Snorkeling in the Atlantic in Tenerife
- Ana Mano
- Apr 25, 2024
- 5 min read
Discover the wonders of the sea world in Tenerife, one of the most nature rich Canary islands.
I fell in love with Tenerife the moment I started exploring its fauna and flora, from magic Laurisilva forests to desert lunatic landscapes, this Canary island has a a bit to offer to all kinds of hikers. What I was not expecting at all was to be able to find out such an abundant and rich world through snorkeling under its sea, the Atlantic. For the snorkeling lovers and those who use to snorkel in tropical waters I should alert right away that Canary Islands may not be the most vibrant spot for snorkelling as the Atlantic waters tend to be on the chill side, attracting therefore different species from those colourful found in warmer waters. It is nevertheless an extremely fulfilling experience, and you can spot a fair amount of lovely fishes species.
Marine fauna to spot while snorkeling in Tenerife
I did spot many different species while snorkeling in Tenerife, but unfortunately I can not precise the names of them all as I am far from being a fish expert. Some of the coolest marine fauna I saw were: Wrasse ornate, White Seabream, Salema Porgy, Redlip blenny, Canary damsel, the giant sea slugs spotted sea hare and the Marbled rock crab. But you can picture them better with the illustration I made bellow.
Those giant slugs were just the most incredible beings. Never saw something like that before! Super cute aliens slugs!
Other marine species you may find while snorkeling in Tenerife: Garfish, Octopus, Purple Sea Urchin, Black Sea Urchin, Jellyfish, Angel Shark, Green Sea Turtle, Portuguese man o'war, Bearded Fireworm, Flathead Grey Mullet, Pearly Razorfish, Guelde, European Spider Crab, Red Scorpionfish.
Dangerous species in Canary Islands
For my relieve I did not have any unwanted meeting with bigger or terrifying creatures, although I did swim among some jellyfish which kind of frighten me a bit. If you identify jellyfishes while you are snorkeling, I do recommend you to get out of the water, as their sting is very painful and may spoil your lovely holidays in Tenerife.
The Portuguese man'o war is also quite common in the Canary Islands depending on the season, but not as much as jellyfishes. In any case if you spot one, get out of the water immediately, it is not worth the risk! This dangerous type of siphonophore may cause, among other symptoms, intense allergic reactions and even heart failure in rare cases.
The best way to prevent entering in the sea when there are jellyfishes or Portuguese man'o war is to look for the flags at the beach and follow their advice. Along with the traditional flags that inform you in real time how dangerous it is to swim you will find an extra flag for the jellyfishes - ask the lifeguards in case you have any doubts or inform them if you spot any dangerous fauna while swimming. If you prefer to prepare well beforehand, then you can use either Medusapp or Infomedusa to help you safely plan your snorkeling holidays in Tenerife.
Sharks do exist but they tend to be far from the coast in colder open sea, so nothing to worry about. In any case if I am snorkeling chances are that I can just climb to the nearest rock and land in safety very fast as soon as I encounter some unwanted animal friends. At least I like to think so!
Precautions while Snorkeling in the Atlantic
First thing to do is to check if the ocean waters are actually calm enough to snorkel, here you can check the Marine Forecast map and more marine details in real time, and second to find out if the beach you intend to snorkel is clear of jellyfishes (check tips above).
Well death due to hypothermia is an unfortunate reality in the Atlantic and I did not want to ignore it. Sometimes I swam more than 1km and honestly with a water temperature average of 18°C if I am not training for the Olympics, chances are my body will just cool drastically. To avoid that I just stoped here and there in some rocks and allowed the power of the sun to embrace me. Once heated up I would continue my journey.
But if you prefer to be on the safe side, the best would be to use a wetsuit for the specific water temperatures you will find when you travel to Tenerife. Depending on the suit thickness it may also work as a protection against stings.
Best snorkeling spots in Tenerife
Unfortunately I did not have the possibility to explore all the snorkelling spots I wished for, but some of the best places I found to snorkel are:
Las Teresitas
The most popular golden sand beach near the capital Santa Cruz de Tenerife. At this beach if you are lucky and persistent you may spot an Angel shark. I recommend to visit Las Teresitas outside of the peak hours to avoid the crowds, as it may get to full and sand dirty, which may block the view underwater.
Playa Del Puertito De Adeje
A small bay beach in the southwest of Tenerife, where you can lose yourself easily along the rocks and the crystal clear waters. If you are extremely lucky you may see Green sea turtles, which were to be found living in group in this area until around 2016. Here I spotted a couple of jellyfish, so be aware and check beforehand if it is safe to swim. Also, be sure to bring enough water and food with you as the only bar around closes from Sunday to Tuesday.
Playa de Radazul and Playa Tabaiba
For me it was the best spot for snorkeling in Tenerife! I snorkeled all the way from Playa de Radazul to Playa Tabaiba, around 500m swimming, and saw an incredible, abundant and rich marine life. All the way is rocky and the water is pristine blue, and as it is turned south it gets all the light you could wish for observing the tiny marine life. Only 13km away from the capital Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
Charco del Viento
A beautiful volcanic natural swimming pool with crystal clear water in La Guancha, around 16km away from Puerto de la Cruz. The best is to explore el Charco del Viento when the sea is calm, so be sure to check the marine forecast before as Charco del Viento is situated in a more windy location than all the other snorkelling spots on this list.
There are many beautiful places and beaches to explore in Tenerife that would possibly be amazing for snorkeling, like Punta de Teno or the hidden beaches along the west cost of Tenerife, where the sea tends to be calm. Depending on where you will stay, if you rent a car or bicycle, and how long will you visit Tenerife, you may be able to discover some special jewels in this wonderful Canary Island.
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