Puerto de la Cruz: Submarine Trip and Beach Stop in Tenerife

A yellow submarine, 30 meters below Tenerife, sitting on the ocean floor while sting rays glide past the windows: that is the main attraction here. The one-hour ride aboard Sub Fun Cinco offers a calm way to see Atlantic sea life without getting wet, with 22 large windows and seats for 44 people.

I like the family-friendly format and the unusual chance to watch experienced divers bring fish close to the submarine. I also like the simple pairing of ocean time with two free hours at Playa de las Américas, giving you a little beach life after the main event.

The catch is the long road journey from Puerto de la Cruz. You spend about 105 minutes each way on the bus, so this is a full-day outing with only one hour in the submarine and roughly two hours at the beach.

Key points to know before booking

• Sub Fun Cinco reaches about 30 meters below the Atlantic, where you watch fish through large individual windows.
• Sting rays are the star sighting, joined by barracuda, octopus, flute fish, parrot fish, and other sea life.
• Divers approach the submarine on the sea bed, encouraging fish to come closer for better views and photographs.
• The audio guide comes in 15 languages, while live tour support is available in English, German, and Spanish.
• Playa de las Américas gives you about two hours, enough for a meal, a little shopping, or a beach break.
• Transport is included only from Puerto de la Cruz and Las Caletillas, with hotel pickup and drop-off at selected locations.

The submarine ride at Amarilla harbor

The excursion begins with pickup near your hotel in Puerto de la Cruz or Las Caletillas. The available stops include well-known hotels such as Hotel Botanico, Sol Costa Atlantis, Hotel Riu Garoe, Maritim Hotel Tenerife, HC Hotel Magec, and several others.

After the bus reaches Amarilla harbor in southern Tenerife, you board the yellow Sub Fun Cinco. The submarine has 44 seats and 22 large screen windows, so the arrangement is designed to give each person a useful view rather than forcing everyone toward one small viewing area.

The vessel is described as spacious and airy, which matters when you are sharing a compact underwater craft with a group. You are seated beside a window, and headphones are provided for the audio guide. The ride itself lasts about one hour.

The submarine descends to approximately 100 feet, or 30 meters. At that depth, the experience is less about speed and more about watching the sea floor and waiting for fish to pass your window. The craft actually rests on the ocean bed for part of the visit, adding a sense of occasion to what might otherwise feel like a short underwater cruise.

This is not a scuba excursion, and you do not need swimming ability or any special water experience. You remain inside the submarine throughout. That makes it a good choice for families, older visitors, and anyone who wants to see underwater life but does not feel comfortable in the water.

What you may see through the windows

The sea life listed for this trip includes flute fish, octopus, barracuda, parrot fish, and sting rays. The sting rays are likely to be the most memorable sight. Their broad shapes and smooth movement make them easy to spot as they pass over the sea bed.

You may also see sand eels, which are noted by several people who enjoyed the trip, along with a varied mix of smaller fish. The exact sightings will depend on conditions and animal movement, so nobody can promise a particular species on a particular day.

The best part of the setup is the presence of experienced divers outside the submarine. While the vessel rests on the ocean floor, the divers encourage fish to come nearer to the windows. This gives you a better chance to see the animals clearly and take photographs.

Keep your expectations sensible. This is a one-hour marine life excursion, not a full day of underwater exploration. The fish may appear close one moment and move away the next. Still, the combination of a stationary submarine, large windows, and divers working outside gives you more than a simple glass-bottom boat view.

The audio guide adds useful context. It explains the animals, the Atlantic ecosystem, and why these waters need protection. You can listen in Spanish, English, German, French, Italian, Dutch, Finnish, Swedish, Danish, Hungarian, Polish, Romanian, Czech, Russian, or Chinese.

That wide language choice is especially practical for mixed-language families and groups. The live tour guide speaks English, German, and Spanish, while the recorded commentary fills in the detail during the underwater portion.

