Tenerife: Puerto Colon Certified Scuba Dive by Speed Boat

The best part of this Puerto Colón outing is the combination of a speedboat ride and a guided underwater session. You are not spending the whole morning in a classroom or on a slow boat. After a 30-minute briefing, you can reach a nearby site in as little as five minutes, with some locations taking up to 25.

I like the choice of up to 20 sites, since conditions and marine life can help shape the day. I also like the small group limit of nine and the help with putting on your equipment. The main caution is safety: one recent booking described rough conditions and an unsafe, chaotic session, while other feedback praised the instructors, including Leon. Ask how conditions look before entering the water.

Key points at a glance

• Up to 20 southern Tenerife sites: The center can choose a location suited to the day and the sea conditions.
• A real boat ride, not just a transfer: The speedboat trip takes roughly 5 to 25 minutes each way.
• Full equipment is supplied: Wetsuit, boots, fins, mask, BCD, regulator, weights, and related gear are provided.
• Small groups matter: No more than nine people join, with a certified instructor leading the underwater session.
• Plan for certification and insurance: You need a scuba certification, and insurance is mandatory in Spain.
• Leon earns special mention: His calm, friendly teaching style was singled out in one five-star account.

Puerto Colón is the practical starting point

You meet at Zero Gravity Tenerife in Puerto Colón, in front of dock 3 and next to Cafe Black Pearl. The entrance to the center is at the back, so give yourself a few minutes to find it rather than wandering the marina looking for a shopfront.

At the center, you complete the required paperwork and receive a briefing. This is also where you get your equipment. The staff fit you with a wetsuit, boots, fins, mask, BCD, regulator, and weight belt. You set up the kit at the center and check that it works before leaving.

That preparation has real value. You are not trying to remember how everything fits while bouncing around on a boat. You can ask questions on land, adjust the mask, and check the regulator before the pressure of getting into the water begins.

The activity is offered in English, Spanish, French, and Italian. A certified instructor guides the session, and the group is limited to nine people. That is not the same as a private lesson, but it is a manageable size for a short outing.

The 30-minute briefing sets the tone

The published schedule allows about 30 minutes for the safety briefing at Puerto Colón. You receive information about the selected site and what to expect once the boat arrives. Your instructor also helps you prepare the equipment and explains how the entry will work.

This is a certified-participant activity, not a first-time introduction for someone without credentials. You need to bring proof of scuba certification. If you have not been in the water for a while, use this time honestly. Tell the instructor about your experience level and any concerns before the boat leaves.

The briefing is especially important because the final location can change. The center works with up to 20 sites along southern Tenerife, and the boat ride may be short or moderately long. A site five minutes away creates a different schedule from one 25 minutes away, even though the total activity lasts two hours.

I would also use this moment to ask about the sea. One five-star booking praised the professionalism of the instructors, and another specifically called Leon a great teacher after a memorable first session. But a one-star account raised a serious concern about poor conditions and unsafe organization. That mixed feedback makes a clear safety conversation worthwhile.

The speedboat adds a quick burst of Tenerife

Once the briefing and equipment checks are complete, you board the speedboat. The trip to the selected site takes between five and 25 minutes. The shorter rides keep more of your two-hour schedule for time in the water. The longer rides give you more coastal scenery, but they also reduce the spare time around the main activity.

The boat ride is part of the appeal. You get a moving view of Tenerife’s southern coast instead of simply arriving at a marina platform. The speedboat also makes a wider choice of sites possible, which is useful when the center needs to match the location to conditions.

Do not treat the boat transfer as a sightseeing cruise, though. The main purpose is to reach the marine site, and the timetable is fairly tight. Bring swimwear and a towel, and keep your expectations focused on the underwater session rather than a long coastal tour.

At the site, the boat may anchor. If the session is a drift outing, it may not. That detail matters because the entry and movement through the water can differ. Your guide explains the plan before you enter, and you should pay close attention if you are more familiar with anchored sites than moving-water sessions.

Getting into the water takes a backwards roll

At the selected location, you put on your mask, fins, and weight belt. The guide helps you with the rest of the equipment, then you enter with a backwards roll from the boat and meet the guide at the front.

This procedure is efficient, but it is not something to rush. Make sure your mask is settled and your equipment feels secure before you roll in. The staff check the kit at the center, and the guide provides assistance at the boat, but you still need to speak up if something feels wrong.

The entry can be one of the less comfortable parts for anyone who is out of practice. A backwards roll is standard boat technique, yet it can feel abrupt. The small-group format helps here because an instructor can keep an eye on the participants instead of sending a large crowd into the water at once.

Once you are with the guide, the focus turns to marine life and the underwater setting. The supplied details do not promise a particular animal or reef feature, so I would not book this expecting a guaranteed sighting. The more dependable promise is access to one of several southern Tenerife sites with an instructor nearby.

About one hour below the surface

The schedule allows roughly one hour for marine life viewing and the underwater session. That is a useful amount of time for a short two-hour outing, especially when the boat ride can be as brief as five minutes.

The center’s choice of site is a practical advantage. With up to 20 locations around the south of Tenerife, the crew has more flexibility than an operator tied to one fixed spot. Still, the number of sites does not mean you visit several in one session. You go to the location selected for that outing.

