"Arinaga - A quiet haven on a bustling toursist isl" Arinaga by davyjonesdiving

Arinaga is not on the main tourist maps of Gran Canaria, so most of the millions who fly out here every year never see this quiet seaside town. But the local Spanish residents all know and love Arinaga. It has a long promenade all along the coastline; several sheltered beaches, and they can even launch their boats from the beach here. One reason it is not on the main tourist route is that there is almost no 'holiday' accommodation; there are no hotels, and only one set of small appartments for rental (Nautilus Appartments)

The Arinaga Arch is an underwater highlight

The majority of visitors who come to Arinaga do so to see one special highlight - The Marine Reserve near El Cabrón beach. This is certainly the best place to go diving in Gran Canaria, and probably one of the best places to go Scuba diving in the Canaries. The volcanic reefs in this area teem with life - from the tiny scorpionfish, through the colourful damselfish and parrotfish, up to angel sharks and rays. The local dive centres offer daily excursions into the deeper areas for divers with a qualification, while if you have never dived before you can still explore the shallower areas on a 'try-dive' or discover scuba excursion.

• Pros:quiet, relaxed, laid back, great diving
• Cons:nowhere to stay!