Tenerife: Snorkeling Tour in a Marine Protected Area

Turtles are the bonus, not the whole show. This two-hour Abades excursion takes you from the beach into a calm marine protected area, where rocky reefs, sea grass, octopuses, rays, and fish make the underwater view worthwhile even if the turtles stay away. I especially like the small groups of no more than eight and the patient help from guides Raffaella and Ron. The free underwater photos and videos are another real plus.

The main consideration is that this is not suitable for non-swimmers, wheelchair users, people with mobility impairments, or anyone over 140 kilograms. Sea conditions can also change, and turtle sightings are never promised. Still, the sheltered bay, full wetsuits, and close guide support make this a friendly choice for many beginners and families.

Five things to know before you go

• The tour starts from the beach in Abades, so there is no boat ride and less trouble for anyone prone to seasickness.
• The snorkeling lasts 50 minutes, with the full activity taking about two hours including preparation and the safety briefing.
• Turtles live here naturally, but you may instead see rays, octopuses, seahorses, starfish, angel sharks, and many fish.
• Raffaella and Ron are a major strength, offering calm instruction, multilingual help, and close attention in the water.
• The $45 price includes the essential extras, including a wetsuit, boots, fins, insurance, water, and free digital photos and videos.

Reaching the water at Abades

The meeting point is at Magilu on Abades beach. Look for a guide wearing a Snorkel Tenerife Excursions shirt, and arrive about 10 minutes before your start time.

Abades is on Tenerife’s southeast coast, away from the larger resort areas around Costa Adeje. That change of setting is part of the appeal. You are not being loaded onto a crowded boat or rushed through a large commercial water park. The activity begins right from shore in a bay with rocky reef formations and small coves.

The beach entry also matters for practical reasons. You can see the water before committing, and you avoid a boat transfer if you are uneasy at sea. One participant who experienced motion sickness was able to return to shore while the rest of the group continued with guide support.

There is a public shower on the beach. Come wearing your swimsuit if possible, since it makes the changing and equipment process simpler. Bring only what you need for the activity, as the supplied information lists swimwear as the main item to bring.

The first 20 minutes: briefing, fitting, and confidence

Although the advertised underwater portion is 50 minutes, the total booking lasts about two hours. The extra time allows for introductions, fitting the equipment, a safety briefing, and getting everyone comfortable before entering the bay.

You receive a full wetsuit, mask, snorkel, boots, and adjustable fins. The wetsuits come in many sizes and provide warmth as well as extra buoyancy. That second benefit is especially useful if you are a nervous swimmer. Several first-time participants found that the suit helped them float and settle into the water.

The instructors explain what to expect before anyone swims out. They can help with the mask seal, snorkel technique, fin fit, and basic movement. The team speaks Spanish, English, Italian, Swedish, Dutch, and German, which helps when a group includes people with different first languages.

I would be frank about your comfort level at this stage. If you are anxious, have a medical condition, or need extra support, tell the guides before entering. The team has assisted children, older adults, nervous beginners, and people with health concerns, but good communication is still important.

The age range can be broad. An 82-year-old joined successfully with support, while families with children aged eight and nine also took part. That does not mean the tour suits every child or every older person. Minors must remain under adult supervision, and you need to meet the stated minimum weight of 30 kilograms.

A gentle beach entry into a protected bay

Once the group is ready, you enter the sea from the beach. The average snorkeling depth is about 2.5 meters, with a maximum of 8 meters. That gives beginners a relatively manageable setting while still allowing the route to reach reef areas with more to see.

The water temperature is listed as 19 to 23 degrees Celsius from March through September. A full wetsuit makes that range more comfortable, though I would not expect tropical bathwater. Conditions can vary, and strong wind or rough seas can lead to a changed schedule or cancellation.

The bay is described as sheltered, but sheltered does not mean perfectly still every day. One outing took place in windy conditions, and another had large waves near the shore. The guides checked the conditions and selected the safest parts of the bay. Once beyond the reef, visibility was reported as good on one windy day, but you should still expect nature to have the final say.