Why the sea-bed stop matters

The submarine does not simply pass through the water and return to the surface. It settles on the sea bed, turning the ride into a proper viewing session. That gives you time to study the fish rather than trying to spot them as the boat moves along.

The divers are an important part of this section. Their work brings fish closer to the windows and makes the viewing more active. You are still a spectator, but the scene outside has a little theater to it as the divers and fish move around the submarine.

This is also where the tour’s educational side earns its place. The audio guide discusses delicate marine ecosystems and the need to preserve them. You are not just looking at a colorful collection of fish. You are also being reminded that the sea floor is a living environment, not an aquarium arranged for visitors.

For photography, sit close to your window and keep your camera ready. The large windows help, but reflections may still affect pictures. The most rewarding moments may pass quickly, so take a few photos, then spend time simply watching.

The long transfer from Puerto de la Cruz

The main practical issue is distance. The bus journey from Puerto de la Cruz to Amarilla harbor takes about 105 minutes. The return journey takes another 105 minutes, and there is an additional transfer of about 25 minutes between the harbor area and Playa de las Américas.

That means around three and a half hours of the seven-hour excursion are spent on the road. If you dislike long coach rides, this is the point to consider carefully. The trip works best when you see the transfer as part of a full-day outing rather than as a quick local activity.

The bus does make it easy for you to reach the south without arranging a rental car or finding parking. Pickup is available at selected hotels, and drop-off is arranged at the same group of locations after the day ends.

You need to be at your pickup point at least five minutes early. The driver will have a passenger list and will wait no longer than ten minutes after the scheduled pickup time. Since the exact pickup time is provided after booking, check it carefully and avoid treating the morning schedule casually.

The south of Tenerife often feels different from Puerto de la Cruz, so the journey also gives you a look at another part of the island. Still, the activity itself takes place in a compact harbor and beach setting, not across a series of major sights. If your priority is seeing Tenerife’s mountains, villages, or historic towns, this is not the right day trip.

Two hours at Playa de las Américas

After the submarine experience, the bus continues to Playa de las Américas for about 25 minutes. You get approximately two hours of free time, with no fixed group activity listed during this stop.

That freedom is useful. You can relax at the beach, find food, shop, or simply sit down after the morning’s transport and submarine ride. The stop also gives you a chance to choose your own pace instead of spending the entire day under a guide’s direction.

Do not expect two hours to cover the whole resort area. You have enough time for a meal and a short beach visit, or for a walk and some shopping. Trying to do everything will make this section feel rushed.

Food and drinks are not included, so bring money for your own meal or refreshments. The free time is flexible, but it is also short. Keep track of the meeting point and return time so you do not turn a relaxed beach stop into a stressful finish.

This second stop is a major reason the experience appeals to families. Younger children may enjoy the bright submarine more than a long sightseeing tour, while adults can use the beach break to eat or rest. It also gives the day some variety: underwater viewing first, open-air leisure later.

What the $87 price includes

At $87 per person, this is not the cheapest way to spend a day in Tenerife. The price includes round-trip transportation, the submarine ride, a guide, the multilingual audio system, and a dive certificate.

The transport adds real value if you are staying in Puerto de la Cruz and do not want to drive across the island. You are paying for the activity and for the long connection to southern Tenerife, not just for a one-hour boat ride.

The certificate is a pleasant extra, especially for children. It gives them something tangible to keep from the day, though it should not be the reason you book.

The value is strongest for someone who specifically wants an underwater experience. A regular beach day would cost far less, and Playa de las Américas can be visited independently. The submarine is the part that makes this outing different.

The price also makes more sense if you plan to use the full day. Have lunch during the beach stop, enjoy the two-hour break, and treat the coach ride as a way to connect two parts of Tenerife. If you only care about the submarine and would rather return immediately, the long transfers may feel expensive in time as well as money.

