Of the four diving centers that the Special Group for Underwater Activities (GEAS) of the Civil Guard inspected in Lanzarote, only one complied with all the regulations. From the inspections of the other three, a total of 12 administrative complaints were derived for various infractions. The GEAS points out that, since they began carrying out these actions this year in the non-capital islands, they have verified that there are "many irregularities, especially in Lanzarote".
The 14 inspections that the GEAS members have carried out in Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote, in coordination with the Vice-Ministry of Fisheries of the Government of the Canary Islands and the delegation in the Canary Islands of the Ministry of Industry, resulted in a total of 28 complaints, of which 12 were in Lanzarote. All inspections on the island were carried out ex officio, without starting from a prior complaint.
Among the infractions, the GEAS found three compressors in two diving centers in Lanzarote that had not passed the "corresponding inspection of the Authorized Certification Body" and that have been sealed. The equipment, which is used to fill compressed air bottles, will continue with the seal until they pass the corresponding inspection and obtain the necessary certification. However, this was not the only infraction that the agents detected on the island.
In the case of a diving center located in the municipality of Yaiza, in addition to sealing two compressors, the Civil Guard found another 5 infractions, which resulted in 5 administrative complaints. In another center in Costa Teguise, the GEAS sealed the third compressor and found, in addition, another 6 infractions that led to the respective administrative complaints. In a third center, also in Costa Teguise, they found another infraction, which cost the center an administrative complaint.
From the Civil Guard they point out that, in general, the majority of the infractions found in the province were for "non-compliance with various safety regulations such as carrying out diving activities with inadequate material or the lack of personnel to complete the minimum diving equipment". These infractions can carry fines of up to 3,000 euros for minor infractions, or from 90,000 euros to 600,000 euros in the case of the most serious ones.
