The 10 best diving and snorkeling spots in Tenerife

Are you in the Canary Islands and want to try your hand at diving or snorkeling? Here are the 10 best diving and snorkeling spots in Tenerife!

Located off the coast of Morocco and renowned for their beaches and festive atmosphere, the Canary Islands offer an escape from the daily grind and a breath of fresh air.

Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura… all these names make you dream and want to jump on the first plane! In addition to its dream beaches, the island of Tenerife offers sublime diving and snorkeling spots. Here you can admire turtles, a diverse fauna and even submerged shipwrecks!

For our selection, we’ve chosen to separate snorkeling spots, where you can watch turtles, from diving spots. Discover our top ten diving and snorkeling spots in Tenerife!

Snorkelling spots in Tenerife

Costa Adeje: El Puertito in Armeñime

Photo credit: Shutterstock – 1 Media

When connoisseurs are asked for a turtle-watching snorkeling spot in Tenerife, they’ll always point you in the direction of El Puertito. Located near Adeje, El Puertito is a small, shallow bay with no current. It offers visibility of up to 30 meters and requires no more than a snorkel or full mask for beginners!

El Puertito is a bit like the turtle bay. They are present all year round and can be seen at depths of around 8 meters, including the famous green turtle. El Puertito Bay is a protected area, so it’s not overcrowded like other Tenerife beaches!

Playa de Las Vistas (Los Cristianos)

Photo credit: Shutterstock – Piotr Wawrzyniuk

An artificial beach of fine white sand, Playa de Las Vistas is one of Tenerife’s best snorkeling spots. Situated between Los Cristianos and Playa de Las Americas, you can observe a diverse and colorful flora and fauna. Of course, you’ll be able to see turtles as well as rays.

For the best chance of admiring the marine biodiversity, move away from the shore to get a little depth under your feet.

Playa de Las Arenas

Photo credit: Shutterstock – Olga Danylenko

Located in the north-east of Tenerife, close to the mouth of the Barranco del Monte river, Playa de Las Arenas is a black sand beach of volcanic origin, much less frequented than the beaches to the south.

It’s also an excellent snorkeling spot on Tenerife. As well as turtles, you can observe rays, fish and a rich marine biodiversity by moving a little further out from the shore.

Playa del Duque

Photo credit: Shutterstock – Anna Lurye

Located close to Playa de Las Americas and Costa Adeje, Playa del Duque is another snorkeling spot on Tenerife. The clarity of the water makes it possible to observe marine fauna at depths of over 15 meters.

Green and sea turtles can also be admired here. If you’re lucky, you may even spot stingrays and octopus!

Diving spots in Tenerife

The Wall

Photo credit: Shutterstock – scubadesign

This famous diving spot on Tenerife is a complete change of scenery. This is real diving, with oxygen tanks and wetsuits, in the darkness of the ocean floor. Located near Palm-Mar in the south of Tenerife, The Wall lives up to its name.

It’s a veritable wall, descending up to 30 metres vertically! The marine fauna is extremely diverse, with many species of ray, including the giant ray. If you’re lucky, you may even come across turtles and giant moray eels.

El Condesito wreck

Photo credit: Shutterstock – niall dunne

This diving spot in Tenerife offers a change of scenery, with the discovery of the wreck of the El Condesito. This ship was originally used to build the seaside resort of Los Cristianos. Following a poor manoeuvre, the ship got caught in the cliffs and sank in 1972, breaking into several parts.

Since then, El Condesito has become one of the most famous wreck-watching sites in the world, as it is only located between 8 and 18 meters below the surface! Inside the ship, transformed into an artificial reef, marine life has flourished, and octopus, barracuda, red cornet and many others can be seen.

La Rapadura

Photo credit: Facebook – Canary Islands

Located in the north of the island, La Rapadura is one of Tenerife’s best diving spots. It’s a place of marine desolation and, in a way, that’s its charm. Here, you’ll come across just a few fish and coral plants.

So why is La Rapadura such a popular dive site? It’s because of the very special shape of the rock, which is an extension of the cliff on the surface. Underwater, it looks like a church organ! The panorama is fantastic, unique and unforgettable!

La Cueva del Palmar (Palmar Cave)

Photo credit: Shutterstock – Tunatura

Located near Los Cristianos, La Cueva del Palmar is an important diving spot on Tenerife, with depths of up to 28 meters. The cave is famous for being home to giant moray eels and other eels.

While the setting is fantastic, this is a dive for experienced divers, as the cave can quickly turn into a labyrinth. As you dive, you’ll come across a cross and a statue of the Virgin and Child lying on the seabed. Are they there to watch over you in the face of the hostile environment?

El Peñon wreck

Photo credit: Facebook – Canary Islands

Unlike El Condesito, the wreck of the El Peñon is not the result of an accident. Located near Tabaiba, in the north of the island, this Tenerife dive spot was created in 2006, the year the ship was sunk to create an artificial reef.

This has brought back the marine fauna. The latter is very diverse, with octopus, octopus, giant moray eels, jellyfish and many other small fish. Lovers of marine biodiversity will be delighted!

La Catedral

Photo credit: Shutterstock – Silent O

We round off our selection of diving spots in Tenerife with this impressive natural site. More than for its marine fauna, mainly coral and lobster, it’s for its distinctive volcanic rocks that this spot is popular with divers.

The rock is in fact arched and vaulted, reminiscent of a cathedral, hence the name. The site is very deep, with depths of up to 45 metres! If the currents aren’t too strong, don’t hesitate to dive into this exceptional site and its breathtaking natural scenery.