Tenerife: Scuba Diving & Snorkeling with Turtle Spotting

Underwater and Back to the Surface in One Morning

You descend to 12 meters with a PADI instructor, spend 25–30 minutes exploring the reef, then snorkel in a turtle zone for another 30 minutes. Full gear, boat transport, and insurance are included. Kids 8+ can join, though younger divers stay at 4 meters. Plan the dive for a morning so you can fly out the next day if needed.

Step-by-step itinerary

Scuba diving and snorkeling adventure

• Orientation and paperwork at dive center
• Briefing with PADI-certified instructors
• Boat ride to dive site
• Dive with instructor up to 12 meters
• Snorkel in turtle area
• Return to dive center
• Shower and final debrief

The experience

The boat cuts through the water and you hear the engine drop to idle. That's when the guide points down and you realize the reef is already visible from the surface. You're anchored at a dive site off Tenerife where the water stays clear and the marine life doesn't hide. The PADI instructor runs through the briefing on deck, checking your gear and your comfort level, and within an hour of arriving at the dive center you're descending past schools of fish toward the bottom at 12 meters. If you're bringing kids aged 8 to 10, they'll dive shallower, 4 meters max, but with the same instructor right there, the same sense of being somewhere most people never go.

The dive itself lasts 25 to 30 minutes, long enough to stop thinking about the air in your lungs and start noticing the texture of the rocks, the way light bends through the water, the small movements of things living down there. You surface, catch your breath, and the boat motors to a snorkeling spot known for sea turtles. The guide won't promise you'll see one (they're wild animals), but this is where they show up most often. You're in the water with a mask and snorkel for another 30 minutes, watching the shallower reef, and the whole thing feels less like a checklist and more like you've actually been somewhere. After you're back at the dive center, there's a shower to rinse off the salt and a final debrief where the instructor talks through what you saw.

The whole day runs from morning through early afternoon, and the logistics are handled: the boat ride from the dive center, all the scuba gear, the wetsuit, the snorkel equipment, bottled water, and full insurance are included. You show up, and the only thing you bring is your ID and a willingness to get wet. If you've never dived before, the team walks you through it. If you have, they adjust to your level. The one hard rule is waiting 12 hours after diving before you fly or go up a mountain. Something to plan around if you're island-hopping.

What’s included

Your morning includes a boat trip from the dive center to the dive site, a full briefing with your PADI instructor, 25–30 minutes of scuba diving to 12 meters (or 4 meters for children 8–10), full scuba gear and wetsuit, 30 minutes of snorkeling with mask and tube in a turtle-spotting zone, bottled water, a shower to rinse off, full insurance coverage, and a final debrief with your instructor.

Before you book

Days and timesDaily · 08:30, 11:30 and 14:30

Ages11 to 65 years · 8 to 10 years · Under 8 — No ticket type: can't be added to a booking

Meeting point and pickupNo pickup · ends where it startsMeeting point, per the operator: “Please arrive 10 minutes before the activity starts so we can get everything ready for you. If you're late, we might not be able to accommodate you. We’ll meet …”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditions

Operated by Travel Sub SLU

Is this one for you?Right for families with children 8 and up, or any beginner wanting to try scuba without the commitment of a full certification course. The dive is short and guided the whole way, which is what makes it safe for first-timers and younger divers.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, Italian, Russian and Dutch.

Can children come?

8 to 10 years. Under 8: no ticket type, they can't be added to a booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24h before the start.

What if we don't see turtles?

The snorkeling spot is known for turtle sightings, but they're wild animals and sightings aren't guaranteed. You'll still snorkel the reef for 30 minutes regardless.

Is this tour suitable for beginners?

Yes. The PADI-certified instructors guide complete beginners through the entire process, from briefing to descent. No prior experience is required.

What's included in the price?

Boat trip, full scuba gear, wetsuit, snorkel equipment, 25–30 minutes of diving with an instructor, 30 minutes of snorkeling, bottled water, shower access, and full insurance.

How long does the whole experience take?

Plan for a morning activity. The boat ride is 10–15 minutes, the dive is 25–30 minutes, snorkeling is 30 minutes, plus time for briefing, gearing up, and a shower afterward.

Can I fly after diving?

No. You must wait a minimum of 12 hours between diving and flying or traveling to high altitude. Plan your dive for a morning if you're flying out the next day.

Are there any health restrictions?

Pregnant women cannot participate. People with heart or lung conditions, pneumothorax, epilepsy, or diabetes must present a doctor's certificate on the day of the activity. If documentation isn't provided, no refund will be given.

Is the dive center accessible?

Yes. The dive center and all areas are wheelchair accessible, and transportation options are wheelchair accessible.