Tenerife: Snorkeling Tour in a Marine Protected Area

The main draw here is the chance to snorkel straight from Abades beach into a protected marine area, where rocky reefs, seagrass, and sheltered coves attract fish, octopuses, rays, and sometimes green sea turtles. There is no boat ride, which keeps the outing simple and helps if you are prone to seasickness.

I like the small groups of up to eight and the careful support from guides such as Raffaella and Ron. I also like that free underwater photos and videos are included, rather than sold later as an awkward extra. The main thing to remember is that turtles are wild animals, not scheduled performers, so sightings cannot be promised.

At a glance

• Swim from Abades beach: You enter the sea directly from shore, with no boat transfer.
• Protected coastal waters: Rocky reefs and seagrass support fish, rays, octopuses, seahorses, and green turtles.
• 50 minutes in the water: The full activity lasts about two hours, including preparation and the safety briefing.
• Small groups: A maximum of eight people makes it easier for the guides to keep everyone together.
• Free underwater media: Photos and videos are sent digitally after the outing, often by WhatsApp.
• Beginner support: Full wetsuits, flotation from the suit, close supervision, and extra help are provided for small children, seniors, and weaker swimmers.

Why Abades is a good place to snorkel

Tenerife has plenty of water activities, but Abades offers a calmer, more natural setting than a large boat trip or a busy resort beach. The tour takes place in a marine protected area along the southeast coast, where rocky reef formations and patches of seagrass create shelter for small sea life.

The average depth is about 2.5 meters, with a maximum of 8 meters. That makes much of the route approachable for first-time snorkelers, although you still need enough water confidence to participate. The provider lists non-swimmers as unsuitable for the activity, even though people who are not strong swimmers can receive extra help.

The bay is often sheltered, but conditions can change. Wind, large waves, or poor sea conditions may lead to a change or cancellation. That is not a flaw in the tour. It is the right call for a water activity where safety and visibility depend on the sea behaving itself.

Meeting Raffaella and Ron at the beach

You meet at Magilu and look for a guide wearing a Snorkel Tenerife Excursions shirt. Arrive 10 minutes early, and it is sensible to arrive already wearing your swimsuit. Hotel pickup is not included, so you need to arrange your own way to Abades.

The activity lasts two hours, but only about 50 minutes are spent on the guided snorkel. The rest covers check-in, gear fitting, instructions, entering the water, and returning equipment. That timing matters if you are fitting this between other plans.

The guides speak Spanish, English, Italian, Swedish, Dutch, and German. Raffaella and Ron are frequently involved, and the personal style of the tour is one of its strongest points. The two guides may position themselves at the front and back of the group, helping the outing stay together rather than letting confident swimmers race ahead.

Getting ready with a full wetsuit and proper gear

The equipment package includes a mask, snorkel, adjustable fins, boots, and a full wetsuit in a range of sizes. The provider contacts you by WhatsApp or email the day before to ask for your measurements, so answer that message carefully. A well-fitted wetsuit makes a real difference to comfort and warmth.

The water temperature is listed at 19 to 23 degrees Celsius from March through September. That may sound pleasant on a sunny day, but 50 minutes in the sea can feel cool, especially when you are floating rather than swimming hard. The full suit helps with warmth and gives some buoyancy, which several nervous beginners found reassuring.

A safety briefing comes before the water session. Expect instructions on using the mask and snorkel, moving with fins, staying with the group, and behaving around wildlife. Full-face masks are not allowed, and that rule is worth knowing before you arrive.

You are given water, but no food is included. Bring swimwear, and use the public beach shower afterward if you want to rinse off salt and sand.

The first minutes in the water

The tour begins from the beach, not from a boat. That is a practical advantage for anyone who dislikes boat motion, and one participant with motion sickness specifically valued being able to swim out from shore.

The first part is about finding your rhythm. You may need a few minutes to get used to breathing through the snorkel, keeping the mask sealed, and kicking with fins. If you are new to snorkeling, do not feel pressured to look polished right away. The guides can help with the equipment and check your comfort as you go.

This is also where the small group helps. A maximum of eight people gives the guides room to notice who needs a pause or a little encouragement. Families with older children have found the support useful, and the setup has also worked for older participants, including an 82-year-old swimmer who received the assistance she needed.

There is an important line here. Extra support does not turn the tour into a non-swimmer lesson or an accessible beach activity. People with mobility impairments and wheelchair users are listed as unsuitable, and minors must remain under adult supervision.

Reefs, seagrass, and the search for turtles

Once you move beyond the beach, the scenery changes from ordinary shoreline to a living underwater area. Rocky reef provides hiding places for fish and small creatures, while the seagrass attracts animals that feed or rest close to the bottom.

You might see schools of colorful fish, starfish, octopuses, rays, or an angel shark. A juvenile stingray buried under the sand is the sort of sight that makes you glad you are moving slowly and looking closely. Seahorses are also possible, though their camouflage means you should not expect to spot one on every outing.

Green sea turtles are the headline sight, and there is a reasonable chance of seeing them. Several outings have produced one, two, or even three turtles. Still, they swim freely in their natural habitat. They may be elsewhere in the bay, too far from the group, or absent on the day you go.

That honesty is important. The tour does not chase turtles or feed animals to create a guaranteed encounter. If you see one, the guides keep a respectful distance and avoid causing stress. Feeding and touching marine life are prohibited. I consider that a major strength, especially for families teaching children how to watch wildlife without treating it like a petting zoo.

