The Canary Islands are named for Presa Canario.
If you're thinking flocks of little yellow birds and conquistadors - afraid you're wrong, try Romans and a large endemic population of fierce dogs from the latin - Insula Canaria which translates to Island of the Dogs.
The Islands are not strangers to ancient Greek and Roman literature and are often mentioned by the likes of Pliny the Elder. Time affected their popularity and after the fall of the Roman Empire they slowly disappeared into obscurity for many years until their eventual rediscovery by the west.
Situated off the coast of Morroco, with the nearest island Fuerteventura, the Canaries are volcanic in nature and thus play host to an array of breathtaking scenes above and below water. Playa de Taurito in the south near Peurto Morgan is the diving capital of Gran Canaria. Its other islands are El Hierro, La Palma, Gomera, Tenerife, and Lanzarote.
Early inhabitants are known as the Guanches, the indigenous peoples of Tenerife.
The ongoing dispute between Morocco and Spain as to whom the autonomous islands belong leads to much cross designation of various island attributes such as the four of Spain's thirteen national parks. Along with the Azores, Cape Verde, Madeira, and the Savage Isles the Canaries form the Macaronesia ecoregion.
Tenerife is the largest of the seven Canary Islands. Legend has it that 3 million year s ago numerous mountain ranges fused due to volcanic activities over years of which Tenreife is now the result.
The local tribes (Gaunches) were said to have taken mummification a step further by basalting their dead in hopes of a peaceful after death experience.
The island has an array of dive sites encompassing wrecks, walls, blow holes and caves with an average water temperature of 20 - 24 degrees Celsius.
Deeper dives reveal the likes of trumpet fish and parrot fish. As many as 24 sites are listed most of which are close to shore or quick boat rides.
Sites at Tenerife you'll visit include: The Ray, Palm Mar Caves, The Steps, Coral Arch and numerous deep dives for the advanced diver.
The Grand Canaria offers Mogan, Kalais, Gando, Tufia, Sardina and El Pajar . Most diving is centered around the Arinaga Marine Reserve or 'El Cabron'.
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