Tenerife: Snorkeling Tour in a Marine Protected Area

The sea floor is the real star here. This small-group outing from Abades gives you a gentle introduction to Tenerife’s underwater world, with rocky reefs, seagrass, colorful fish, octopuses, rays, and a reasonable chance of seeing green sea turtles. I especially like the calm, sheltered bay and the care shown by guides Raffaella and Ron, who keep beginners close and treat marine life respectfully.

I also like that you enter straight from the beach rather than boarding a boat. That helps if you get seasick, and it keeps the outing simple. The main consideration is that turtle sightings cannot be promised, and the activity is not suitable for non-swimmers, wheelchair users, or people with mobility impairments.

Key points to know before booking

• The 50-minute water session takes place in Abades, on Tenerife’s southeast coast, inside a marine protected area.
• Green turtles may appear, but they remain wild animals and may be out of reach on a particular day.
• Raffaella and Ron receive especially strong praise for patience, safety checks, and help with nervous swimmers and children.
• The group is limited to eight people, with multilingual instruction in Spanish, English, Italian, Swedish, Dutch, and German.
• A full wetsuit, mask, snorkel, boots, adjustable fins, water, insurance, and free photos and videos are included.
• The average depth is about 2.5 meters, with a maximum of 8 meters, but you still need to be able to manage in the water.

Why Abades is a good place to snorkel

Abades is not Tenerife’s busiest resort setting. The tour leaves from the beach in a sheltered bay, where rocky reef formations and small coves give fish places to feed and hide. Seagrass around the reef is especially important because it can attract green sea turtles.

The water is generally calm enough for first-time snorkelers, and the average depth stays modest. You are not being sent far offshore into open water. Instead, the experience builds around a guided swim along the coast, with the instructors helping you look closely at the reef rather than simply pointing you toward one headline animal.

The protected status matters. It helps preserve the area as a home for fish and other sea life, but it also means you need to behave like a visitor in someone else’s home. Do not feed animals or touch sea creatures. If a turtle appears, keep a respectful distance and let it choose where to swim.

That approach is more rewarding than chasing wildlife. You may see turtles, but you may also spot an octopus, a seahorse, a stingray, an angel shark, starfish, or schools of small reef fish. Several people have described seeing rays and an angel shark, while others found turtles close to the group. Nature sets the schedule here.

What happens before you enter the water

Plan to arrive 10 minutes before the start time. The meeting point is at Magilu, where you should look for a guide wearing a Snorkel Tenerife Excursions shirt. There is no hotel pickup or drop-off, so you need to make your own way to Abades.

It is best to arrive already wearing your swimsuit. The operator contacts you by WhatsApp or email the day before to ask for your measurements, allowing the team to prepare the right wetsuit and equipment. That small step matters because a poorly fitted suit can make a beginner uncomfortable before the activity even begins.

You receive a full wetsuit, mask, snorkel, boots, and adjustable fins. The wetsuit provides warmth and some buoyancy, which can make floating easier, especially for someone who feels tense in the sea. Equipment is supplied in a range of sizes, including larger footwear sizes, according to the information provided.

Before swimming out, the guides give a safety briefing. You learn what to expect, how to use the equipment, and how to interact with marine animals. This is also the time to tell the team about a medical condition, asthma, water anxiety, or any other concern that could affect you in the sea.

The 50-minute guided swim

The main activity lasts about 50 minutes in the water, although the full experience takes two hours. You enter directly from the beach and move through the bay toward the reef. The guides keep the group together and watch conditions as the route develops.

The small group size is one of the strongest features. With no more than eight participants, the instructors can spend time adjusting masks, explaining what you are seeing, and checking on anyone who is uncertain. Raffaella and Ron have been praised for staying near nervous swimmers and for keeping one guide at the front and one at the back when conditions call for it.

That setup is useful for families. Children can receive extra assistance, while adults who are less confident do not have to pretend they are comfortable. The pace is designed to keep the group together rather than reward the fastest swimmer.

You may begin by looking at smaller fish around the rocks, then move toward the seagrass and reef edges. The guides point out animals that are easy to miss, such as an octopus blending into rock or a ray resting beneath sand. The water temperature is listed as 19 to 23 degrees Celsius from March through September. A wetsuit is still supplied, both for warmth and comfort.

The stated maximum depth is 8 meters, but the average depth is about 2.5 meters. That makes the outing less intimidating than a deep-water excursion, yet it remains a real sea activity. You need enough swimming ability to move through the water and follow the group. The tour is not suitable for non-swimmers, even though no previous snorkeling experience is required.

The marine life you might see

Turtles are the big attraction, and there is a reasonable chance of seeing green sea turtles in the seagrass. Still, they are not trained animals and cannot be summoned. Some outings produce sightings of one or more turtles, while others offer excellent fish watching without a turtle encounter.

That honesty improves the experience. The guides do not feed animals or encourage close contact just to create a photograph. If a turtle swims away, the group does not pursue it. You are there to observe, not handle wildlife.

The rest of the bay provides plenty to look for. You might see colorful fish around the rocks, octopuses tucked into crevices, seahorses hidden among vegetation, starfish, rays, and stingrays. An angel shark has also been spotted. These sightings are never guaranteed, but the protected reef gives you more to notice than a bare stretch of sand.

Visibility can change with wind and sea conditions. On windy days, the surface may look rough from shore, while the water near the reef can still offer good visibility. On another day, waves may make the session less comfortable. The provider can change or cancel the activity because of strong wind, poor weather, or unsafe sea conditions.

That flexibility is important. A snorkeling company that respects conditions is doing the right thing, even if it means your plans change. If you are prone to motion sickness, the operator advises using medication, though this tour begins from the beach and does not require a boat ride.