This is one reason the two-guide setup is useful. Raffaella and Ron can keep the group together, with one guide toward the front and one toward the back. That arrangement helps prevent a slow swimmer from feeling abandoned and gives the instructors a better view of the whole group.

The 50-minute route through reef and sea grass

The main outing lasts 50 minutes. You swim over rocky reef formations, along sea grass, and around small coves that shelter fish and other creatures.

The sea grass is important because it gives green sea turtles a place to feed and rest. It also adds another kind of underwater habitat to the route. You are not just looking at bare rock. The changing surfaces offer different chances to spot animals that hide, hover, or blend into the bottom.

Fish are the most dependable attraction. The clear water can reveal schools of tropical and subtropical species, along with smaller creatures close to the rocks. Depending on the day, you might see octopuses, rays, starfish, seahorses, angel sharks, stingrays, crabs, and other marine life.

Several outings produced especially memorable sightings. People have encountered a juvenile stingray buried in the sand, an angel shark, an octopus, and rays near the reef. Those are useful reminders not to measure the trip only by turtles. A turtle-free swim can still be a very good wildlife experience.

The guides actively point out animals you might miss on your own. An octopus can disappear against rock, a seahorse may be hard to notice, and a ray can sit under a thin layer of sand. Raffaella has been praised for showing people different species and explaining what they were seeing without turning the trip into a formal lecture.

The pace is set for the whole group. Strong swimmers should not expect a fast personal workout. The reward is a better chance to stay together, listen to instructions, and spend time looking carefully instead of racing from one sighting to the next.

Turtles, with the right expectations

Green sea turtles are the headline attraction, and there is a reasonable chance of seeing them in this protected area. Several outings have produced one, two, or even three turtles. Some swimmers have watched a turtle surface close to the group.

Still, these are wild animals. The guides cannot guarantee a sighting, and a turtle may be out of reach during your 50-minute route. That honest policy is important. It keeps the activity focused on observing animals rather than chasing them.

The rules are simple and worth following:

• Do not feed marine life.
• Do not touch turtles or other animals.
• Keep a respectful distance.
• Avoid actions that cause stress.

I like this approach because it gives the wildlife room to behave naturally. If you see a turtle, the best moment may be brief. You watch, keep your distance, and let it continue on its way. If you do not see one, the reef and sea grass still provide plenty to look for.

The experience is also more appealing because the guides do not make the turtle promise the entire point of the trip. Fish, rays, octopuses, and reef formations receive proper attention too.

Why the guides make this beginner-friendly

The strongest part of this excursion is the care in the water. Raffaella and Ron are repeatedly praised for being friendly, calm, encouraging, and attentive. Those qualities matter more than flashy commentary when you are trying to breathe through a snorkel for the first time.

One nervous beginner began the session worried about the water and finished the full 50 minutes. Another participant with a fear of confined spaces received patient encouragement. An autistic child who was frightened at first was supported by the guides and later wanted to go again.

That does not mean every concern disappears instantly. Snorkeling can feel strange at first, especially when you are wearing a mask and breathing through your mouth. The good news is that the instructors can give you time to practice and can check on you throughout the route.

The group size helps. With a maximum of eight people, the guides can keep closer track of individual comfort levels than they could in a large beach class. They also provide extra assistance for small children, non-strong swimmers, and seniors.

There are limits. The experience is not suitable for non-swimmers, and people with pre-existing medical conditions should inform the provider in advance. If you have asthma, serious water anxiety, or another concern, discuss it before booking rather than hoping it will not matter once you are in the sea.

Photos and videos without an extra charge

An underwater photographer uses a GoPro during the excursion and sends digital photos and videos afterward, free of charge. In several cases, the files arrived through WhatsApp the following day.

This is more valuable than it may sound. Snorkeling is hard to photograph while you are concentrating on breathing, keeping your mask clear, and staying with the group. Having someone else capture the moment means you can pay attention to the animals and still bring home a record of the outing.