The instructor’s role is central. You follow the guide rather than setting your own route, and the guide helps you stay organized from boat entry through the session. For certified participants who want structure and support, that is a good fit. For someone looking for a completely independent underwater trip, it may feel more directed.

The experience also has limits. The entire booking lasts two hours, so this is not a full-day scuba program. The one-hour underwater period includes the practical reality of entering and exiting the water. If you want several sessions, long surface breaks, or a full coastal boat day, you need a different type of outing.

Back at the center, the equipment gets cleaned

After the session, the equipment goes back onto the boat and you return to Puerto Colón. The boat ride back again takes about five to 25 minutes, depending on the site.

At the center, you wash the equipment and talk through what you saw and how the session felt. You can also have your logbook signed with the center’s stamp. For certified participants keeping an accurate record, that small service is useful. It gives the outing a proper finish rather than ending the moment you step off the boat.

Photos and videos are not included. They are available to buy after the activity. That is worth remembering when comparing the $59 price. The rate covers the boat, full scuba equipment, a certified instructor, and insurance as stated in the package, but your final cost can rise if you want the media package or need to purchase a separate policy.

Is $59 a fair price?

At $59 per person, this is a competitive short outing if you already hold certification and need the equipment supplied. You get transport to the site, a speedboat ride, a full set of essential gear, an instructor, and a roughly one-hour underwater session.

The value depends on what you want from Tenerife. If you want a quick coastal activity that fits around other plans, two hours is convenient. You are not giving up an entire day, and the boat ride adds variety without requiring a separate excursion.

The price is less attractive if you need insurance beyond what is included or want photographs and video. Insurance is mandatory for scuba activities in Spain. The provider has policies available for purchase if you do not already have suitable cover, so check the terms before booking rather than assuming the listed price handles every requirement.

You also need to value the guided format. A certified instructor and full equipment can save you the trouble of arranging a tank, regulator, wetsuit, and boat separately. If you own your gear and prefer to plan every detail yourself, the savings may look smaller.

Who should book this outing?

This activity suits certified scuba participants who want a short session in southern Tenerife. It is especially practical if you are staying near Puerto Colón, want a small group, and like the idea of reaching a site by speedboat.

It also fits someone who appreciates staff support. The center helps fit the equipment, checks it with you, gives a site briefing, assists with the boat entry, and talks through the session afterward. That guided structure can make the day easier for a participant who is certified but not highly experienced.

It is not suitable for pregnant women or anyone without certification. The activity also may not suit a person seeking a long boat cruise, several underwater sessions, or a guaranteed encounter with a named species. The provided information does not promise any particular marine animal or exact site.

Your comfort with conditions matters most. The strong feedback about professional instructors is encouraging, but the negative account about unsafe conditions should not be brushed aside. If the sea looks poor or the briefing feels rushed, ask questions and make sure you understand the plan before entering.

Small details that make the day easier

Bring swimwear, a towel, and your certification. The essential equipment is included, so you do not need to pack your own wetsuit, fins, mask, BCD, or regulator unless you simply prefer personal gear.

Arrive with enough time to locate the center at the back of the dock 3 area. Cafe Black Pearl is the useful landmark. The boat schedule depends on the site, so being late could create stress for a small group.

Keep the two-hour duration in mind when planning the rest of your day. The schedule includes the briefing, equipment handling, boat travel, underwater time, return trip, equipment washing, and debrief. It is a focused outing, not a loose half-day activity.

The provider allows cancellation up to 24 hours before the start for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. Starting times vary, so check availability when choosing your date.

My recommendation

I would book this for a certified participant who wants a compact, guided session and likes the added thrill of a speedboat along Tenerife’s southern coast. The $59 price is reasonable for the boat, equipment, instructor, and short format, especially if you are already insured.

I would not book it blindly after reading the conflicting safety feedback. Confirm the day’s sea conditions, ask which site is planned, and make sure your insurance meets the requirement. If the answers are clear and the conditions are suitable, this offers a sensible way to spend two hours around Puerto Colón. If you are not certified, pregnant, or hoping for a long and flexible day on the water, choose another activity.

FAQ

Where does the activity start?

Meet at Zero Gravity Tenerife in Puerto Colón. The center is in front of dock 3, next to Cafe Black Pearl, with the entrance at the back.

How long does the activity last?

The total duration is two hours. This includes the briefing, equipment preparation, speedboat trips, the underwater session, and the return and debrief.

How long is the speedboat ride?

The ride to the selected site takes between five and 25 minutes. The return trip takes a similar amount of time, depending on the location.

How much time is spent underwater?

The scheduled marine life viewing and scuba session lasts about one hour.

How many sites are available?

The center can use up to 20 sites around southern Tenerife. You visit the site selected for your session, not all 20 locations.

Is scuba equipment included?

Yes. The package includes a wetsuit, boots, fins, mask, BCD, regulator, and other essential equipment needed for the session.

Do I need scuba certification?

Yes. You must bring proof of scuba certification. Participants without certification cannot join this activity.

Is insurance included?

Full insurance is listed as included, but insurance is mandatory in Spain. The center has policies available for purchase if you do not have the required coverage, so confirm the details before booking.

Are photos and videos included?

No. Photos and videos are available to purchase after the activity, but they are not included in the $59 price.