Tenerife: Snorkeling Tour in a Marine Protected Area

The star of this small-group snorkeling tour is the protected bay at Abades, where you swim straight from the beach over rocky reef and sea grass. There is no boat ride, which keeps the outing simple and helps anyone prone to seasickness. With luck, you may see green turtles, rays, octopuses, seahorses, and clouds of fish.

I like the patient guidance from Raffaella and Ron, especially for nervous beginners, children, and people who need extra support in the water. I also like that underwater photos and videos are included at no extra cost. The main caution is clear: turtles live freely here, so nobody can promise you will see one, and the sea can change with wind and waves.

Key points at a glance

• Beach entry at Abades: Start from a sheltered bay rather than boarding a boat.
• 50 minutes in the water: The full activity lasts about two hours, including fitting gear, instruction, and changing.
• Turtles are possible, not promised: Green turtles are often seen, but they may be elsewhere in the reserve.
• Excellent beginner support: Guides stay with the group and can give extra help to children, seniors, and less confident swimmers.
• Quality equipment included: You receive a full wetsuit, mask, snorkel, boots, and adjustable fins.
• Free underwater memories: A guide uses an underwater camera and sends digital photos and videos afterward.

A protected bay instead of a boat trip

This excursion takes place at Abades on Tenerife’s southeast coast, away from the island’s larger resort centers. The meeting point is at Magilu, where you should look for a guide wearing a Snorkel Tenerife Excursions shirt.

The tour begins on the beach. That detail matters more than it may sound. You do not need to cope with a moving boat, a long ride to a reef, or a jump into open water. You can take your time getting used to the mask and snorkel before heading out.

The bay is sheltered, with an average snorkeling depth of about 2.5 meters and a maximum depth of 8 meters. The shallower sections make it easier for guides to keep an eye on everyone and give you a good chance to study the reef without rushing.

Still, sheltered does not mean perfectly flat. Wind, swell, and sea conditions can affect the outing. One family found that the waves looked large from shore, but the water became calmer near the reef, while another group had a windy day with less ideal conditions. The provider may change or cancel the activity if the weather or sea becomes unsafe.

What happens during the two-hour outing

Allow two hours from start to finish, although the guided snorkeling itself lasts about 50 minutes. Arrive 10 minutes early, ideally already wearing your swimsuit. The provider contacts you by WhatsApp or email the day before to ask for your measurements, so the team can prepare the right equipment.

The first stage is the safety briefing. You learn how to use the mask and snorkel, what to expect in the water, and how to behave around marine life. If this is your first time snorkeling, this briefing is a useful buffer between dry land and the sea.

Next comes the equipment fitting. The package includes a full wetsuit, mask, snorkel, boots, and adjustable fins. The wetsuit helps keep you warm in water ranging from 19 to 23 degrees Celsius between March and September. It also adds buoyancy, which can make floating easier for someone who is still learning.

The guides then help you enter from the beach and start at a comfortable pace. Expect the group to stay together, with support at the front and rear when needed. The instructors can assist small children, seniors, and people who are not strong swimmers, though the activity is not suitable for non-swimmers.

During the 50-minute route, the guides point out marine life and guide you across reef formations, sandy areas, and sea grass. The exact route depends on conditions and where the animals are that day. After the swim, you return to the beach, use the public shower if needed, and receive the underwater images digitally at no extra charge.

What you may see below the surface

The protected area is home to rocky reef, small coves, and sea grass. These different habitats give you more to look for than a plain sandy seabed.

Colorful fish are the most dependable sight. The guides can help you notice small creatures that are easy to miss, including camouflaged animals and fish tucked into cracks in the rock. Past outings have included starfish, rays, stingrays, angel sharks, octopuses, and seahorses.

Green sea turtles are the headline attraction. The sea grass gives them a natural feeding area, and sightings are reasonably common, but you should treat them as a bonus rather than a guarantee. The turtles may be out of reach on the day of your swim, or they may stay in another part of the protected area.

That honest approach is important. The guides do not feed the animals or touch them to bring them closer. When turtles appear, you keep a respectful distance and avoid chasing or crowding them. I consider this a major strength, since the best wildlife encounter is one that leaves the animal undisturbed.

You may also see an animal only briefly. A ray can disappear under sand, an octopus can blend into rock, and a turtle can surface or move away before everyone has a clear look. The protected area remains worthwhile even if the turtles do not appear, thanks to the variety of smaller sea life.

Why the guides matter for first-timers

The strongest part of this experience is the level of personal attention. Groups are limited to eight people, and Raffaella and Ron are often the main guides. Other guide combinations can operate the outing, but the instruction is available in Spanish, English, Italian, Swedish, Dutch, and German.

I would especially consider this tour if you feel nervous about breathing through a snorkel. Several people needed time to settle in, and the guides stayed close, checked on them, and offered practical encouragement. One person with a health concern received extra attention, while another participant with asthma was helped safely back through the difficult moment.

That does not mean you should hide a medical issue. Tell the provider about pre-existing conditions before the tour. If you have motion sickness, the company advises using medication, though the beach entry means you avoid the usual boat-related trigger.

Parents should expect to supervise minors. The guides provide extra help, but children remain the responsibility of the accompanying adult. Families with children aged 8 and 9 have taken part successfully, and teenagers have enjoyed the outing, but comfort in the water can vary from child to child.

