Watching a sea turtle in its natural habitat is one of the most beautiful experiences you can have while diving in Tenerife. Seeing these fascinating animals glide effortlessly through the clear blue water is a truly special moment, even for experienced divers.
But where are the best places to see sea turtles in Tenerife? Which species can be found around the island? And why can nobody guarantee a turtle encounter anymore?
We’ll explain everything you need to know and introduce you to some of our favourite dive sites for spotting sea turtles.
Which Sea Turtle Species Can Be Found in Tenerife?
The Canary Islands are located along important migration routes for several species of sea turtles. Some use the waters around Tenerife as feeding grounds, while others stop here during their long journeys across the Atlantic Ocean.
Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta)
The loggerhead sea turtle is one of the best-known and most frequently observed sea turtle species in the Canary Islands.
Young loggerheads, in particular, spend part of their development in the Atlantic waters surrounding the islands.
Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
Green sea turtles can also be found in the waters around Tenerife.
Adult green sea turtles feed mainly on seagrass and algae, making underwater seagrass meadows particularly important feeding areas for this species.
Leatherback Sea Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)
The leatherback is the largest sea turtle species in the world.
These impressive animals travel enormous distances across the Atlantic Ocean and occasionally pass through the waters around the Canary Islands.
However, encountering a leatherback during a recreational dive is extremely rare.
Other Less Common Species
Other species, such as the hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) and Kemp’s ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys kempii), have occasionally been recorded in the region.
For recreational divers, sightings of these species are exceptionally rare.
Abades – Currently Our Best Recommendation for Seeing Sea Turtles
When our guests ask us where they have the best chance of seeing sea turtles in Tenerife, Abades is currently our number one recommendation.
This beautiful dive site on Tenerife’s southeast coast offers pleasant diving conditions, diverse marine life and extensive underwater seagrass meadows.
A small group of sea turtles regularly stays in this area. The seagrass meadows provide a natural food source, particularly for green sea turtles.
With a little luck, we can observe the turtles feeding, swimming peacefully above the seabed or coming up to the surface to breathe.
What we especially love about Abades is the opportunity to observe sea turtles in their natural environment without attracting them artificially or interfering with their behaviour.
At the moment, Abades is our first choice for divers hoping to experience a natural encounter with sea turtles in Tenerife.
Other Dive Sites with Good Chances of Seeing Sea Turtles
Of course, Abades is not the only dive site in Tenerife where you might encounter sea turtles.
Yellow Mountain – Spectacular Underwater Scenery
Yellow Mountain, located in the south of Tenerife, is famous for its impressive volcanic rock formations.
Between the rocky walls, sandy areas and diverse marine life, we occasionally encounter sea turtles.
With a little luck, a turtle may swim past during the dive or rest near the rocks.
Playa San Juan – Special Encounters with a Little Luck
Playa San Juan, on Tenerife’s west coast, is another interesting location for sea turtle encounters.
Sea turtles are regularly spotted in the waters around this area.
Divers who keep their eyes open and occasionally look out into the blue may be rewarded with a wonderful surprise.
El Porís – Natural Encounters Away from the Crowds
El Porís, situated on Tenerife’s east coast, also offers opportunities to encounter sea turtles.
Its varied underwater landscape, with seagrass meadows, rocky areas and sandy seabeds, makes this dive site interesting even when no turtles are around.
And sometimes, a sea turtle appears when we least expect it.
Sea Turtles Can Appear at Almost Any Dive Site
One of the wonderful things about diving in Tenerife is that sea turtles are not restricted to specific locations.
Whether you are exploring a reef, swimming over a sandy seabed or diving alongside a rocky wall, you may occasionally encounter a sea turtle at almost any dive site around the island.
This unpredictability is exactly what makes every encounter so special.
Why Nobody Can Guarantee Sea Turtle Sightings Anymore
You may have heard about diving or snorkelling trips in Tenerife where seeing sea turtles was once almost guaranteed.
Unfortunately, the reason behind these guaranteed sightings was not always natural.
In the past, sea turtles were regularly fed in certain locations to attract them and encourage them to remain in specific areas.
Feeding sea turtles was prohibited some time ago – and for very good reasons.
Artificial feeding can significantly change the natural behaviour of these animals.
Sea turtles may become accustomed to people and boats, lose their natural caution or move away from their usual feeding grounds.
Today, sea turtles should be able to move freely and find their own food without depending on humans.
However, this also means that nobody can honestly promise that a turtle will be at a particular location during your dive.
Even at dive sites where turtles are frequently spotted, it is entirely possible to complete a dive without seeing a single one.
We believe that being honest about this is an important part of responsible diving and respecting marine wildlife.
How Should You Behave When Encountering a Sea Turtle?
If you are lucky enough to encounter a sea turtle during a dive, there are a few simple rules to follow:
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Do not touch: Sea turtles are wild animals and should never be touched.
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Do not feed: They can find their own natural food.
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Do not chase: Let the turtle decide how close it wants to come.
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Keep the way to the surface clear: Sea turtles need to surface regularly to breathe.
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Maintain a respectful distance: Observe the animals calmly without disturbing or harassing them.
Often, the most beautiful encounters happen when we simply remain calm in the water and allow the turtle to approach us naturally.
Our Conclusion: Discovering Sea Turtles in Tenerife
Tenerife is a wonderful destination for observing sea turtles in their natural habitat.
At the moment, we have had particularly good experiences at the Abades dive site.
Its extensive seagrass meadows and the small group of turtles regularly observed there make it one of our favourite locations for turtle encounters.
However, Yellow Mountain, Playa San Juan and El Porís also offer good opportunities to see these fascinating animals.
There are no guarantees – and that is a good thing. After all, we are observing wild animals that are free to decide where they want to be.
And when a sea turtle suddenly swims peacefully past us, the moment becomes even more special.
We look forward to exploring Tenerife’s fascinating underwater world with you and, with a little luck, sharing unforgettable encounters with sea turtles.
See you soon underwater in Tenerife!