Diving in Tenerife means fascinating volcanic landscapes, diverse marine life and excellent diving opportunities throughout the year. Whether you are a beginner, returning to diving after a break or an experienced diver, the south of Tenerife offers dive sites for almost every interest and experience level.
At our PADI 5-Star Dive Centre Ocean Trek in Costa Adeje, we have been exploring the most beautiful dive sites in southern Tenerife with our guests since 1996.
We place great importance on small groups, personal attention, safety and, of course, having plenty of fun underwater.
Diving in Tenerife – 365 Days a Year
One of Tenerife’s greatest advantages is its pleasant climate throughout the year.
While the diving season in many European destinations comes to an end in autumn, we can enjoy scuba diving in Tenerife all year round.
Water temperatures usually range between approximately 19 and 25°C. The water is particularly warm in late summer and autumn, but we also enjoy beautiful diving conditions during the winter months.
With visibility often ranging from 15 to 30 metres, Tenerife’s fascinating underwater world is a pleasure to explore.
Of course, we are still diving in the Atlantic Ocean, where weather and sea conditions can change. Not every dive site is suitable every day.
However, one of the great advantages of southern Tenerife is the wide selection of dive sites along the coastline. This means we can often find a location that suits both the current conditions and our guests’ diving experience.
Scuba diving in Tenerife is therefore not just a summer activity – it is an experience you can enjoy throughout the year.
Scuba Diving for Beginners and Experienced Divers
Whether you are about to discover the underwater world for the very first time or already have many dives under your belt, southern Tenerife offers exciting opportunities for everyone.
For Beginners and First-Time Divers
If you would like to try scuba diving for the first time, Tenerife has numerous sheltered bays with shallow entry areas.
These locations allow us to introduce you to the diving equipment at a relaxed pace and help you experience your first breaths underwater.
Many dive sites are also ideal for completing your PADI Open Water Diver course.
The fascinating underwater world often begins at just a few metres below the surface. You certainly do not need to dive deep to discover interesting fish, octopuses or impressive volcanic rock formations.
For Experienced Divers
Experienced divers will also find plenty to enjoy in Tenerife.
Steep walls, volcanic rock formations, overhangs, caves, tunnels and varied depth profiles ensure that there is always something new to discover.
Depending on your certification, experience and the prevailing conditions, we can explore more challenging dive sites or plan special dives.
Even after many dives, Tenerife’s underwater world never becomes boring.
Why We Reach Many Dive Sites by Minibus or Jeep
One of the special features of diving in southern Tenerife is the location of its dive sites.
Most of our dive sites are situated directly along the coastline and can easily be reached from shore.
Unlike many other diving destinations, we do not need to take a boat for every dive.
With our minibus or jeep, we can reach numerous beautiful dive sites within a relatively short drive from our dive centre in Costa Adeje.
In many cases, shore diving is even more comfortable and convenient than diving from a boat.
We drive directly to the selected dive site, prepare our equipment and enter the water from a beach, a sheltered bay or another suitable coastal entry point, depending on the location.
This offers several advantages:
- No long boat journeys, which is especially convenient for guests who are prone to seasickness.
- Short driving distances to many varied dive sites.
- Relaxed preparation before entering the water.
- Flexible selection of dive sites according to current sea conditions.
- Often particularly comfortable conditions for beginners and divers returning after a break.
Of course, the convenience of a shore dive always depends on the individual entry point. Some dive sites are especially easy to access, while others require a little more sure-footedness.
Tenerife’s Fascinating Volcanic Underwater Landscape
Tenerife is a volcanic island. The impressive mountains, lava fields and rock formations we see on land continue beneath the surface of the ocean.
The island’s volcanic origins have created an extraordinary underwater landscape.
Dark lava rocks alternate with light sandy areas. In many places, we discover unusual rock formations, natural arches, small caves, overhangs and steeply descending reefs.
The contrasts between the dark volcanic rock, pale sand and deep blue Atlantic Ocean are particularly impressive.
Some dive sites almost resemble a submerged landscape, with small canyons and rocky walls.
Others feature extensive sandy areas, seagrass meadows or sheltered bays.
This diversity makes scuba diving in Tenerife so varied and exciting.
What Marine Life Can You See While Diving in Tenerife?
Alongside the fascinating underwater scenery, marine life is one of the main reasons why a diving holiday in Tenerife is so rewarding.
The Atlantic Ocean surrounding the Canary Islands is home to numerous interesting fish species and other marine creatures.
Rays – Graceful Gliders Above the Seabed
Rays are among the most impressive marine animals you can encounter while diving in Tenerife.
Several species of rays can be found on sandy seabeds or along the reefs.
Sometimes they lie almost invisible beneath the sand. At other times, they glide effortlessly through the water using their large pectoral fins.
Encountering a particularly large ray is always an unforgettable sight.
Sea Turtles – Unforgettable Encounters
Sea turtles are also part of Tenerife’s fascinating marine life.
With a little luck, we may encounter them feeding, swimming along the reefs or making their way to the surface to breathe.
At the moment, we have had particularly good experiences with turtle sightings at the Abades dive site.
Here, extensive seagrass meadows provide a natural food source for these beautiful animals.