The images also include the group, not only sea life. You may get pictures of yourself swimming, posing, or looking down at the reef. If you already have snorkeling experience, you may bring your own camera, but full-face masks are not allowed.

Do not treat the photos as a professional underwater shoot. The quality can vary with visibility, light, movement, and how close an animal comes. Even so, free digital images are a welcome inclusion at this price.

Is $45 good value?

At $45 per person, this is a fair price for a two-hour guided activity. You are not paying only for access to the water. The fee includes the full wetsuit, mask, snorkel, boots, adjustable fins, insurance, water, multilingual instruction, and the 50-minute guided route.

The free photos and videos improve the value. Many water activities charge extra for images, so receiving them digitally at no added cost makes this package feel more complete.

You also avoid the cost and inconvenience of a boat trip. For someone prone to seasickness, a beach-based outing may be a better use of money than a longer excursion that leaves you feeling ill before the snorkeling begins.

The value is lower if you already own all your own gear and want a long, independent swim. This is a guided, beginner-friendly nature outing, not a private expedition or a full-day marine safari. The 50-minute water time is enough for a pleasant introduction, but serious snorkelers may want more time.

Food, hotel pickup, and hotel drop-off are not included. Plan your own way to Abades and eat separately. The reserve-now, pay-later option and free cancellation up to 24 hours before the activity add useful flexibility, but they do not change the basic need to arrive at the beach on time.

Who should book this Abades snorkeling trip?

I think this experience fits:

• First-time snorkelers who want hands-on help.
• Families with children who can meet the weight requirements.
• Older adults who can enter the water and move with assistance.
• Confident swimmers who want a calm wildlife outing rather than a hard workout.
• People who prefer shore access to a boat.
• Anyone who values responsible animal encounters and included photos.

I would think twice if you cannot swim, use a wheelchair, have significant mobility limitations, weigh more than 140 kilograms, or weigh less than 30 kilograms. You should also be cautious if you dislike open water, have a medical condition, or are strongly affected by motion or sea conditions.

The full wetsuit provides buoyancy, but it does not replace swimming ability. A guide can support you, encourage you, and keep you close to the group, but you still need to manage a beach entry and stay in the water.

Final verdict: book it for care, not a turtle guarantee

I would book this tour if I wanted an easy introduction to Tenerife’s underwater life, especially with children, nervous swimmers, or mixed abilities in the same family. The protected Abades bay, small groups, quality equipment, close supervision, and free photos make $45 a sensible price.

Book it with the right promise to yourself: you are going to see a coastal ecosystem, not purchase a guaranteed turtle encounter. If a turtle appears, wonderful. If not, the fish, rays, octopuses, sea grass, and careful guides still give you a memorable morning by the sea.

FAQ

How long does the snorkeling tour last?

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

Where does the tour start?

It starts from Abades beach on Tenerife’s southeast coast. Meet at Magilu and look for a guide wearing a Snorkel Tenerife Excursions shirt.

Is a boat ride included?

No. You enter the water directly from the beach.

What equipment is provided?

The tour provides a mask, snorkel, adjustable fins, boots, and a full wetsuit. Water and insurance are also included.

Do I need previous snorkeling experience?

No. The instructors teach the basic techniques and help beginners with the equipment and water entry.

Do I need to be a strong swimmer?

You do not need to be a strong swimmer, and extra assistance is available. However, the activity is not suitable for non-swimmers.

Are turtles guaranteed?

No. There is a reasonable chance of seeing green sea turtles, but they live in their natural habitat and may be out of reach during the tour.

Can I touch or feed the marine animals?

No. Feeding animals and touching sea life are not allowed. You must keep a respectful distance, especially from turtles.

What should I bring?

Bring swimwear, and arrive wearing it if convenient. There is a public shower on the beach.

Can children and older adults join?

The activity is designed for all ages within the stated limits. Minors must have adult supervision, and extra assistance is available for children and seniors. It is not suitable for people under 30 kilograms, people over 140 kilograms, wheelchair users, or people with mobility impairments.