Viva Blue Diving, a local diving centre in Lanzarote, was awarded the Turismo Yaiza 2026 prize on Thursday, 8 October, during an annual gala hosted by the Yaiza Town Hall in Playa Blanca. The award celebrates the company’s commitment to environmental awareness and coastal cleanup initiatives within the municipality.
Mayor Óscar Noda and Tourism Councillor Daniel Medina presented the honour to the team, led by Gemma Lago, Raúl Anaya, and Sebastián Ceriani. The company, formerly known as Pura Vida, has been a part of the island’s tourism landscape for eleven years.
A significant aspect of their work involves organising beach and marine cleanup days for the past eight years, engaging volunteers and supported by the Yaiza Town Hall. During the ceremony, the council highlighted the environmental education efforts of Viva Blue Diving, both for its clients and the local community.
Lago expressed her gratitude for the award, which she sees as a recognition of sustainable tourism practices in an area needing protection. She emphasised the value of involving staff and volunteers in environmental campaigns and thanked the council for its support in their initiatives.
In his remarks, Mayor Noda linked the award to the rebranding of the centre and its new international identity, highlighting its focus on eco-friendly tourism. Councillor Medina praised the collaboration between the centre and the municipality, as well as the involvement of the Playa Blanca and Yaiza communities in the activities.
The gala also featured a performance reflecting the tourism evolution of Playa Blanca and included vintage photographs of the area. It concluded with a musical act by Gran Canarian singer-songwriter Aduén Amaya, who performed with his band.
