Tenerife: Snorkeling Tour in a Marine Protected Area

Something this simple can feel magical. In Tenerife’s marine protected area, you snorkel a calm 50-minute stretch from the beach and you may spot green sea turtles, plus colorful fish and reef life. I also really like that the tour is built for real people, with full wetsuits and beginner-friendly guidance included. One heads-up: turtle sightings are never promised, and the session can shift or cancel if conditions get rough.

This is the kind of outing that doesn’t require a bunch of planning. You show up in swimwear, get fitted with quality gear, then follow the guide into a sheltered bay from the Abades shoreline.

Key highlights to care about before you go

• Family-friendly, calm-water start: you swim directly from the beach in a sheltered bay built for easier conditions
• Full wetsuit gear included: mask, snorkel, fins, boots, and a proper wetsuit in multiple sizes
• Small group pace: limited to 8 participants, with extra help for kids and less-confident swimmers
• Underwater photos and videos are included: an underwater photographer captures your swim and sends it digitally for free
• Marine-life rules are clear: no feeding, no touching, and respectful distances around turtles

Where the Tour Runs: Abades Beach and a Protected Bay

This snorkel tour is set up around Tenerife’s southeast coast, starting from the beach area in Abades. The big practical win here is the location: you’re not leaving from a boat into open water. You start right where you’re already standing, in a sheltered bay known for coastal biodiversity and calm enough conditions for beginners.

That matters for comfort. With a shore entry, you spend less time worrying about waves, loading and unloading, or feeling stuck on a moving platform. Several recent snorkelgoers specifically liked that the water felt calmer from the start, even on days when the sea can look sporty from the shore.

And because the site is part of a marine protected area, it’s not just scenery, it’s habitat. You’ll be snorkeling over reef formations, rocky stretches, and small coves that shelter different species. The guides focus on showing you what lives there, instead of rushing you to “tick boxes.”

The Gear That Makes Beginner Snorkeling Feel Real

You get a full kit, and it’s not the flimsy stuff you sometimes see on budget tours. Included gear covers wetsuit, mask, snorkel, boots, and adjustable fins. The wetsuit is a key detail because water temps in Tenerife are not tropical warm year-round. In the March to September window, the water is listed at about 19°C to 23°C. A proper wetsuit keeps you comfortable longer and helps you feel more relaxed when you first put your face in the water.

A second detail I really appreciate is how they handle fit. They ask you for measurements ahead of time, then provide a wetsuit in the right size. That “it actually fits” factor sounds boring until you’re the one adjusting straps while everyone waits.

Also note the mask rule: you can’t use a full-face mask. If that’s your comfort choice back home, switch plans now.

Finally, the tour explicitly includes insurance and water. That’s not about excitement, it’s about lowering the “what if” anxiety.

What Happens in the 2 Hours: Meet, Fit Up, Then 50 Minutes in Water

The full tour time is about 2 hours, but the action part in the water is a focused 50-minute guided snorkeling period. Here’s how it typically plays out, in a way that keeps beginners from feeling overwhelmed.

First, you meet at the designated spot: Magilu, look for a guide wearing a Snorkel Tenerife Excursions shirt. Arrive about 10 minutes early. The tour start is from the beach, so you want a little buffer for equipment fitting and getting your bearings.

Next comes the safety briefing. You’ll learn what to expect and how to interact with marine wildlife. This isn’t a long lecture. It’s practical instructions that match how you’ll actually swim in the bay.

Then you get geared up. The guides help with fitting your mask, snorkel, fins, and wetsuit. From the experience, this is where the difference shows: people repeatedly mention that the guides helped with gear and checked in during the water time, which is exactly what you want if you’re nervous.

Finally, you snorkel for about 50 minutes with the guide. Depth averages around 2.5 meters, with a maximum of about 8 meters. That depth profile is another comfort factor. You’re not constantly thinking about standing up, but you’re also not dropping into deep water.

Entering the Underwater World: Reef Formations, Coves, and Sea Grass

What you’re snorkeling over is not a flat pool. The protected area includes rocky reef formations and hidden coves, plus sea grass around the reefs. That sea grass detail matters because it can be part of where turtles feed and where other species spend time.

On the route, you’re looking for:

• colorful reef fish moving through rocky edges
• areas where the reef structure creates hiding spots and feeding lanes
• small surprises like octopuses and camouflaged seahorses, which are specifically mentioned as possible finds

Water clarity is often a reason people love this tour. When the visibility is good, you can actually enjoy the shapes and movement instead of just trying to stay afloat. On calmer days, that makes it feel less like “snorkeling practice” and more like a guided nature walk under the surface.

Depth also helps you enjoy it. With an average around 2.5 meters, you can usually watch without feeling like you’re fighting buoyancy the whole time. The wetsuit helps buoyancy, and the guides’ approach keeps the group moving as a unit.

Wildlife You Might Spot: Fish, Corals, Rays, and Green Sea Turtles

This tour is marketed around sea turtles, and the good news is the odds can be genuinely worth your time. The information says there’s a reasonable chance of spotting green sea turtles, but sightings are not guaranteed because turtles move through their habitat.