How good are the guides?

The guides are the clearest reason to choose this outing. Raffaella and Ron are repeatedly praised for being friendly, patient, organized, and calm. Those qualities matter more than flashy equipment when you are trying to breathe through a snorkel for the first time.

First-time participants have received help with mask fitting, breathing technique, and getting comfortable in the water. The guides also check on the group throughout the swim rather than delivering one briefing and disappearing. People with water anxiety, health concerns, or limited confidence have been supported at a careful pace.

Families receive the same attention. Children as young as 8 and 9 have taken part according to the supplied information, and teenage families have enjoyed the outing together. Minors must remain under adult supervision, so this is not a drop-off activity for children.

The multilingual instruction is another practical benefit. The team can guide in Spanish, English, Italian, Swedish, Dutch, and German. That reduces confusion when safety instructions matter.

There are limits, and you should respect them. The experience is not suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments, and there are stated weight limits of 30 to 140 kilograms. People with medical conditions should tell the provider before the tour. The activity description says it is for all ages, but that does not mean every person can safely participate without being able to swim or move from the beach into the water.

Photos and videos without an extra charge

An underwater photographer takes photos and videos during the excursion. The digital files are sent to you free of charge, often by WhatsApp the following day. That is a meaningful part of the value, since underwater cameras and suitable housings can be costly and awkward to manage.

The images also let you focus on the experience instead of holding your own camera. You can watch the reef, listen to the guides, and keep both hands available for swimming. If you have previous snorkeling experience, you may use your own camera, but full-face masks are not allowed.

The photography is not a promise of a perfect portrait. Lighting, visibility, group position, and animal behavior all affect the results. Still, receiving a set of underwater memories at no added cost is a welcome touch, especially for families.

Is the $45 price good value?

At $45 per person, this is a fair price for a two-hour outing with roughly 50 minutes in the water. You are not paying only for a mask and a beach swim. The fee includes a full wetsuit, mask, snorkel, boots, fins, multilingual guides, insurance, water, assistance, and underwater photos and videos.

The small group also helps justify the cost. An eight-person maximum allows the instructors to provide individual help, which is exactly what a beginner needs. A cheaper, less personal setup could leave you struggling with equipment or trying to keep up.

The price does not include food or transport. You should also allow for the fact that the actual time snorkeling is shorter than the two-hour booking window. The remaining time covers preparation, equipment, safety instructions, entering the water, and returning to the beach.

For someone who wants a short, well-supported introduction to Tenerife’s sea life, the package is strong value. If you already snorkel independently and only want unstructured time in the water, you may prefer using your own equipment at a beach. The added cost here pays for guidance, local knowledge, safety support, and the photo package.

Who should book this experience?

I would choose this for a first snorkeling experience, a family looking for a manageable outdoor activity, or anyone who wants to see Tenerife beyond hotel pools and resort promenades. It also suits people who dislike boats, since you enter from the beach.

It is a good match for nervous swimmers who are still capable of swimming. The guides have helped people with fear of the water, confined-space worries, motion sickness, and other concerns, but you should be honest about your ability before entering the sea.

It is less suitable if you cannot swim, have difficulty walking over a beach and into the water, or need wheelchair access. Strong wind and rough sea can also affect the outing, so keep some flexibility in your schedule if snorkeling is a major holiday priority.

Bring swimwear and arrive ready to change into the supplied gear. A public shower is available on the beach. Tell the team about medical conditions in advance, and remember that minors need adult supervision throughout.

Should you book the Abades snorkeling tour?

Book it if you want a friendly, small-group introduction to Tenerife’s marine life, with patient guides and useful photos included. The strongest reasons are the calm bay, direct beach entry, careful wildlife rules, and personal help from Raffaella and Ron.

Do not book it solely because you expect a guaranteed turtle encounter. You may see one, two, or even three, but the animals are wild and sometimes remain out of reach. Book it for the reef as a whole, the fish, the chance of rays and octopuses, and the comfort of having trained guides beside you.

With a 4.9 rating from 636 reviews, the experience has earned unusually consistent praise, especially for safety, equipment, and guide attention. At $45, it is an easy recommendation for suitable swimmers who want a short and well-run sea adventure in Tenerife.

FAQ

How long does the Tenerife snorkeling tour last?

The full activity lasts two hours, including preparation and the safety briefing. The guided snorkeling portion in the water lasts about 50 minutes.

Where does the snorkeling tour begin?

The tour begins from the beach at Abades, on Tenerife’s southeast coast. Meet at Magilu and look for a guide wearing a Snorkel Tenerife Excursions shirt.

Do I need previous snorkeling experience?

No. Previous snorkeling experience is not required, and the guides provide instruction and assistance. You must still be able to swim, as the activity is not suitable for non-swimmers.

Are turtles guaranteed?

No. There is a reasonable chance of seeing green sea turtles, but they live in the wild and may be out of reach during your session. The area also contains other marine life, including fish, rays, octopuses, seahorses, and starfish.

What equipment is included?

The tour includes a mask, snorkel, adjustable fins, boots, a full wetsuit, and other high-quality equipment. Water, insurance, guide assistance, and underwater photos and videos are also included.

What should I bring?

Bring swimwear, and it is advisable to arrive already wearing it. A public shower is available on the beach. You may use your own camera if you have previous snorkeling experience, but full-face masks are not allowed.

Can the activity be canceled because of weather?

Yes. The provider may change or cancel the excursion because of poor weather, strong wind, or unsafe sea conditions. The water temperature is listed as 19 to 23 degrees Celsius from March through September.