Tenerife : Snorkeling underwater with freediving Instructor

Tenerife’s Radazul coast gives you more than a quick mask-and-fins swim. Carlos begins on the wooden platform with stretching, yoga, Qigong, and calm breathing work, then explains how to equalise your ears and move comfortably below the surface. The sea session lasts about an hour and includes a chance to see colorful fish and, if conditions cooperate, other marine life such as rays.

I especially like two things here. First, the preparation is not filler: the breathing exercises help you relax before entering the water, which is useful if you are new to breath-hold snorkeling. Second, the small group is capped at 10, so the instructor can give practical help rather than simply point toward the fish.

The main consideration is that this is an outdoor sea activity, not a guaranteed-weather attraction. Strong wind, rain, or rough waves can lead to a rescheduled session, and you must know how to swim. You also need to remove ordinary glasses in the water.

Key points at a glance

• A calm one-hour preparation: Stretching, yoga, Qigong, breathing, and ear-equalisation practice take place before the sea session.
• Guided marine-life viewing: You spend about an hour snorkeling around Radazul while an experienced freediver leads the way.
• A gentle introduction to freediving: The breathing and relaxation work gives you a first look at breath-hold techniques without making this a full certification course.
• All core gear is supplied: Mask, snorkel, fins, wetsuit, sports equipment, and an apnea belt with weights are included.
• Photos, videos, and a snack: The team uses underwater photo and video equipment, then offers a healthy snack after you leave the water.
• A small, multilingual group: English, French, and Spanish are available, with no more than 10 participants.

Why Radazul is more than a standard snorkeling stop

Radazul Beach, on Tenerife’s coast, is the setting for this three-hour session. You meet at one of the three wooden platforms facing the ocean, rather than at a conventional tour office. That detail matters: arrive looking for the platforms, not just a general beach entrance.

The setting keeps the activity close to the water from the start. You can get your bearings on the platform, listen to the safety talk, and prepare your body before putting on the equipment. It also means the dry portion is outdoors, so sun protection and weather awareness are practical concerns.

This is not presented as a race to see how far you can swim or how long you can hold your breath. The tone is slower and more mindful. You are taught to relax, control your breathing, and handle your ears before the sea session begins. For a first attempt at freediving skills, that order makes sense. A tense swimmer usually wastes energy, while a relaxed swimmer can pay more attention to the seabed and marine life.

The coast is also a good match for anyone who wants more than ordinary surface snorkeling. The session combines basic technique, sea observation, and a little body awareness. You still spend much of the time snorkeling, but the preparation gives the outing a clear purpose.

The first hour: safety, stretching, and breath control

The opening hour takes place at Radazul and is built around preparation. You receive a safety introduction, then learn how to compensate for pressure in your ears when you lower yourself into the water. This is one of the most useful parts for beginners, since uncomfortable ears can quickly spoil an otherwise pleasant swim.

Carlos leads the preparation with a calm, friendly approach. The program includes light stretching and elements of yoga and Qigong, followed by conscious breathing. You are not simply handed a mask and told to follow someone into the sea. Instead, you get time to settle your breathing and understand what your body should be doing.

The breathing work received especially strong praise from the people who booked this session. It was described as helpful during the later snorkeling, and as a useful first look at freediving. That is a good clue about the character of the class: the goal is not only to spot fish, but also to teach you how relaxation affects your time in the water.

I would pay attention during this part, even if you already snorkel. The value is in learning how to conserve energy, stay composed, and equalise correctly. Those skills can make a short underwater visit feel far more comfortable.

The dry preparation takes place on a wooden platform in front of the ocean. You will need a swimsuit, towel, sunscreen, and a willingness to take part. The operator advises you not to eat during the hour before the activity, so plan breakfast or lunch accordingly.

Getting fitted with mask, fins, and wetsuit

After the briefing and exercises, you put on the supplied equipment. The package includes a mask, snorkel tube, fins, wetsuit, sports equipment, and an apnea belt with weights. Having the main gear provided keeps the outing simple, especially if you are traveling around Tenerife without your own kit.

The wetsuit is a useful inclusion because even in a warm destination, an hour in the sea can feel cool. The belt with weights belongs to the freediving side of the session, and the instructor can help you use the equipment in a controlled way. This is not the place to experiment alone. Follow the safety instructions and ask for help if the mask or fins do not feel right.

Glasses need to come off for the water portion. Contact lenses are allowed, and the operator can advise people with very strong prescriptions about special lenses that fit a snorkeling mask. Visually impaired people are not considered suitable for this activity, so contact the provider before booking if you have questions about your sight or need specific support.

The group limit of 10 is another practical advantage. Water activities can become confusing when too many people share one guide. A smaller group should make it easier to hear instructions, receive equipment help, and stay aware of the instructor once you are at sea.

About an hour among Radazul’s fish

The central part of the session lasts about 1.5 hours on the schedule, including the guided water time and photo stop. The actual snorkeling portion is described as about an hour. During it, you explore the seabed with the instructor, look for marine life, and practice what you learned on the platform.

The setting has produced sightings of colorful fish and a ray. Marine life is never guaranteed, of course, and the sea can change from one day to the next. Still, the combination of clear observation, a guide, and breath control gives you a better chance of noticing what is below than a hurried solo swim.

The instructor’s role is important here. Rather than sending you off with rental equipment, the session gives you a trained person to guide the route and watch the group. You can concentrate on breathing and looking around instead of worrying about where to go next.

This is also where the preparation earns its keep. Conscious breathing can quiet the urge to rush, while ear-equalisation practice helps you lower yourself with less discomfort. You may spend only short periods below the surface, but each one can feel more controlled when you have prepared properly.

