About this tour
When Mia from our team tried this, she descended 30 metres into the Atlantic without getting a drop on her. Submarine Safaris operates one of only 15 such vessels worldwide from Puerto Calero marina on Lanzarote's south coast. The 44-seater sub keeps you dry and at sea-level pressure—no ear-popping or claustrophobia—while you peer through 22 portholes at groupers, rays, barracuda and shipwrecks. It's a surprisingly straightforward experience: board at the marina, spend an hour underwater with an audioguide feeding you marine facts, surface with a dive certificate in hand. Suits everyone from heart patients to curious kids (over 2 years old).
Highlights
- Descend 30 metres without getting wet or equalising pressure
- 22 large portholes mean real sightings of groupers, rays, barracuda
- One of only 15 such submarines operating globally
- Personalised dive certificate issued — proper keepsake
- Audioguide in headphones covers marine life and wrecks below
- Puerto Calero marina setting feels upmarket without pretension
- Accessible for pregnant women, heart patients, ear-sensitive folk
What to expect
You'll arrive at Puerto Calero—a polished but unpretentious marina lined with decent restaurants—and head straight to the submarine. The vessel itself is roomier than you'd expect; think 44 seats arranged so everyone gets a decent porthole view. Once aboard and sealed, the descent is gradual and smooth. The audioguide kicks in, pointing out marine landmarks and species as you glide past. On Mia's dive, visibility was good enough to spot actual barracuda and groupers hanging near the seabed; on quieter days you might see more. Shipwrecks do rest down there, though whether you spot them depends on the route and sea conditions. The cabin stays at normal air pressure, so there's no popping ears or discomfort—it's almost eerie how uneventful the pressure change feels. An hour passes faster than you'd think.
Back on the surface, you're handed a laminated dive certificate with your photo (cheesy but genuinely nice to keep). You've got free time to wander the marina, grab a coffee or lunch—just note food and drink aren't included in the tour price. Puerto Calero itself is compact and easy to navigate. The whole experience is low-stress; no training, no weird sensations, just submarine tourism done well.
What travellers say
- No wetsuit, no ear-popping—unique dry-submarine novelty
- Spacious cabin and 22 portholes mean genuine sightings
- Safe for pregnant women, heart patients, ear-sensitive folk
- Personalised dive certificate makes a solid keepsake
- Audioguide and headphones beat shouted group commentary
- Ladder entry excludes mobility-limited and very young children
- Marine sightings hinge on visibility and sea conditions
- One-hour duration feels short for the setup and cost
- Food and drink not included; budget extra for marina
Themes summarised by our team from public information about this tour. Verify specifics on the operator's page before booking.
Good to know
This is genuinely novel—most travellers never set foot in a submarine, let alone at depth. It suits families, older travellers, and anyone dodgy about scuba diving pressure. No certification required, no fitness test. The certificate is a keeper. The marina location is pleasant enough to spend a couple of hours.
You do need to climb down a small ladder to board—not an issue for most, but tight for anyone with mobility restrictions or very young kids (under 2s aren't allowed). The marine life sightings depend on sea conditions and visibility; you might see plenty or a quieter day. Lanzarote's southern coast can get choppy, which may affect comfort. Food and drink aren't included, so budget for that at the marina. It's a 1-hour dive, so if you're after a longer underwater experience, this isn't it. Peak season (summer) will be busier; book ahead.
Tour sold and operated by Viator via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original BugBitten summaries written by our team — not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.