The activity has a rating of 4.6 from 160 ratings, and the most consistent praise centers on the sea-floor viewing, the range of fish, the sting rays, and the professional way the trip is handled. One person who was nervous around water found the submarine a comfortable way to experience marine life. That is a useful clue about the tour’s appeal: you can have an underwater adventure without entering the ocean.

Who will enjoy this day most

I would recommend this excursion to families with children aged two and above, couples wanting something unusual, and anyone curious about the ocean but uninterested in snorkeling or scuba activities.

It also suits people who enjoy guided experiences with a clear schedule. Pickup, harbor transfer, submarine ride, beach stop, and return are all arranged for you. You do not need to make decisions about roads, parking, or how to connect the north and south of the island.

The activity may suit you if you are anxious around open water. You stay inside a large, enclosed submarine, and the one-hour format keeps the underwater portion manageable. The audio guide and visible crew support also help make the experience feel organized.

I would think twice if you want a quiet beach day, a flexible schedule, or a short attraction close to Puerto de la Cruz. The coach rides are long, and the free time at Playa de las Américas is limited to about two hours.

Children under two cannot join. The available information does not provide further access details, so if you have specific mobility or medical concerns, ask the provider before booking.

Practical tips for a smoother day

Arrive at your pickup location early. Five minutes is the stated minimum, but the driver’s ten-minute waiting limit means you should not rely on a last-second arrival.

Bring money for food and drinks. Nothing is included during the beach stop, and two hours is enough time for a proper meal if you plan it well.

Use the audio guide. It is available in 15 languages and adds meaning to the fish sightings, especially if you are not already familiar with Atlantic marine life.

Keep your camera ready during the sea-floor portion. Sting rays and larger fish may appear near the windows, but they will not wait for everyone to finish adjusting a phone.

Expect a full seven-hour outing rather than a quick excursion. Wear comfortable clothing for the bus journey, and save some energy for the return trip.

The guide and driver speak English, German, and Spanish. The audio commentary provides much wider language coverage, including French, Italian, Dutch, Finnish, Swedish, Danish, Hungarian, Polish, Romanian, Czech, Russian, and Chinese.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if you are still arranging your Tenerife schedule.

Should you book the Sub Fun Cinco trip?

Book this trip if the idea of watching sting rays and other fish from a real submarine excites you. The 30-meter descent, the sea-floor stop, the divers outside the windows, and the audio commentary make it more memorable than a standard boat ride.

The main tradeoff is time. You spend about three and a half hours traveling by bus for one hour underwater and two hours at the beach. For many people, that is a fair exchange because the submarine experience is unusual and the transport removes the hassle of reaching the south.

I would choose it for a family day, a first underwater experience, or a change from Tenerife’s usual viewpoints and beach routine. I would skip it if you are staying in the south already, dislike organized transport, or want several hours of uninterrupted beach time.

FAQ

Where does the submarine trip depart from?

The submarine departs from Amarilla harbor in the south of Tenerife, near Amarilla Golf.

How deep does the submarine go?

The submarine reaches approximately 30 meters, or 100 feet, below the surface.

How long is the submarine portion?

The guided submarine and marine life viewing portion lasts about one hour.

What sea life might I see?

You may see flute fish, octopus, barracuda, parrot fish, sand eels, and sting rays. Sightings depend on conditions and animal movement.

Is the submarine suitable for children?

Children must be at least two years old to take part. Children under two are not permitted.

How much free time is provided at Playa de las Américas?

You get approximately two hours of free time for the beach, food, shopping, or relaxing.

Is transportation included from Puerto de la Cruz?

Yes. Round-trip bus transport is included from selected pickup locations in Puerto de la Cruz and Las Caletillas.

What languages are available?

Live tour support is available in English, German, and Spanish. The audio guide is available in 15 languages: Spanish, English, German, French, Italian, Dutch, Finnish, Swedish, Danish, Hungarian, Polish, Romanian, Czech, Russian, and Chinese.