If you’ve dived in La Palma, or if you’re planning to come and explore its seabed, you’ve probably already heard of one of the most famous diving spots on the beautiful island: Las Cruces de Malpique. They’re located in Fuencaliente, on the southwest tip of La Palma. Whether you’ve already visited them or it’s the first time you’ve heard of them, we invite you to learn about this pirate story, all aboard!
What are the crosses of Malpique?
The Malpique Crosses are an underwater monument made up of a total of 40 stone crosses that were sunk in 1999 to commemorate the memory of those known as the Martyrs of Tazacorte, or the Martyrs of Brazil, a group of 40 Jesuits led by Ignacio de Azevedo who on July 15, 1970 were boarded, murdered, and thrown into the sea by a group of corsairs led by Jacques de Sores.
The religious men were on a Jesuit mission from Lisbon to Brazil, and while en route, they decided to stop on the island of La Palma, specifically in Tazacorte. On the journey from Tazacorte to Santa Cruz de La Palma, in the Malpique area, pirates killed the Jesuits, thus beginning one of the most famous stories of the island of La Palma.
How is the dive site of the crosses?
The Las Cruces de Malpique monument is located at a depth of approximately 15-16 meters, so if you’re a certified diver, this dive is suitable for everyone. Plus, on the way to and around the crosses, you can enjoy the marine life and landscape of Fuencaliente, admiring the volcanic formations on the island’s seabed and enjoying its vegetation and fauna. And, of course, you can’t leave without taking that classic souvenir photo; it’s undoubtedly one of the most photographed underwater spots on the entire island.
If you’d like to discover this and other incredible diving spots on the island of La Palma, don’t hesitate to contact us; we’d be happy to show them to you. We can’t guarantee that we won’t encounter a group of pirates, but we’ll do our best to make it an unforgettable experience. We look forward to seeing you!