Tenerife: Snorkeling Tour in a Marine Protected Area

The best part of this Tenerife outing is that you enter the marine protected area straight from Abades beach, not from a rocking boat. In a sheltered bay, you can float above rocky reefs and seagrass while guides Rafaella and Ron point out fish, rays, octopuses, and the occasional green turtle.

I like two things here: the small groups, limited to eight, and the patient help for nervous swimmers, children, seniors, and first-time snorkelers. I also like that underwater photos and videos are included, not sold as a costly extra. The main consideration is simple: turtles are never guaranteed, and the tour is not suitable for non-swimmers or people with mobility impairments.

Key points at a glance

• Turtle country, but no promises: Green turtles often pass through the seagrass, though they remain wild animals and may be elsewhere.
• Beach entry in Abades: You avoid a boat ride, which is useful if you are prone to seasickness.
• Two guides for a small group: Rafaella and Ron can watch the front and back of the group and give close support.
• A beginner-friendly setup: Full wetsuits add warmth and buoyancy, while instructors explain breathing, fin use, and safety before you enter.
• Free underwater memories: A guide carries a camera and sends digital photos and videos after the excursion.
• Good value at $45: Gear, insurance, water, instruction, and a 50-minute guided session are included.

Why Abades is a smart place to snorkel

Abades sits on Tenerife’s southeast coast, away from the resort-heavy feel of Costa Adeje. The snorkeling takes place in a sheltered bay inside a marine protected area, where rocky reef formations, small coves, and seagrass create homes for many species.

The water is generally clear enough to look for small fish moving over the reef. You might spot starfish, rays, a stingray partly buried in sand, an angel shark, an octopus, or a seahorse. The exact list changes with sea conditions and luck. That is part of the appeal, but it also means you should book this as a wildlife encounter, not a guaranteed turtle show.

Green turtles are the headline sight. The seagrass around the reefs gives them a useful feeding area, so there is a reasonable chance of seeing one. Still, turtles can be out of range on any given morning. The guides do not feed animals or chase them, and they keep a respectful distance when turtles appear. That restraint is important in a protected area, even if it means you occasionally leave without the photograph you hoped for.

Arriving at Abades beach

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. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you need to arrange your own way to the beach.

Wear your swimsuit under your clothes. The operator contacts you by WhatsApp or email the day before to ask for your measurements, which helps the staff prepare the right wetsuit. Bring only what you need for the activity, along with your swimwear. Water is included, and there is a public shower on the beach.

The full experience takes about two hours, though only 50 minutes is spent on the guided snorkeling route. The remaining time covers meeting the guides, fitting gear, the safety talk, entering the water, and getting organized afterward. That pacing is useful for beginners. You are not rushed from the car park into the sea with a mask in your hand.

The briefing makes the first few minutes easier

Before getting wet, the instructors explain what will happen and how to behave around marine life. This includes the basics of breathing through a snorkel, using adjustable fins, staying with the group, and responding if you feel worried in the water.

The guides are used to working with people who arrive unsure of themselves. Several participants with water fears, motion sickness, health concerns, or little snorkeling experience received extra attention and were able to complete the outing. That does not turn the activity into a swimming lesson, but it does make the first few minutes less intimidating.

Rafaella and Ron are the main names to look for, and the company also uses other multilingual instructors. The tour can be guided in Spanish, English, Italian, Swedish, Dutch, or German. Having two guides for up to eight people is a real plus. One can lead the route while the other stays toward the rear, keeping an eye on anyone who needs a slower pace.

You should still be honest about your ability and medical history. People with pre-existing medical conditions are asked to tell the provider before the tour. If you suffer from motion sickness, medication is advised, even though this outing starts from shore rather than a boat.

Getting fitted with full snorkeling gear

The supplied kit includes a mask, snorkel, boots, adjustable fins, and a full wetsuit in a range of sizes. The wetsuit is more than a way to stay warm. It adds buoyancy, which can help you relax while you learn to keep your legs up and your breathing steady.

Water temperatures are listed at 19 to 23 degrees Celsius from March through September. A full suit makes that range more manageable, especially during a 50-minute session. It can feel snug when you first put it on, and one participant found the suit difficult to wear, but proper fitting matters more than fashion here. Tell the guides if anything pinches, leaks, or feels loose.

Full-face masks are not allowed. You use a standard mask and snorkel, with instruction before entering the water. If you have previous snorkeling experience, you may use your own camera. Beginners are better off leaving complicated camera work to the underwater photographer so they can concentrate on breathing and staying comfortable.

Entering the water from shore

The group starts from the beach. There is no boat transfer, no ladder to climb, and no need to deal with a moving deck. That is one of the strongest practical reasons to choose this trip over a boat-based excursion, especially if you are susceptible to seasickness.

The bay is described as calm and suitable for all swimmers, but the ocean still sets the rules. Wind, waves, or poor sea conditions can change the plan or cancel the session. One outing took place in windy weather, yet the guides adjusted their route and kept the group safe. Another participant noted that larger waves looked more serious from shore than they felt once the group reached the reef. Conditions vary, so do not treat a calm photograph as a forecast.

The average depth is about 2.5 meters, with a maximum of 8 meters. Much of the tour is therefore shallow enough for a relaxed look down at the reef, though you should not assume you can stand everywhere. The guides remain with the group and provide extra support for small children, seniors, and people who are not strong swimmers.

There is an important distinction in the rules: you do not need to be an expert swimmer, but the activity is not suitable for non-swimmers. You must be comfortable enough in the water to participate with the support provided. Minors must remain under adult supervision.

