Montaña Amarilla (Yellow Mountain)

Overview: The Yellow Mountain Volcanic Arches

Located in Costa del Silencio on the southern tip of Tenerife, Montaña Amarilla (Yellow Mountain) is a protected Natural Monument formed by underwater volcanic phreatomagmatic explosions thousands of years ago.

The underwater landscape consists of surreal yellow-and-ochre volcanic basalt terraces, sculpted arches, caves, and lunar-like sand dunes in 14m to 20m depth.

Detailed Dive Route

• Shore Entry: Step off the rocky volcanic platform using the stainless steel sea ladder into 8m water.
• The Main Archway (14m–16m): Swim through a monumental natural volcanic archway where schools of roncadores (bastard grunts) and bogue hover in the shade.
• The Sand Dunes & Angel Sharks (16m–20m): Follow the volcanic finger reefs across the sand dunes. Look for resting angel sharks, common stingrays, and sepia cuttlefish.

Logistics & Certification

• Certification: Open Water (18m). Maximum depth is 18m–20m with minimal current.

Technical Dive Profile & Navigation

1. Entry & Descent Mechanics

• Descent Method: Careful shore walk-in over reef platform or steps, kicking out to the descent buoy before dropping to prevent surface drift.
• Ear Equalization: Equalize continuously every 1 metre during the descent phase to prevent sinus or middle-ear barotrauma.
• Compass Heading & Navigation: Set a primary heading toward the main reef structure. Maintain buddy contact within 2 metres throughout the descent.

2. Deep Section & Gas Management (14m to 20m)

• NDL Discipline: At depths of 20m, your No-Decompression Limit ticks down rapidly. Monitor your dive computer continuously.
• The Craig Rule: Divers certified to Open Water level (18m maximum) must stay on the upper reef shelf and never follow advanced divers down past 18m.
• Turnaround Gas: Signal your buddy and start your ascent when the first diver reaches 110 bar (or one-third of usable cylinder capacity).

3. Ascent & 5m Safety Stop

• Ascent Rate: Ascend along the reef wall at a controlled rate not exceeding 9 metres per minute.
• Mandatory Safety Stop: Complete a strict 3-to-5-minute safety stop at 5 metres (15 feet) before deploying an SMB and surfacing with a 360-degree overhead scan.

Marine Life & Habitat Zones (Biologically Verified)

• Apex & Pelagic Predators: Atlantic Bonito (Sarda sarda), Greater Amberjack, Striped Barracuda.
• Reef Fish & Keystone Species: Canarian Dusky Grouper, Island Grouper (Mycteroperca fusca), Parrotfish / Vieja (Sparisoma cretense).
• Macro Biodiversity & Benthic Invertebrates: Tiger Morays (Enchelycore anatina), Brown Morays, Red-Rock Cleaner Shrimp (Lysmata grabhami).
• Elasmobranchs & Marine Reptiles: Resident Green Sea Turtles (Chelonia mydas), Angel Sharks (Squatina squatina), Roughtail Stingrays (Bathytoshia centroura), Bull Rays (Pteromylaeus bovinus).