However, we can also occasionally encounter sea turtles at other dive sites, including Yellow Mountain, Playa San Juan and El Porís.
As these are wild animals living freely in their natural environment, sightings can never be guaranteed.
That is exactly what makes the experience so special when a sea turtle suddenly swims past us.
Angel Sharks – A Very Special Encounter
One of Tenerife’s most extraordinary marine animals is the angel shark.
This rare and critically endangered shark species is perfectly adapted to life on sandy seabeds.
With its flat body and excellent camouflage, it can often be difficult to spot.
During the cooler months in particular, we have the chance to encounter angel sharks at several dive sites.
Anyone lucky enough to see one of these fascinating animals should always keep a respectful distance and avoid disturbing it.
Moray Eels, Octopuses and Cuttlefish
There is also plenty to discover among the volcanic rocks.
Moray eels peer out from rocky crevices, while octopuses blend almost perfectly into their surroundings thanks to their remarkable camouflage abilities.
With a little luck, we may also encounter cuttlefish, which can change their colours and patterns in a matter of seconds.
These animals are particularly fascinating subjects for underwater photographers.
Schools of Fish and Many Other Marine Creatures
Large schools of fish are a common sight around Tenerife’s reefs.
These include barracudas, parrotfish, trumpetfish, sea bream and various species of wrasse.
Groupers, pufferfish, nudibranchs and numerous smaller marine creatures can also be discovered.
If you take the time to look closely, even an apparently ordinary patch of seabed can reveal something interesting.
Tenerife’s underwater world is very different from a tropical coral reef – it has its own unique and fascinating character.
Our Diverse Dive Sites in Southern Tenerife
At Ocean Trek, we visit more than 20 different dive sites in the south of the island.
Some of our particularly interesting diving locations include:
Abades
Abades is a varied dive site featuring volcanic rock formations, sandy areas and seagrass meadows.
One of its main attractions is the good chance of encountering sea turtles. Numerous fish species, rays and other marine creatures can also be observed here.
Yellow Mountain – Montaña Amarilla
Yellow Mountain is one of the most impressive volcanic dive sites in southern Tenerife.
Its extraordinary rock formations, pale sandy areas, small canyons and overhangs make every dive a special experience.
Las Eras
Las Eras offers a varied underwater landscape with rock formations, small caves and areas that descend to greater depths.
Depending on the chosen dive profile, this location is suitable for divers with different experience levels.
Tajao
Tajao impresses with interesting rock formations, a beautiful underwater wall and good opportunities to observe moray eels, octopuses and rays.
Playa San Juan
Playa San Juan also offers beautiful diving opportunities and an interesting combination of volcanic rocks, sandy areas and diverse marine life.
With a little luck, we may encounter sea turtles here as well.
El Porís
El Porís is another varied dive site on Tenerife’s east coast.
Rocky areas, sandy seabeds and seagrass meadows provide habitats for many different marine species.
We always choose our dive sites according to the current conditions and the experience of our guests.
Relaxed Diving in Small Groups with Ocean Trek
At Ocean Trek, the quality of the diving experience matters more to us than the number of dives.
That is why we normally dive in small groups and generally plan two dives per day.
This allows plenty of time for relaxed preparation, a detailed briefing and, of course, enjoying the dive itself.
Our experienced instructors and dive guides have known the dive sites of southern Tenerife for many years.
They know which locations are suitable under different conditions and where to discover particularly interesting underwater landscapes and marine life.
Whether you want to try diving for the first time, return to the water after a longer break or explore new dive sites as an experienced diver, we aim to tailor the dives to your wishes and experience.
Why Tenerife Is a Great Destination for a Diving Holiday
Tenerife offers a combination of advantages that is not easy to find everywhere in Europe.
A pleasant year-round climate, comfortable water temperatures, often excellent visibility and an extraordinary volcanic underwater landscape make the island an attractive destination for scuba divers.
Another advantage is the large selection of dive sites, many of which we can reach easily and conveniently from shore.
A diving holiday in Tenerife can also be combined perfectly with a relaxing holiday.
Whether you enjoy spending time at the beach, hiking, exploring the mountains or simply relaxing by the sea, there is plenty to discover on the island after your dives.
Our Conclusion: Diving in Southern Tenerife with Ocean Trek
Southern Tenerife offers excellent opportunities to explore a fascinating and diverse underwater world throughout the year.
From sheltered bays for beginners to impressive volcanic walls and more challenging dive sites for experienced divers, there is something for almost everyone.
One major advantage is that we can reach many of our dive sites conveniently by minibus or jeep, without having to rely on a boat for every dive.
Add to that the possibility of unforgettable encounters with rays, sea turtles, angel sharks, moray eels, octopuses and countless other marine creatures.
At our PADI 5-Star Dive Centre Ocean Trek in Costa Adeje, we would love to introduce you to this special underwater world – with personal attention, a relaxed atmosphere and a genuine passion for scuba diving.
Whether you are about to take your first breaths underwater or are already an experienced diver, we look forward to exploring the most beautiful dive sites in southern Tenerife with you and sharing unforgettable underwater experiences.
We look forward to welcoming you to Ocean Trek and showing you Tenerife’s fascinating underwater world in person!
See you soon underwater in Tenerife – and happy diving!