Lanzarote's Museo Atlántico is a group of submerged sculptures by British artist Jason deCaires Taylor, installed between 2016 and 2017 off Playa Blanca. Our verdict in one sentence: the sculptures are worth the dive, but today there is no museum to visit, just a dive site that a private centre takes you to, so the quality of the visit depends on the centre you choose.
Score
- Interest of the sculptures
- 4.5/5About ten groups at 12–14 m, suitable for beginner dives
- Access for non-divers
- 2.5/5Snorkelling possible, but the uncertified programme costs around €154–175
- Price
- 3.5/5Certified from €65; no separate official fee
- Transparency
- 2/5No official website or manager; commercial sites that look official
- State of conservation
- 3/5Figures removed in 2022 in what the Cabildo called maintenance
For
- 12–14 m depth: fine for a first dive.
- Short boat trip from Marina Rubicón.
- Several centres dive it every day or several times a week.
- No separate ticket: you pay for the dive (Safari Diving adds a €7 supplement).
Against
- It does not operate as a museum, and there is no one to complain to about the site.
- Without certification, the visit costs more than almost any day excursion.
- Boat departures: in rough seas the centre may cancel.
- No glass-bottom boat: either you get wet or you do not see it.
What is happening with the Museo Atlántico today
The museum was run by the CACT, the Cabildo's (island council's) company that manages Jameos del Agua and Timanfaya. In June 2020 its board decided to stop managing it: it had cost €1.4 million and received about 20 people a day, when it needed about 2,000. The sculptures stayed on the seabed and the CACT itself said at the time that access would be free "at least for now". Since then it has not appeared on the CACT website or in its ticket shop; nor in our guide to the CACT centres.
In November 2022 the island's association of dive schools accused the Cabildo of removing figures; the Cabildo spoke of maintenance, and four pieces by another artist were reported missing. In January 2024 the Cabildo announced that it wants to reopen it, with a working group (Cabildo, Turismo Lanzarote and the artist himself) to define the model and timetable. It gave no date and, as things stand, there is no reopening, official ticket or booking system.
What you see underwater
There are over 300 sculptures at 12–14 m on a sandy bottom, spread over about ten groups: The Rubicon (35 figures walking towards a wall), the Raft of Lampedusa, Los Jolateros, The Portal, Deregulated, a hybrid garden and a large circle of about 200 figures. The entrance wall is 30 m long and weighs 100 tonnes.
In clear water you can also make it out from the surface with a snorkel. The water ranges from about 18 °C in late winter to about 23 °C in September; check the sea temperature by month before deciding on a wetsuit.
- 1Museo AtlánticoSightDirections ↗
- 2Marina RubicónPortDirections ↗
- 3Playa BlancaTownDirections ↗
- 4Playa ChicaBeachDirections ↗
- 5Puerto del CarmenTownDirections ↗
Who to dive the Museo Atlántico with
No special licence to operate at the museum is on record. These centres dive it with published prices:
- Rubicón Diving, in Marina Rubicón itself (Calle El Berrugo 2, unit 77B). It dives the museum every day and is the most direct option if you are staying in Playa Blanca.
- Safari Diving, on Playa Chica (Puerto del Carmen), more than 40 years on the same beach, PADI and BSAC. Free pick-up in Puerto del Carmen and Puerto Calero. Its sister centre in Playa Blanca is Dive College Lanzarote.
- Dive College Lanzarote (Calle Lanzarote 1, Playa Blanca) goes to the museum on Wednesdays and Fridays at 09:30, with 45–50 minutes of bottom time and certification to 12 m required. Its website underwatermuseumlanzarote.com presents itself as if it ran the museum; it does not.
- Pura Vida Diving, Dawn Dives, Mojo Dive, Timanfaya Sub and Alisios Sub also offer it.
Museo Atlántico prices: direct and on platforms
| Option | Where | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Afternoon dive, certified | Rubicón Diving | from €65 |
| Single dive + museum supplement | Safari Diving | €45 + €7 (equipment €10) |
| Two morning dives | Rubicón Diving | from €115 |
| Try dive + museum dive (two days) | Safari Diving | €75 + €79 = €154 |
| "Day at the Museum", uncertified | Rubicón Diving | from €175 |
| Beginners' programme, 3 h | GetYourGuide | from €165 |
| Museum dive | Civitatis | from €185 |
If you are certified, the cheapest options are Rubicón's afternoon dive or Safari's rate with the €7 supplement. If you are not, Safari's two-day route (try dive at Playa Chica, museum the next day) is cheaper than the one-day programmes, and you arrive with a dive already under your belt. Its one-day programme in Playa Blanca runs 10:00 to 15:00, Monday to Saturday.
GetYourGuide lists Museo Atlántico scuba diving for beginners from €165 (4.8 out of 5, 116 reviews): 3 hours with training included. It costs more than Safari's two-day programme, but you do it all in one morning. Civitatis sells it from €185.
GetYourGuide2 - 2.5 hours
Scuba Diving for Beginners, No Experience Needed, with Free Videos
5.0 (428)
from €75Check availability
GetYourGuide3 hours
Lanzarote: Scuba Dive at Museo Atlántico for Beginners
4.8 (116)
from €165Check availability
See all on GetYourGuide →Prices checked on 5 October 2026
What travellers say
The reviews you will find are of the dive centres, not the museum. GetYourGuide's beginners' programme is rated 4.8 out of 5 from 116 reviews. What shapes your experience most is the centre: group size, how much bottom time you get, and whether they cancel in bad weather.
The island's own dive schools have criticised the institutional neglect and the removal of pieces: today no public body is obliged to maintain the site.
Booking and cancellation
How to book your museum dive
- Decide whether you dive certified or do a beginners' programme (minimum age 10 at Safari Diving).
- If you are certified, bring your card and logbook: Dive College requires certification to 12 m.
- Book directly with the centre or on a platform with free cancellation.
- Ask what happens if the centre cancels the trip because of sea conditions.
If the centre cancels because of the weather, the refund depends on its terms or the platform's: get the cancellation in writing before you claim.
Alternatives to the Museo Atlántico
If you would rather stay dry, the Puerto Calero submarine (Submarine Safaris review) goes down to about 30 m, takes children from age 2, and needs no training. If you are interested in diving in general, the Lanzarote diving guide compares try dives, Playa Chica and sites for advanced divers. For snorkelling without a boat, Playa Chica is the easiest option; see water sports.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Museo Atlántico in Lanzarote open?
The sculptures are still on the seabed and dive centres take people there every week, but it has not operated as a museum since June 2020. The Cabildo announced a reopening without a date, and today there is no ticket office or official website.
How much does the Museo Atlántico in Lanzarote cost?
There is no official ticket. You pay for the dive: from €65 if you are certified (Rubicón Diving), or about €154–175 if you are not, depending on the centre and whether you do it over one or two days.
Can you snorkel the Museo Atlántico?
Yes. The figures are at 12–14 m and in clear water you can make them out from the surface. Rubicón Diving also takes snorkellers and freedivers; ask the price when you book.
How deep is the Museo Atlántico?
Between 12 and 14 m. Without certification you go down on a beginners' programme with an instructor; to dive it as a diver, Dive College requires certification to 12 m.
Can I visit the Museo Atlántico if I cannot dive?
Yes, on a beginners' programme that includes training. Safari Diving accepts children from 10; GetYourGuide has a 3-hour one from €165.