The word snorkeling can make this sound like a very basic beach activity. It is more structured than that. You learn how to use the equipment, how to prepare your body, and how to make a breath-hold safer and calmer. At the same time, you should keep your expectations sensible. This is an introductory session, not a professional freediving course, rescue course, or certification program.

Underwater photos and a snack afterward

The team brings underwater photo and video equipment and tries to capture your expressions during the session. That is a nice touch if you want a record without carrying your own camera into the water. It also lets you focus on swimming and observing rather than managing a phone or action camera.

The wording is appropriately modest: the team will try to get a memory of the experience. Water, light, visibility, and timing are outside anyone’s control, so do not treat the images as a guaranteed professional photography package. Their real value is as a personal reminder of your first breath-hold snorkeling session.

After the water portion, you receive a healthy snack. The final 30 minutes are set aside for a break, aperitif, picnic, and local snacks. This gives you time to warm up, recover, and talk through what you saw instead of ending the activity the moment you leave the sea.

The snack is included in the $52 price, along with the equipment, instruction, and photos and videos. For someone who would otherwise need to rent gear and book a separate guided outing, that is a fair bundle. The value is strongest if you are interested in the breathing workshop and guidance, not just a quick swim.

If your main goal is simply to float with a mask for 30 minutes, you may find cheaper options on Tenerife. You are paying here for the preparation, the instructor’s attention, the equipment, and the organized approach to breath-hold snorkeling.

Who will enjoy this most

This session suits confident swimmers who are new to freediving techniques or who want to improve their comfort in the water. You do not need to arrive with specialist equipment, and the breathing class makes the activity approachable for beginners who are willing to listen and practice.

It is also a good fit if you enjoy combining movement with relaxation. The yoga, stretching, Qigong, and breathing work give the morning or afternoon a more thoughtful rhythm than a standard equipment rental.

Younger children under 6 cannot take part, and non-swimmers are excluded. The activity also requires you to remove glasses, which may be a concern if you cannot use contact lenses or suitable prescription equipment.

The multilingual instruction is available in English, French, and Spanish. That should help mixed-language groups, though the most important thing is that you can understand the safety briefing and instructions in the water.

I would choose this for a couple, solo visitor, or small group of friends who want a personal introduction to the sea. It may be less suitable for someone who dislikes guided classes, cannot comfortably swim, or wants a guaranteed wildlife encounter.

Weather, timing, and practical planning

The full activity takes three hours, with starting times depending on availability. Meet at Radazul Beach, at one of the three wooden platforms in front of the ocean. The supplied details also identify Av. Colón, 22 as the starting and return point, so check the precise booking instructions carefully and allow time to locate the platform.

Because the dry session happens outside and the sea portion depends on conditions, weather can affect the plan. Rain, strong wind, or large waves may lead to rescheduling. I would avoid placing this activity immediately before an important airport transfer or a fixed evening booking.

Bring your swimsuit, towel, sunscreen, and a positive attitude. Avoid eating during the hour before the activity, as advised by the operator. You should also be ready for a physical session involving swimming, fins, and time in the water.

Cancellation is flexible up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms are useful when Tenerife’s weather is unsettled, although they do not remove the need to keep your schedule flexible if the sea changes.

How the $52 price works for you

At $52 per person, this is priced above a basic self-guided snorkeling rental but below what you might expect from a more specialized private lesson. The comparison is not quite apples to apples. You receive about three hours of organized time, an instructor, a preparation workshop, full core equipment, a snack, and underwater photos and videos.

The strongest value comes from the instruction. Carlos’s calm approach and the breathing exercises are repeatedly singled out as the most useful part of the session. If you are curious about freediving but do not know where to begin, paying for a careful introduction can be wiser than trying to copy techniques from a video.

The included wetsuit, fins, mask, snorkel, and weighted belt also save you the trouble of bringing or hiring separate equipment. The snack is a small extra, but welcome after an hour in the sea.

There are limits. The price does not guarantee a particular animal, perfect visibility, or a certain number of photos. You are also sharing the session with up to nine other people, although that is still a manageable group size.

Should you book the Radazul session?

Book it if you want a guided and calming introduction to breath-hold snorkeling, not just a casual swim. The best reasons are the structured preparation with Carlos, the attention to ear equalisation and breathing, the small group, and the chance to see Radazul’s marine life with proper equipment.

Skip it if you cannot swim, need to keep your glasses on in the water, or want an indoor activity unaffected by wind and waves. You should also look elsewhere if you are seeking advanced freediving instruction or formal certification.

For the right person, $52 is a sensible price for an outing that teaches a skill, supplies the gear, and leaves room for a snack and a few underwater memories. Keep your expectations realistic, respect the weather, and arrive ready to learn rather than simply collect a fish-viewing checklist.

FAQ

Where does the activity meet?

Meet at Radazul Beach. Look for one of the three wooden platforms in front of the ocean.

How long does the activity last?

The full activity lasts three hours. The preparation takes about one hour, the guided snorkeling and marine-life viewing take about 1.5 hours, and the final break with snacks takes about 30 minutes.

What equipment is included?

The activity includes sports equipment, fins, a mask, a snorkel tube, a wetsuit, and an apnea belt with weights.

Do I need to know how to swim?

Yes. You must know how to swim, and the activity is not suitable for non-swimmers.

Can I wear glasses in the water?

You must remove glasses for the water portion. Contact lenses can be used, and the provider can offer advice about special prescription lenses for people with very strong prescriptions.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The activity may be rescheduled if there is rain, strong wind, or rough ocean waves. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.