Abades: Guided Snorkeling Tour with Photos

The Atlantic puts on a fine show here. This two-hour Abades snorkeling trip takes you into the clear waters off Playa Abades with a guide, proper equipment, and free underwater photos and videos to remember it by. I especially like the small groups of up to six and the patient approach for children, nervous swimmers, and first-timers.

I also like that the price includes a wetsuit, mask, fins, guide, photos, and videos. The main caution is simple: turtles are never guaranteed. Six sea turtles currently live around the beach, but this is open ocean, and you may see fish, rays, or octopuses instead.

Quick takeaways

• Small groups make a real difference: The usual maximum is six people, allowing the guide to watch everyone closely.
• Good for nervous beginners: The instructors have more than 20 years of experience and can use extra flotation support for weak swimmers.
• Turtles are a bonus, not the main product: You may see one, but the guide cannot promise it.
• Equipment is included: You receive a mask, fins, wetsuit, and snorkeling instruction at no extra charge.
• Free photos and videos add value: You can enjoy the experience without worrying about taking your own underwater pictures.
• Meet beside Playa Abades: Look for the Magilu restaurant and the white benches facing the sea.

What this Abades snorkeling tour is really like

At $35 per person, this is a reasonably priced way to try snorkeling in Tenerife. You are not paying only for a mask and a swim. The fee covers a two-hour guided outing, equipment, a wetsuit, and underwater photos and videos. That matters because a guide can show you where to look and help you feel secure in the water.

The experience is run by Meerjungfrau Apnoe Akademie ES. Instruction is available in German, Spanish, and English. The group limit is six, although groups may occasionally be combined. That small-group setup is one of the strongest reasons to choose this outing instead of simply renting equipment and heading into the sea alone.

I would think of the trip as a gentle introduction to the underwater life around Abades. The focus is on seeing fish around the rocky seabed, looking beneath stones for octopuses, and checking the area where turtles sometimes appear. It is not a guaranteed wildlife encounter, and the Atlantic does not follow a schedule. That is part of the fun, but it is also why you should book this for the experience of snorkeling, not only for a turtle photograph.

Meeting at Magilu and getting ready

You meet directly in front of the Magilu restaurant, beside Playa Abades. The white benches facing the ocean are the visual clue. There is plenty of parking in the area, which makes this a fairly easy stop if you have a rental car.

The preparation is practical rather than fancy. You meet the guide, receive your snorkeling equipment, and choose a long or short wetsuit. The wetsuit helps with comfort in the Atlantic and gives you a little extra support in the water. Reviews also praise the equipment and the range of wetsuit and fin sizes.

You should arrive ready with swimwear, a towel, beachwear, and a sun hat. One important limitation is that there is no dedicated changing room or toilet connected to the activity. A nearby café helped one participant with this, but you should plan ahead rather than count on private facilities.

You also leave personal belongings in the provider’s car during the swim. That may be convenient, but I would bring only what you need and avoid carrying valuables. A beach outing always goes more smoothly when your phone, wallet, and jewelry are not part of the plan.

The first minutes in the water

Before you swim out, the instructor explains how to use the mask and fins and what you may see below the surface. This briefing is especially useful if you have never snorkeled before or if the open sea makes you uneasy.

The guides are used to working with children and people who are afraid of the water. They have more than 20 years of experience as freediving and snorkeling instructors. That does not turn the ocean into a swimming pool, but it does mean you have someone watching your comfort and technique from the start.

Non-swimmers can take part with additional help. You will still see fish and other sea life, but the turtle area is a longer swim, so non-swimmers should not expect to reach it. Tell the instructor about your swimming ability before entering the water. The team can bring extra aids and adjust the outing to the group.

This is where the six-person limit earns its keep. A guide can spend time helping one nervous participant without losing track of everyone else. Families with children also benefit because the pace can be adjusted rather than forcing the whole group to move quickly.

Rocky seabed, fish, and coral

Once you are comfortable, the guide leads you along the underwater area off Playa Abades. The seabed includes volcanic rock formations, with fish gathering around the reef and stones. You may see schools of colorful fish quite close to shore, making this a good choice for a first snorkeling session.

The guides know where to look, which is more valuable than it sounds. Fish can be easy to miss when you are concentrating on breathing through the mask. With an instructor pointing out movement under a ledge or around a rock, you get more from the same stretch of water.

The reef is the main event, not simply a warm-up before the turtle search. You may see many fish, rays, squid, and octopuses depending on conditions and luck. A few experiences also included barracudas, but sightings of larger or less common animals are never assured.

Octopuses are particularly fun to search for because they hide under stones and blend into the surroundings. You need patience and a good guide’s eye. The outing is less about racing from one spot to another and more about slowing down enough to notice what is already there.

The scenery underwater is shaped by Tenerife’s volcanic origin. You are looking at dark rock, reef growth, and fish moving through the formations. It is a different side of the island from the beaches and resort streets, and the contrast makes the activity worthwhile even on a day when no turtle appears.

The turtle search, with realistic expectations

The provider says six sea turtles currently live around this beach. That sounds promising, but the turtles are wild animals in open water. They can be elsewhere, underwater, or simply absent during your session.

The turtle area may receive only about 20 to 40 minutes of attention, so your chances are limited. One participant felt the tour description made the turtle possibility sound more certain than it really is. I agree that this is the key point to understand before booking.

Some outings have produced memorable turtle encounters, including one lasting about 10 minutes and another involving a turtle coming up to breathe beside the group. Other sessions have produced no turtles at all, while still offering rays and plenty of fish. Both results fit the nature of the activity.