The same applies to older adults. An 82-year-old joined one outing with the support she needed. The tour is still not designed for people with mobility impairments or wheelchair users, and there is a maximum weight of 140 kilograms and a minimum weight of 30 kilograms.

Gear, comfort, and small practical details

The equipment is a real part of the value here. You do not need to rent separate gear or bring your own wetsuit. Full wetsuits are available in all sizes, and the adjustable fins help accommodate different feet.

The wetsuit can make the water more comfortable, but getting into a snug suit is not effortless for everyone. If you find tight clothing difficult, allow patience for the fitting and tell the guides early. The team can help you with the gear, and a good fit is worth the few extra minutes.

Only standard masks are allowed. Full-face masks are not permitted. If you have previous snorkeling experience, you may use your own camera, but follow the guide’s instructions and avoid letting photography distract you from the group or the animals.

Bring swimwear and arrive dressed for the beach. Water is included, while food is not. There is a public shower on the beach, but you should not expect a full changing facility or hotel-style amenities.

The photo and video bonus

An underwater photographer accompanies the activity with a GoPro-style camera and takes pictures and videos of the group and the marine life. The files are sent digitally, often through WhatsApp, after the outing, with no extra charge.

This is more useful than a simple souvenir. Snorkeling is difficult to photograph while you are also trying to watch the reef, manage your fins, and stay with the group. Having someone else handle the camera lets you pay attention to the water.

The number and quality of images can vary with visibility, light, sea conditions, and how much marine life appears. You should not book the tour solely for a perfect turtle portrait. Still, the included photos add genuine value to a $45 activity, especially for families who want a shared record without buying a separate photo package.

Is $45 a fair price?

At $45 per person, this sits in a reasonable range for a two-hour guided water activity in Tenerife. You receive the complete set of basic snorkeling equipment, a wetsuit, insurance, water, multilingual instruction, and about 50 minutes of guided time in the sea.

The small group improves the value. With a maximum of eight people, the guides can correct a loose mask, help with fins, or stay beside someone who feels uncertain. That kind of support is harder to provide in a large beach group.

The free images also matter. Many water activities charge extra for photos, but this one includes digital pictures and videos. You are paying for instruction, safety, equipment, access to a protected marine area, and a keepsake rather than simply renting a mask for an hour.

The value is lower if you only want to swim independently or already have your own equipment. It is also lower if your main goal is a guaranteed turtle sighting. Since wildlife is not scheduled, you need to value the whole marine setting, not one species.

Who should book this Abades snorkel?

I would recommend it most strongly to:

• First-time snorkelers who want calm instruction
• Families with children who can take part in the water
• Older adults who are comfortable following a guided beach activity
• Nervous swimmers who need a small group and close supervision
• Experienced snorkelers who want a guided look at Tenerife’s southeast coast
• Visitors staying around the southern resorts who want a quieter outing away from the busiest beaches

It is not suitable for non-swimmers, wheelchair users, people with mobility impairments, anyone over 140 kilograms, or anyone under 30 kilograms. If you have a medical condition, contact the provider before booking rather than waiting until arrival.

The tour also works well for a mixed-ability family. A confident swimmer can enjoy looking for fish, while a beginner receives help with floating, breathing, and keeping pace. The guides can manage different comfort levels, although a participant who cannot swim should not join.

Timing, cancellation, and meeting advice

Check the available start times when booking because the activity lasts two hours and schedules can change. Reserve at least a little time around the outing so you are not hurrying to another appointment.

There is no hotel pickup or drop-off. You arrange your own way to Abades and meet at Magilu. Arrive 10 minutes early, wear your swimsuit, and respond to the provider’s request for your measurements the day before.

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the start for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option gives you some flexibility. Sea conditions remain the key uncertainty. Strong wind or rough water can lead to a change or cancellation, so avoid making this the only fixed plan on a tightly packed day.

Should you book it?

Book this excursion if you want a friendly, carefully supervised introduction to Tenerife’s underwater life, especially if you are new to snorkeling or uneasy in the sea. The beach entry, small group, quality equipment, patient instruction, and free photos make the $45 price easy to justify.

Book with realistic expectations. Turtles are possible but not guaranteed, and the sea may be windier than expected. If you can accept that wildlife follows its own schedule, this is a responsible and family-friendly way to see Abades’ reef, fish, rays, and smaller creatures without a boat trip or extra photo fee.

FAQ

Where does the snorkeling tour start?

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

How long is the snorkeling session?

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

Are turtles guaranteed?

No. There is a reasonable chance of seeing green sea turtles, but they swim freely in their natural habitat and may be elsewhere or out of reach during your tour.

What equipment is included?

The provider supplies a full wetsuit, mask, snorkel, boots, adjustable fins, and other high-quality equipment. Water and insurance are also included.

Is the tour suitable for beginners?

Yes, the tour is designed for beginners and people without previous snorkeling experience. Professional guides provide a safety briefing, explain the equipment, and offer extra help to small children, seniors, and less-confident swimmers.

Can non-swimmers join?

No. Non-swimmers are listed as unsuitable for this activity. The guides can help less-confident swimmers, but every participant must be able to take part in the water.

What should I bring?

Bring your swimwear and arrive about 10 minutes before the start. It is advisable to wear your swimsuit before arriving. Food and hotel transportation are not included, and a public shower is available on the beach.