Scuba Diving Tenerife

Palm Mar Cave

Depth: 18-40 metres

Journey time: 5 – 10 minutes

From an anchorage in 16m we first make our way down a wall where we find many varieties of Morays hiding in the cracks. At the end of the wall we cross over the sand to some magnificent pinnacles that you can weave your way around, paying your respect to the Virgin del Carmen statue that was laid in 32m for the protection of both divers and fishermen of the island. Looking across from here you will see a carpet of garden eels.

As you make your way into 28 meters you will be at the cave entrance. However this is not to be fully penetrated due to it leading into a maze of lava tunnels.  A small cross at the entrance is a grim reminder of those who went in and never came back out.  The mouth of the cave has enough to keep you occupied however as it is teeming with shrimp and it is not unusual to see rays or angel sharks asleep in the sand.  A favourite among those qualified for deep diving.

Palm Mar Roncadores

Depth: 6-24 metres

Journey time: 5 – 10 minutes

With the area of Palm Mar famous for under water rock formations it is no surprise that this dive site has a fascinating topography.

With the starting point on a plateau you drop over into an amphitheatre structure where the discovery begins.  Trumpet fish, Moray eels and Big Eyes all take shelter within the rocks.  There is a large shoal of Roncadores floating effortlessly mid water here which provide fantastic opportunities for photographers.  Very often a smaller shoal of barracuda are hovering above, waiting for a meal opportunity.

This site offers gentle diving suitable for all levels with plenty of life.

Barranco del Aqua

Depth: 30 metres+

Journey time: 10 minutes

A deep dive with tantalising drop-offs, this is a fix for any deep diving junkie.  We sometimes get strong current here, therefore this is for experienced divers only.

As we descend we are often greeted by large grouper lazily mooching around in the overhangs. Peering over the drop off, we see black coral with the appearance of Christmas trees sprouting from the rocks. We soon come across a prominent pinnacle, base camp for a swarm of barracuda. Following the underwater gorge, as we head towards the shallows, we may be passed by stingrays and schools of sardines.

El Meridian

Depth: 30 metres+

Journey time: 10 minutes

This is the wreck of a WW2 German minesweeper which arrived in Tenerife in the 70’s.

Upon arriving in Tenerife the local mafia stole the ship and sold it on to a third party in Los Cristianos.  Here it was used as a Dolphin watching vessel before being scuttled in 2005 for us to enjoy whilst diving and now lies upright on a sandy bed at 30m.

We can encounter Jacks, Rays, Grouper, Angel sharks and occasional dolphins as we make our way around the wreck and up to the Crow’s Nest before making our safety stop.

An advanced dive for its depth and occasional strong currents.

El Condesito

Depth: 6-20 metres/ 30 metres+

Journey time: 10 – 15 minutes

The Condesito, a freighter carrying cement for the construction of Los Cristianos, was wrecked on the shoreline near Punta Rasca in late 1971.  No lives were lost.

Decades later and although the wreck is disintegrating, leaving it largely impenetrable, the life here continues to thrive.  We can expect to see huge trumpet fish, octopus, cuttlefish, barracuda and many more. Situated in a sheltered bay, this site offers great diving for beginners and more seasoned divers alike!  The fingers of lava either side of the wreck are also worth exploring.  A great spot for snorkelers too.

Neptune´s Cave

Depth: 12-22 metres/ 40 metres+

Journey time: 10 – 15 minutes

A very picturesque site – this is a favourite for all.  You start shallow where there is abundant flora on the plateau.  Heading along the coastline into the depths, the sandy bay leads you to the entrance of this large cavernous swim-through.  At the entrance you can see the exit – cobalt blue sea framed by jagged volcanic rocks at the exit to this cavern filled with glass-eye fish.

The cave area is home to many trumpet fish, bream, big eyes, shrimps and you never know what else is lurking.  Large stingrays are often sighted inside and also spotfin burrfish sometimes like to hang out in the area.

Roncadores del Faro

Depth: 6-22 metres/ 40 metres+

Journey time: 15 minutes

One of our favourites, this is a site to suit everyone from snorkelers to deep divers.

With some of the most outstanding basalt rock formations, you won’t know where to look first. Throw in the added fun of swim-throughs, black coral and a shoal of Roncadores and you can’t fail to enjoy yourself.

In addition, a dive here is like swimming in a bowl of fish soup! Barracuda, bream, trumpet fish, Canarian lobsters – you name it and it’s here.

Roncadores del Faro is one of the most popular diving spots in the area.

La Caleta

Depth: 5-25 metres

Journey time: 15 minutes

La Caleta reef is a long, thin finger of rock sticking out perpendicular to the shore.  At it’s origins it appears above the waterline forming a small island only slightly separated from the coast, and the reef creeps gradually deeper as we head away from land.  The sandy bottom reaches a maximum depth of approximately 25 metres, making this site suitable for all diver levels.

Erosion over time has led to the formation of a number of long overhangs in which we can hunt for stingrays. Barracuda, cuttlefish, octopus and various types of bream are regularly encountered here.

El Puertito

Depth: 12 metres

Journey time: 25 minutes

For years Puertito has been a very popular dive and snorkel location due to a family of resident turtles who were reliably found here.

Unfortunately, over time the area became a victim of it’s own success as the bay became increasingly busy with people all looking for their chance to play with them.

The turtles suffered injuries and became ill as a result of all of this attention. During the summer of 2016 a local animal sanctuary rescued two of the turtles in order to bring them back up to health. Presently there is still one turtle who is occasionally seen here.

As a sheltered bay with a sandy bottom at 12 metres Puertito is still a good location for making training dives – and the chance of an encounter with an inquisitive turtle is certainly always welcome.

Playa Paraiso

Depth: 6-25 metres

Journey time: 25 minutes

Playa Paraiso is one of our furthest dive sites, and one which can be accessed by boat or from shore.  A 5 metre platform spans away from the coast, and drops off to a sandy bottom at around 15 metres.  From this ledge a solitary finger of rock sticks out perpendicular to the shore, which is where most of the dive is to be spent.

This finger of rock is well eroded and has an almost continuous overhang all around it’s edge -making for a come very cool scenery.  This is only enhanced by the various large boulders which have broken off this rock over time and create a mini labyrinth to explore and get lost in! In one small crack rests a large and historic-looking anchor which was lost here by some unknown ship, and certainly enhances to the ambiance of the dive.

A school of Roncadores can be found here, along with many nudibranchs, cuttlefish and all of the usual Tenerife suspects.  Some of the best scenery here is just a little below the 20 metre mark, meaning it is better for those with Advanced Open Water certification of higher.

Yellow Mountain

Depth: 12-24 metres

Journey time: 30 minutes + 

Due to the long journey time and the fact that we often encounter rough seas, this dive is most commonly done from the shore – see ‘shore diving’ tabs below.

Located below the majestic Montaña Amarilla – an ancient fossilised sand dune – this is one of the prettiest dive sites topographically.  We anchor in 8m on a platform and drop off between two pinnacles down to 14m.  Following the reef, the dive is more or less a circular route where it is possible to achieve a maximum of 24m but can be enjoyed just as well at 18-20m, making it ideal for Open Water divers.

We always encounter a shoal of Roncadores just off the end of the reef, which is fascinating to observe. We return over the top of the reef, making a nice multi level ascent up to 10m where we´re on the lookout for Octopus and Cuttlefish.