If seeing a turtle is your one essential goal, this tour carries too much uncertainty. If you would be thrilled by a turtle but happy to see fish, rays, squid, or an octopus, the outing makes much more sense. The guide can improve your chances by knowing the local water, but no guide can control wildlife.

Help for children and weak swimmers

This tour is aimed at a broad range of abilities, but children under five cannot join. The activity is also not suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments. Anyone with a cold should skip it, since breathing through a mask can be uncomfortable when congested.

Families have found the guides attentive with young children. One family with children aged six and nine had the route adjusted to suit their abilities. Another parent took a seven-year-old son and felt well supported even in poor weather.

You do need to be honest about your swimming level. The provider says non-swimmers can enjoy the fish and nearby sea life, but cannot swim the longer distance needed to look for turtles. Weak swimmers have still had positive experiences with added support, and instructors have held a participant’s hand when fear made it hard to continue.

I would book this for a child who is comfortable following instructions and wearing a mask. I would be more cautious with a child who panics when water touches the face. The instructors can help, but they cannot remove every challenge from an open-ocean activity.

Pregnant people are allowed to snorkel according to the provider. If that applies to you, discuss your own comfort and medical needs with a qualified professional before booking. The activity is not a medical service, and sea conditions can affect how strenuous it feels.

Photos and videos without an extra charge

The included underwater photos and videos are a strong part of the package. Taking your own pictures while learning to snorkel is awkward, and a phone in a waterproof case rarely captures the moment as well as a guide who is already prepared.

The photos also give families a record of the experience. You can concentrate on breathing, spotting fish, and staying with the group instead of trying to operate a camera. Several participants specifically praised the quality of the pictures and the fact that they were shared for free afterward.

You should treat the images as a valuable extra, not a guarantee of a perfect portrait with a turtle. Wildlife may stay far away, visibility may change, and the guide’s first duty is safety. The included media still adds more value than a basic equipment rental.

Guide quality and the small-group feel

The guides receive the strongest praise in the available feedback. Natalie, Andre, and Andrés are singled out for clear explanations, friendly support, and good judgment with nervous swimmers. The names suggest a family-run or tightly connected team, though the exact guide for your session may vary.

The best quality here is not theatrical commentary. It is calm supervision. Guides check that masks fit, explain what is happening, adjust the pace, and give extra help when someone lacks confidence.

That personal attention also helps if the weather is not perfect. One family enjoyed the outing despite poor conditions because the guide remained kind and helpful. Naturally, water clarity and wildlife sightings can change with the weather, so do not expect every session to look identical.

A 4.8 rating from 344 reviews supports the idea that the basic service is reliable. Still, no rating can change the facts that there are no dedicated changing facilities, turtle sightings are uncertain, and the water is open ocean.

Is $35 good value?

I think $35 is good value for a two-hour guided activity, especially for first-time snorkelers and families. You receive the guide, mask, fins, wetsuit, and free photos and videos. The small group also gives you more personal help than an inexpensive mass outing usually can.

The value is strongest if you would otherwise need to rent equipment and pay separately for pictures. It is also useful if you are nervous about entering the water alone. A guide who knows the local reef can save you time and help you notice animals you would likely miss.

The value is weaker if you are already an experienced snorkeler and only want to swim independently. You may prefer a self-guided beach session, provided you have the right equipment and understand local conditions. This tour is selling support and local knowledge as much as it is selling time in the water.

There is no hotel pickup or drop-off, so transportation is your responsibility. That keeps the price down, but it means you need to reach Abades yourself. With parking available, a rental car is practical, though the information provided does not include a public transport plan.

Who should book this experience?

I would recommend it to:

• First-time snorkelers who want clear instruction
• Families with children aged five and older
• Nervous or weak swimmers who tell the guide in advance
• Couples looking for a short active outing in Tenerife
• Anyone who wants underwater pictures without bringing a camera
• People interested in fish, rays, squid, and octopuses, with turtles as a possible bonus

I would think twice if you have limited mobility, cannot manage beach access, have a cold, or need guaranteed turtle sightings. The tour is also not ideal if private changing facilities are important to you.

Booking is flexible, with free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead and a reserve-now, pay-later option. Starting times vary, so you need to check availability for your preferred date.

My verdict on the Abades snorkeling tour

I would book this tour for the guides, the small group, and the all-in price. The most reliable reward is time in the water with fish around volcanic rock, not a guaranteed meeting with a turtle.

Set your expectations correctly and the experience offers a lot. You get patient instruction, solid equipment, help for nervous swimmers, and underwater photos at no extra cost. If a turtle appears, it may become the highlight of your Tenerife holiday. If it does not, the reef, rays, fish, and chance of an octopus still make this a worthwhile two-hour outing.

FAQ

Where does the snorkeling tour meet?

Meet directly in front of the Magilu restaurant at Playa Abades. Look for the white benches facing the ocean.

How long does the snorkeling experience last?

The activity lasts two hours. Starting times depend on availability.

What is included in the price?

The $35 price includes the guided snorkeling tour, instructor, snorkeling equipment, a long or short wetsuit, photos, and videos.

Can non-swimmers join?

Non-swimmers can take part and see fish and nearby sea life with assistance. They cannot swim the longer distance needed to look for turtles.

Are turtles guaranteed?

No. Six sea turtles currently live around the beach, but this is open ocean and sightings cannot be promised.

What should I bring?

Bring a sun hat, swimwear, a towel, and beachwear. You should also plan ahead because there is no dedicated changing room or toilet for the activity.

Who cannot join the tour?

The activity is not suitable for children under five, wheelchair users, people with mobility impairments, or people with a cold. Pregnant people are allowed to snorkel according to the provider.