That “not guaranteed” part is actually a plus for your experience, because the guides follow respectful protocols. Feeding marine life is prohibited, touching sea animals is not allowed, and when turtles are encountered, the group keeps respectful distances to avoid stressing the animals.

From what people describe, the tour can go well beyond turtles. Many mention seeing plenty of colorful fish and other interesting marine life. Some accounts even include sightings like rays and an angel shark. Whether you see turtles or not, the reef ecosystem still tends to deliver something memorable, because there’s a lot going on in the protected bay.

One practical mindset tip: expect the underwater highlight to be the ecosystem, not just a single animal. If you set your expectations that way, you’ll feel happy even when the turtle is out of reach that day.

Rafaella and Ron: How the Guides Keep You Safe and Calm

Guide quality is where this tour earns its high rating. A lot of the reviews you’ll see mention the same names: Rafaella and Ron. People consistently describe them as friendly, organized, and genuinely tuned in to each person’s comfort level.

There are two safety habits worth calling out because they show up again and again in feedback:

• they give clear instructions before you enter the water
• they actively check on participants during the snorkel

Even when someone needed extra support due to a health issue, the tour is described as responsive and reassuring. That’s important. In real life, nerves happen fast. If you’re worried about panicking, having a guide who stays present matters more than perfect swimming ability.

The tour is also multilingual, with instructors speaking Spanish, English, Italian, Swedish, Dutch, and German. If you’re traveling with mixed-language friends or family, you won’t feel stuck.

Photos and Videos: Free Underwater Memory Without a Camera Setup

One of the best “value per minute” parts of this experience is the photo and video package. During the excursion, an underwater photographer takes photos and videos. You receive the digital files for free.

This is great for two reasons:

1) You don’t need to fight with gear while trying to snorkel

2) Most people get better results because someone is taking the shots for you

Also, there’s a camera rule. If you have previous snorkeling experience, you can use your own camera. If you’re a first-timer, it’s safer to trust the included photo and video capture and focus on staying relaxed.

And yes, people often mention GoPro-style capture as part of the experience. The takeaway for you is simple: you’ll likely leave with shareable underwater moments without doing extra work.

Price and Value: Why About $45 Can Actually Be a Smart Deal

At about $45 per person for a 2-hour experience, it’s not just paying for snorkeling time. You’re paying for a whole system:

• high-quality gear (wetsuit, mask, snorkel, fins, boots)
• a guided 50-minute snorkeling session
• multilingual instruction
• free underwater photos and videos
• insurance and water

Some tours charge extra for photos, extra for equipment, and extra for “instruction.” Here, the core add-ons are included. That’s why many people call it excellent value, especially families and groups that want an activity that’s active but not complicated.

The flip side is you should know what’s not included: hotel pickup and drop-off, and food. If you’re staying farther away or need transport help, plan your own way to Magilu and the Abades beach meeting point.

Practical Packing List: What to Bring, What to Skip

This one is refreshingly straightforward.

Bring:

• swimwear (and it’s advisable to arrive wearing it)

Consider:

• If you tend to get motion sickness, the tour specifically advises using medication
• If you have pre-existing medical conditions, tell the operator before the tour

Also consider your footwear and comfort. The tour provides boots, so you don’t need special water shoes for the session. Just show up ready to be in swim gear and a wetsuit.

And one more thing: minors must be under adult supervision during the tour. That’s a family trip, but it’s still a real water activity with real safety rules.

Who This Tour Is For, and Who Should Look Elsewhere

This tour is explicitly positioned for all ages and says you do not need to be a good swimmer or have previous snorkeling experience.

That said, the fine print still matters. The activity is not suitable for:

• people with mobility impairments
• wheelchair users
• non-swimmers
• people over 309 lbs (140 kg)
• people under 66 lbs (30 kg)

So if you’re in a mobility niche, you’ll need to choose a different type of water experience.

Best fit:

• families with kids who want an easy, guided first snorkeling experience
• couples who want a low-stress shore-entry activity
• anyone who wants a chance at turtles, without paying for a boat excursion

If you’re the kind of person who hates complicated logistics, this is also a good match. Meeting is simple, the start is from the beach, and you get all gear.

Should You Book This Tenerife Snorkeling Tour in Abades?

If you want a shore-based snorkeling experience with high-quality gear, small groups, and a guided pace that keeps beginners comfortable, I’d book it. The free photos and videos alone make it easier to justify, because you’re not spending time fiddling with a camera in the water.

Book it especially if:

• you’re traveling with family or mixed swimming abilities
• you want a real marine protected area experience
• you like the idea of being guided by a team like Rafaella and Ron, known for calm instruction and careful attention

Skip it if:

• you need full-face mask gear
• you fall into the stated weight limits or non-swimmer category
• you expect guaranteed turtle sightings, because that part depends on animal movement

If you go in with the right mindset, you’ll likely get your money’s worth: not just an animal encounter, but a guided look at a working reef habitat from a safe, calm starting point.