The Museo Atlántico is a museum under the sea. Created by the British sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor and opened in 2016 off Playa Blanca, it consists of ten installations spread over about a hundred square metres of sandy seabed, at a depth of around twelve metres. The figures are made of marine-friendly concrete designed to attract sea life, and over the years they have become part of a small reef, with fish and other creatures living among them. The museum is reached by boat and visited by diving. Certified divers can arrange visits through any of the island’s dive centres, and for visitors without certification the experience linked here offers a guided introductory dive with an instructor. It is suitable for beginners, with a minimum age of ten. It is one of the island’s most memorable activities, and it is quite unlike the volcanic sights on land.
How it works
The experience linked here lasts about three hours and starts in the morning at the dive centre in Playa Blanca. It includes the instructor, the equipment, a boat to the museum and hotel pickup in Playa Blanca only. The group is small, with a maximum of seven travellers, and you meet at Dive College Lanzarote in the Centro Comercial La Mulata. Free cancellation is offered up to twenty-four hours before the start.
What to expect
You complete a health questionnaire before diving, and conditions such as asthma or heart problems can prevent you from taking part, so consult a doctor if you are unsure. Moderate fitness is recommended, and the activity is not wheelchair accessible. After diving you must wait at least eighteen hours before flying, so do not schedule it just before your flight home. The sculptures sit around twelve metres down, and the guide controls the pace.
Making the most of it
Choose a calm day, since sea conditions can change the schedule, and plan the dive for early in your stay. The sculptures look best in clear water, and an underwater camera or a rented one can help you remember the visit. If you are already a certified diver, contact a local dive centre for a dive on the museum itself, or ask about a certification course if you want to dive on later trips.
For a more relaxed day, the catamaran trips to Papagayo leave from the same coast, and Playa Blanca has a pleasant seafront promenade for the afternoon.
What to expect
The experience
A guided introductory dive with an instructor to the underwater sculptures, reached by boat from Playa Blanca.
Best time
A calm morning, early in your stay, with clear water for the best view of the sculptures.
How long
About three hours including briefing, boat ride and dive.
Tips
Complete the health questionnaire honestly, do not fly for eighteen hours after diving and arrive on time at the dive centre.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Adventurous visitors who want something unusual that suits a first-time diver.
- Families
- The minimum age is ten, so it suits older children who are comfortable in the water.
- Couples
- A shared first dive among the sculptures is a memorable activity.
- Pair with
- A Papagayo catamaran day or a stroll along the Playa Blanca promenade.
- Time needed
- Allow a morning, and keep the afternoon free.
Good questions
Do I need to be a certified diver?+
Not for the experience linked here, which is for beginners and led by an instructor, though certified divers can also visit through local dive centres. The minimum age is ten.
Where is the Museo Atlántico?+
It lies off Playa Blanca, near the Rubicón marina area on the south coast, and you reach it by boat. The sculptures are about twelve metres down.
Who made the sculptures?+
The British sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor created the installations, and the museum opened in 2016. They are made of marine-friendly concrete.
Can I fly after diving?+
You must wait at least eighteen hours after diving before flying, so schedule the dive well before your departure.
Is hotel pickup included?+
Pickup is offered only in Playa Blanca. Otherwise meet at Dive College Lanzarote in the Centro Comercial La Mulata.
