Tenerife: Snorkeling Tour in a Marine Protected Area

Tenerife’s turtles are closer than you think. This small-group snorkeling tour takes you from the beach in Abades to a marine protected area with a sheltered bay and calm water, so even first-timers can enjoy the reef. I like that the trip is organized around a 50-minute guided snorkel with pro support, not a stressful scramble to keep up, and I also love that you get free underwater photos and video. One thing to consider: sea turtles are not guaranteed, since they swim freely in their natural habitat.

My favorite part is the setup for real beginners. You get full wetsuits plus mask, snorkel, boots, and adjustable fins, and the guides teach you how to move safely in the water before you start. The other big win for me is the responsible feel: you’re guided to keep distance, and there are clear rules like no touching marine life and no feeding.

The only genuine drawback is that conditions can change. If wind and swell make the day unsafe, the provider can adjust, delay, or cancel, so build in a bit of flexibility on your schedule.

Key things that make this snorkeling tour special

• Snorkel from the beach in a sheltered, calm bay instead of dealing with boat seasickness
• High-quality full wetsuits and full gear included (boots too), so you start comfortable
• Small group max 8 people, with hands-on help for kids, seniors, and non-strong swimmers
• Rafaella and Ron as the guiding duo who keep the group together and spot creatures
• Underwater photos and videos are included and sent digitally for free
• Respect rules for wildlife are explicit, from no feeding to proper turtle distances

Why Abades’ marine protected bay is the right kind of snorkel

If you want Tenerife snorkeling that feels easy to manage, this is the style to look for. You start on the sand at Abades, and you swim in a marine protected area along the southeast coast. The key detail for your comfort is that the tour uses a sheltered bay with calm conditions, which makes it far less intimidating than open-water snorkeling.

This spot is also set up for wildlife spotting without you chasing it. Rocky reef formations, hidden coves, and sea grass around the reefs create habitat for lots of marine life. That sea grass matters because it’s part of why green sea turtles are possible here, and it also helps explain why visibility can feel so good on a well-run day.

And yes, the marketing mentions turtles, but the more interesting story is the whole ecosystem. Based on real examples from past sessions, you might catch glimpses of fish variety plus creatures like octopus, seahorses (camouflaged), starfish, and even larger sightings such as rays and an angel shark. You should treat those as may-be sightings, not a promise. The promise is that you’ll snorkel an area where the ocean life actually lives.

The 2-hour tour flow, from wetsuit to reef

This tour runs about 2 hours total. The snorkeling itself is 50 minutes, which is the sweet spot for most people: long enough to get comfortable and explore the reef, short enough that you are not exhausted before the fun part.

Here’s what the day usually feels like, step by step:

1) Meet at Magilu and get geared up

You’ll meet at Magilu, looking for a guide wearing a Snorkel Tenerife Excursions shirt. Aim to arrive about 10 minutes early. Also, the day before, the provider may contact you by WhatsApp or email to ask for your measurements, so they can fit the wetsuits properly.

They advise arriving already in your swimwear, which is practical on a beach where you do not want to spend half the trip searching for a dry spot to change.

2) Safety briefing and wildlife rules

Before anyone heads in, you get a safety briefing. This is where the tour earns trust. They emphasize how to interact with wildlife and how to keep your distance from turtles to avoid stressing them.

There are also hard lines that make the experience feel ethical, not gimmicky. Feeding animals is prohibited, and touching sea animals is not allowed. That matters because turtles and other animals here are wild, not props.

3) The snorkel itself, guided and paced

Once you’re in the water, you follow the guides through the reef area. The average depth is about 2.5 meters, with a maximum of 8 meters, so you’re not committing to deep ocean work. You’ll get support if you need it, and in the water the guides are structured to help the whole group stay together. Some sessions have included a two-guide setup, with one closer to the front and one nearer the back, which helps first-timers feel less lost.

4) Back to shore, then your digital souvenirs

After your snorkel, you return to the beach. During the experience, an underwater photographer captures photos and videos. Those are sent to you digitally for free, and many people mention getting them over WhatsApp afterward. That’s a big value add because you skip the typical extra fee for underwater camera work.

Gear that reduces stress on your first snorkel

I’ll be blunt: the gear can make or break a snorkeling trip. Here, the tour includes mask, snorkel, fins, boots, and a full wetsuit. The wetsuit is important because water temps run around 19°C to 23°C from March to September, and a full wetsuit helps you stay warm enough to enjoy the time in the water.

A couple more practical points that matter when you’re new:

• The equipment is described as well-fitted and comfortable, in all sizes
• Full wetsuits can offer buoyancy, which helps you relax instead of fighting to stay afloat
• You do not need to bring your own bulky items, so packing is easy (just wear swimwear)

There’s one rule to note: you can’t use a full face mask on this tour. If you already own one, plan on using the provided mask instead.

Also, motion sickness advice is spelled out: if you deal with it, they advise using medication. The good news for that group is the tour leaves from the beach, so you’re not on a boat for long stretches. That is a real comfort factor if seasickness is your personal travel boss fight.

What you’ll see: reefs, sea grass, and the turtle possibility

The snorkeling area includes rocky reef formations and calm coves. Those details translate to a smoother swim because you can move along structures where fish and other life gather.