Even without turtles, the reef remains worth your time. You may see plenty of fish and other marine creatures, and the protected setting gives you a better chance to notice small details than a fast-moving boat excursion would.

How the guides handle nervous swimmers

This tour has a strong record with people who arrive worried about snorkeling. That does not mean every fear disappears, but the format gives you a fair chance to settle down.

The guides provide step-by-step help, keep the group together, and check in throughout the swim. Participants with water fear, claustrophobia, anxiety, or little snorkeling experience have been supported through the session. One nervous participant with an autistic child described the guide staying close until the child wanted to go again.

That kind of attention is more useful than a long technical lecture. You need someone watching the group, reading the conditions, and noticing when a person is struggling. Raffaella and Ron are often praised for their calm manner and encouragement, and the two-guide setup can provide extra reassurance.

Still, be realistic about your own limits. The activity is in the sea, not a swimming pool. One participant experienced an asthma attack, and the guides responded quickly, but pre-existing medical conditions should be reported before the tour. If you use medication for motion sickness, the provider advises taking it in advance.

Photos and videos without a surprise bill

An underwater photographer takes photos and videos during the excursion, then sends the digital files free of charge. In many cases, the files arrive by WhatsApp the following day.

This is a useful inclusion because snorkeling is hard to photograph from inside the group. You can focus on breathing, keeping up, and watching the reef rather than trying to manage a camera. The photos also capture the moments when you are looking at fish or posing near the rocks.

If you have previous snorkeling experience, you may use your own camera. Bring a GoPro only if you are comfortable handling it in the water and can still follow the group. For beginners, I would leave the camera behind and let the guide handle the images.

The media will not replace a professional wildlife shoot. Visibility and light change, and no photographer can guarantee a perfect turtle portrait. Still, free photos and videos add real value at a price point where many operators charge extra.

Is $45 a fair price?

At $45 per person, the tour is well priced for a two-hour guided outing. You receive a full set of equipment, insurance, water, multilingual instruction, a 50-minute guided session, and underwater photos and videos.

The strongest value comes from the level of supervision. A cheaper self-guided rental would give you equipment, but not the safety briefing, local spotting help, wildlife rules, or someone watching the front and back of the group. A boat tour might cover more coastline, but it would add time on the water and could be less comfortable for people with seasickness.

The price does not include transport, food, or a guaranteed turtle sighting. You also need to make your own way to Abades. For a family or couple staying elsewhere in Tenerife, those points should be included in your budget and schedule.

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the activity and the option to reserve now and pay later make the booking less risky. Weather can still interfere, since wind and sea conditions may force a change.

Who should book this snorkeling tour?

I would choose this for:

• First-time snorkelers who can swim but want close instruction.
• Families with older children and teenagers.
• Adults who want a short, manageable water activity.
• People who prefer a beach entry to a boat trip.
• Visitors who care about respectful wildlife viewing.
• Anyone who wants photos included without paying a separate media fee.
• Stronger swimmers who enjoy looking for smaller reef creatures, not only turtles.

I would think twice if you are a non-swimmer, use a wheelchair, have a mobility impairment, or weigh more than 140 kilograms. The provider also lists a minimum weight of 30 kilograms. Anyone with a medical condition should contact the provider before booking.

The tour is open to all ages in general terms, but children remain their adult’s responsibility. That means you should judge your child’s comfort in open water rather than relying only on the age label.

Practical tips for a better outing

Wear your swimsuit before you arrive, since the tour starts at the beach. Bring only what you need, and make sure the provider has your correct measurements when they contact you before the outing.

Arrive 10 minutes early at Magilu, then look for the Snorkel Tenerife Excursions shirt. Keep your schedule flexible in case wind or sea conditions affect the start time.

Do not feed or touch animals. Move slowly, listen to the guides, and keep a respectful distance from turtles. The best wildlife encounters happen when the group stays calm.

If you are nervous, say so before entering the water. The guides can help you adjust the equipment and build confidence, but they need to know where you need support. If you are bringing your own camera, use it only if you already have snorkel experience.

Should you book it?

I would book this tour if you want a friendly, closely supervised introduction to Tenerife’s underwater life without committing to a boat trip. The reef, free media, quality gear, and careful wildlife rules give the $45 price genuine value.

Book with realistic expectations. Turtles are possible, not guaranteed, and sea conditions can change the plan. If you can swim, accept a shore entry, and enjoy watching whatever appears in front of your mask, Abades offers a thoughtful and family-friendly way to see another side of Tenerife.

FAQ

Where does the snorkeling tour start?

The tour starts from the beach in Abades. Meet at Magilu and look for a guide wearing a Snorkel Tenerife Excursions shirt.

How long is the activity?

The full activity lasts about two hours. The guided snorkeling portion lasts 50 minutes.

Do I need previous snorkeling experience?

No previous snorkeling experience is required. The guides provide a safety briefing, explain the equipment, and offer extra assistance to beginners and weaker swimmers. Non-swimmers are listed as unsuitable.

Are sea turtles guaranteed?

No. There is a reasonable chance of seeing green sea turtles, but they live freely in the marine protected area and may be out of reach during your session.

What equipment is included?

The tour provides a mask, snorkel, adjustable fins, boots, and a full wetsuit. The package also includes water, insurance, and multilingual instruction.

Are photos and videos included?

Yes. An underwater photographer takes photos and videos during the excursion, and the digital files are sent to you free of charge.