Fifty minutes over reef, sand, and seagrass

Once everyone is ready, the guided route follows the bay’s reef formations and sheltered coves. The guides help you notice smaller creatures that are easy to miss when you are simply looking for a turtle.

Schools of tropical and subtropical fish move through the rocky areas. Look around the edges of the reef, over sandy patches, and among the seagrass. A stingray may be almost invisible beneath the sand. An octopus can change its appearance and disappear against the rocks. Seahorses are much harder to find, so keep your movements calm and let the guides do the spotting.

The underwater setting is not a polished aquarium. Visibility changes with wind, swell, and light. Some days produce calm water and clear views; others may offer more fish than perfect photographs. That tradeoff is normal in a real marine habitat, and the protected status of the bay matters more than having a guaranteed spectacle.

The standard route lasts 50 minutes. That is long enough to settle into the rhythm of snorkeling without turning the experience into an endurance test. If you become tired, anxious, or unwell, tell a guide at once. The staff have helped participants back to shore while keeping the rest of the group on route.

Turtles, wildlife rules, and realistic expectations

You should book this for the whole underwater setting, not only for turtles. Several outings have produced turtle sightings, including more than one turtle on some days, but others have found fish and rays without seeing a turtle. The animals may be beyond the route or simply absent at that time.

The rules are clear and worth following:

• Do not feed marine life.
• Do not touch turtles or other sea animals.
• Keep a respectful distance from turtles.
• Follow the guides’ directions when an animal appears.

These rules protect the animals and make the encounter less stressful. They also keep the experience from becoming a noisy pursuit. You may get a better memory by watching a turtle glide past on its own terms than by trying to force it into a close-up photograph.

The protected area also gives the guides a chance to explain what you are seeing. Rafaella is particularly attentive to pointing out fish and other creatures, while both guides keep the group together and check on individuals often. Their role is part naturalist, part safety team, and part confidence coach.

Underwater photos without an added fee

A guide carries an underwater camera during the excursion and takes photos and videos of the group and the sea life. The files are sent digitally for free, often through WhatsApp after the outing.

This is a useful inclusion. You can focus on the water instead of trying to hold a camera, adjust settings, and keep track of your group at the same time. The images also help preserve moments that are easy to blur together later, such as a turtle passing over the seagrass or a ray hiding in the sand.

If you have previous snorkeling experience, you may bring your own camera, though the operator does not allow full-face masks. Ask about camera use if you are uncertain, and do not let photography distract you from the wildlife rules.

How the $45 price measures up

At $45 per person, this is a fair price for a two-hour beach-based outing. The fee includes the mask, snorkel, boots, fins, full wetsuit, multilingual instruction, insurance, water, the 50-minute guided session, and digital photos and videos.

The free media is especially useful because many water activities charge extra for images. Here, it is part of the package. You also avoid the extra time and fuel involved in a boat trip, though the tradeoff is that the tour covers one protected bay rather than several snorkeling sites.

The small group improves the value. A limit of eight allows the instructors to help with mask fitting, anxiety, and pace in a way a large beach group cannot. If your main goal is luxury transport, a long day on the water, or several reefs, this is not that product. If you want a focused introduction to Tenerife’s coastal wildlife with solid gear and personal help, the price makes sense.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the activity, and you can reserve now and pay later. Weather remains the deciding factor on the day, since strong wind or rough seas can lead to a change or cancellation.

Who should book this Abades snorkeling tour

I would recommend this outing to families with children, couples, first-time snorkelers, and anyone who wants a gentle introduction to Tenerife’s sea life. It also suits stronger snorkelers who prefer a small group and want a guide to locate creatures they might swim past.

The extra assistance is a major benefit for nervous participants. Children aged 8 and 9 have taken part with good support, and an 82-year-old grandmother joined an outing with the help she needed. That does not mean every older adult or child will find it easy. You need to meet the stated weight limits, and minors require adult supervision.

This is not suitable for wheelchair users, people with mobility impairments, non-swimmers, anyone over 140 kilograms, or anyone under 30 kilograms. If you have a medical condition, tell the provider before booking. If you are worried about water, say so early rather than trying to hide it. The guides can work with nerves more effectively when they know about them.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want a short, well-supported wildlife outing from the beach, especially if you dislike boats or have never snorkeled before. The best reasons are the calm bay, small group, full wetsuits, attentive instructors, and free underwater photos.

Do not book it solely because you expect a guaranteed turtle photograph. Sea conditions and animal movements remain outside anyone’s control. If you can accept that, Abades offers a thoughtful way to see fish, reef life, and perhaps green turtles while treating the protected area with care. At $45, it is one of the more practical family activities for a Tenerife itinerary.

FAQ

Where does the snorkeling tour take place?

The tour takes place from Abades beach on Tenerife’s southeast coast, inside a marine protected area with a sheltered bay.

How long is the activity?

The complete activity lasts about two hours. The guided snorkeling portion in the water lasts 50 minutes.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $45 per person.

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.

What equipment is included?

The tour provides a mask, snorkel, fins, boots, and a full wetsuit. Water, insurance, and high-quality equipment are also included.

Do I need previous snorkeling experience?

No previous experience is required. Instructors explain what to expect and assist beginners throughout the activity.

Do I need to be a strong swimmer?

You do not need to be a strong swimmer, and extra assistance is available. However, the activity is not suitable for non-swimmers.

Are photos and videos included?

Yes. An underwater photographer takes photos and videos during the excursion, then sends them to you digitally at no extra cost.

What languages are available?

Guides can provide the tour in Spanish, English, Italian, Swedish, Dutch, or German.

What should I bring?

Bring your swimwear and arrive about 10 minutes before the start. It is advisable to wear your swimsuit when you arrive. There is a public shower at the beach.