Here’s what you should expect to look for:

• Colorful reef fish moving through the rocky edges
• Camouflaged creatures like seahorses, if you’re patient and slow
• Octopus sightings are possible
• Sea grass areas that can be part of turtle habitat
• Turtles are possible, usually green sea turtles

Now, the honest part. They make it clear they cannot guarantee turtle sightings. Sometimes turtles may be out of reach for the route on a given day. That means you should treat turtles as the exciting bonus, not the only reason you’d book.

From real sessions, bigger animals have come up too: rays and an angel shark have been spotted in some outings, and stingrays have been seen near the reef. When those happen, it tends to make the trip feel like you’re seeing a bigger slice of the ecosystem than the typical beginner snorkel.

Photos and videos are included, and they’re not an afterthought

Underwater photography is one of those things that people often end up paying extra for. Here, photos and videos from an underwater photographer are included, and you receive them digitally for free.

Many people also mention the photographer using a GoPro, which makes sense because it lets the guides capture you while you’re actually doing the snorkeling, not posing awkwardly on land. If you’re traveling with kids, this is especially helpful. It’s hard to get decent family photos when everyone is learning a new skill. Getting the underwater shots afterward takes the pressure off.

Marine-life rules that keep the experience respectful

This is where the tour feels more thoughtful than a typical nature activity. They spell out rules that protect the animals and keep you out of trouble.

You’re asked to follow:

• No feeding marine life
• No touching sea animals
• When encountering turtles, use proper distance and avoid causing stress

The staff also follows turtle protocols rather than treating a turtle like a photo prop. That’s a big deal because it changes how the whole trip feels. You swim slower. You watch more. You let the ocean set the pace instead of trying to force a moment.

Price and value: is $45 worth it?

At $45 per person for about 2 hours, you’re paying for more than just a snorkel slot. The value case is built on three things:

1) Top-to-bottom gear included

You get full wetsuit, mask, snorkel, fins, and boots. That’s typically where beginner snorkelers get surprised by extra costs.

2) Professional guidance for safety and comfort

The tour is built for first-timers, and they provide extra assistance for small children, non-strong swimmers, and seniors. That kind of support makes the experience smoother and lowers the chance you panic halfway through.

3) Free underwater photos and videos

Even if you don’t care about every video, having a digital set of underwater shots for free is a real value boost. It turns the trip into something you’ll actually remember with visuals, not only stories.

Is it a bargain? For Tenerife snorkeling that includes gear, pro instruction, and underwater digital souvenirs, it’s a strong deal. The only time the value feels weaker is if the day is windy and visibility is reduced or the route changes. In those cases, it’s still a good experience, but your animal sightings can vary.

Who should book, and who should rethink it

This tour aims at a wide age range and says it is for all ages, including people who do not have previous snorkeling experience. They also support those who are not strong swimmers with extra help.

That said, there are clear “not suitable” categories. If any of these apply, you should not assume this will work:

• Non-swimmers
• Wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments
• People over 140 kg (309 lbs)
• People under 30 kg (66 lbs)

Also, minors must be supervised by an adult during the tour, and they advise pre-existing medical conditions to inform the provider.

In practice, I’d think of this as best for:

• Families who want a structured, calm-water snorkel
• First-timers who want coaching and safety checks
• Anyone who hates boats but still wants real reef time
• People who care about marine-life respect and ethical rules

Should you book this Abades snorkeling tour?

If you want a straightforward snorkeling experience in Tenerife that’s built for beginners, I’d say this is a good booking. The standout factors are the small group size, the beach-to-reef setup in a sheltered bay, and the included gear plus free underwater photos and videos.

Book it if:

• You want a guided 50-minute snorkel without boat hassle
• You’re hoping for sea turtles, but you’re also happy if the reef fish and other creatures steal the show
• You like having clear safety and wildlife rules

Consider booking something else if:

• You are a true non-swimmer and cannot participate safely
• You know you might not handle temperature and gear, even with a wetsuit, and you cannot take the right precautions

If you can be flexible with weather, show up on time, and focus on the reef rather than forcing a turtle encounter, you’ll likely have a memorable, genuinely fun couple of hours.

FAQ

Where is the meeting point for the snorkeling tour?

You meet at Magilu. Look for the guide wearing a Snorkel Tenerife Excursions shirt.

What’s included in the tour price?

Mask, snorkel, fins, boots, and wetsuit are included. The tour also includes a 50-minute guided snorkeling session, multilingual instructors, free photos and videos, water, insurance, and extra assistance for small children, non-strong swimmers, and seniors.

How long do we snorkel in the water?

The guided snorkeling time is about 50 minutes, and the full experience lasts about 2 hours.

Do I need to be a strong swimmer or have snorkeling experience?

The tour says you do not need previous experience and that it is suitable for all ages. Extra assistance is offered for non-strong swimmers, but non-swimmers are listed as not suitable, so be honest about your swimming ability.

Are sea turtles guaranteed?

No. They have a reasonable chance of spotting green sea turtles, but sightings cannot be guaranteed because turtles are in their natural habitat.

What should I bring with me?

Bring swimwear. They also advise arriving already in your swimsuit.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

Is the water cold?

The water temperature is listed as between 19°C and 23°C during March to September.

What if the weather is rough?

The excursion might be subject to change or canceled due to poor weather, strong wind, or adverse sea conditions.