Gerardias reef dive site
Gerardias (Savalia Savaglia) are a type of coral with polyps around the branches, orange-green in color, with 30-40 yellowish tentacles that can grow up to 2 meters high and with branches up to 14 cm thick.
The colonies of this species can be locally common in certain sectors of the eastern Canary Islands. It is more frequent from 30/40m, although sometimes we can find them at a shallower depth, on cliff walls, cornices and dimly lit cavities.
According to what we are told, these Gerardias must be between 500 and 1,000 years old!
Gerardias
It is believed that this reef could be the largest concentration of this coral in the world.
Gerardias
The dive begins at -20 m where we find a pinnacle and a rock wall that falls vertically. It is about going down easily and little by little through the rock wall where there the Gerardias are, exploring its cavities and the life it houses.
Going down the wall we see other corals like the orange coral with very large white polyps. It is spectacular, it looks like a Christmas tree.
Orange coral
Orange coral
Orange coral
Among the Gerardias we see groupers and mottled grouper pass by. At mid-depth there is also a fairly large and numerous school of barracudas.
Majestic grouper in front of a Gerardia
Big schools of small fish climbing the pinnacle of the Gerardias
After 20 minutes the computer starts to mark deco so we have to go up, little by little, making deep safety stops.
As it was a deep dive, it was quite short, but it is a nice dive and very different from the other dives in La Graciosa that we have done so far.
Finished the immersion of the Gerardias. Are the glasses a little big on me?! 😊
After the dive we return to Caleta del Sebo. The dives are at 9 am and at 1 pm, which gives time to rest and to do the second dive with 3 hours of surface time.
Diving in La Graciosa is being spectacular!
Very happy and fully enjoying the island with La Graciosa Diving Center, continue with us and discover the next dive in the northen part of La Graciosa: Burrera, where time here seems to have stopped.
For more information about other dive sites on the island, the diving center and the logistics of the trip, read our GUÍA DE BUCEO EN LA GRACIOSA.
