Sea turtles without the boat ride. This Tenerife snorkeling tour starts right from the beach in Abades, with a 50-minute guided swim through a protected coastal zone known for fish, corals, and calm conditions. It’s built for families and first-timers, with full gear, professional support, and an underwater photographer who captures your moment.

What I really love is how safety and comfort feel baked in, from the moment Rafaella and Ron check you in to the way they keep the group together in the water. I also like the respect-first wildlife rules, plus the free photos/videos they send after, so you leave with memories that look like they came from a camera ad.

One thing to keep in mind: sea turtle sightings are a real possibility, but they’re not guaranteed since turtles move naturally in their habitat. On rougher days, wind and sea conditions can also shift the plan or cancel the tour.

Key highlights you’ll actually care about

• 50 minutes snorkeling inside a marine protected area with calm, sheltered conditions from the Abades shore
• Full wetsuit and fitted snorkeling gear (mask, snorkel, boots, adjustable fins) made for comfort and warmth
• Rafaella and Ron guide from front and back, keeping pace beginner-friendly and reassurance constant
• Ethical wildlife protocols: no feeding, no touching, and careful distances with turtles
• Free underwater photos and videos sent digitally after the excursion

Snorkeling from Abades: calm bay, small group, no boat stress

The best part about this tour is how low-stress it feels. You meet at Magilu, look for the guide wearing a Snorkel Tenerife Excursions shirt, then you’re in the water from the beach instead of boarding a boat. For people who get nervous about boats (or motion sickness), this matters more than you’d think.

The group stays small, capped at 8 participants, and that translates into real attention. In practice, Rafaella and Ron move as a team, one typically nearer the front and the other covering the back, which helps everyone keep up and feel supported. If you’re anxious when you first hit the water, you’ll appreciate having someone keeping an eye on you the whole time.

The bay they use is sheltered, with calm water you can manage even if you’re not a strong swimmer. That said, you do have to be able to follow simple instructions and stay within the planned snorkeling area. This isn’t a magic trick that turns everyone into a confident ocean swimmer overnight, but it is one of the friendliest setups I’ve seen for first-time snorkeling.

What’s included: wetsuit, mask, fins, and gear that fits

The equipment is not a last-minute rental toss-up. You get a full wetsuit in a range of sizes, plus a mask, snorkel, boots, and adjustable fins. The goal is practical: stay warm enough, buoyant enough, and comfortable enough to focus on looking at fish instead of wrestling your gear.

That full wetsuit is a big deal in the Canaries. The water is typically 19° to 23° between March and September, so “just bring swim trunks” thinking can leave you cold or distracted. Reviews also highlight how much easier it feels to swim with wetsuits on, especially for beginners.

Important mask note: they don’t allow full face masks. If you were planning to use your own, skip that style and plan on the standard mask setup they provide.

If you want to bring a camera, you can use your own underwater camera if you already have previous snorkeling experience. If you’re brand-new, it’s smarter to focus on technique first so you don’t spend your whole session looking for your mask.

The 50-minute snorkeling plan: reef, coves, and sea grass

Your guided snorkeling time is 50 minutes, and the whole experience runs about 2 hours from meet-up to wrap-up. The snorkeling happens along Tenerife’s southeast coast in a marine protected area with rocky reef formations and hidden coves. Think “easy-to-reach underwater neighborhood,” not a long open-water trek.

The reefs sit around an average depth of about 2.5 meters, with a maximum depth around 8 meters. That’s shallow enough for most people to stand or reset if needed, but deep enough to see real life moving through the rocks.

The area includes sea grass around the reefs, and that’s part of why it’s a turtle-friendly habitat. The rocks and coves give fish places to shelter and forage, so visibility and activity tend to be good when conditions cooperate.

You’ll get a safety briefing before you go in. After that, the guides help you with technique and pacing—how to breathe, how to float, and how to move without kicking up sand or bumping coral. It’s not complicated, but it makes a huge difference.

Spotting turtles and other sea life without messing up the ecosystem

Seeing green sea turtles is a major draw here. The tour operates in a habitat where turtles feed and rest, and the guides do their part by snorkeling with respectful distances and avoiding anything that could stress the animals. One realistic expectation: turtles may be out of reach, so you might snorkel the perfect spot and still not meet one face-to-face.

That uncertainty is also why this tour is worth doing even without turtles. The protected reef supports lots of other life: colorful fish, corals, and often critters hiding in crevices. In this area, you may spot octopuses and camouflaged seahorses, and you might also see stingrays, rays, or an angel shark when conditions and timing line up.

The rules are simple and clearly enforced:

• No feeding marine life
• No touching animals
• Turtle encounters are handled with proper distance and care

This matters for two reasons. First, you’re protecting the animals’ natural behavior. Second, it keeps the tour from feeling like a staged aquarium visit. You’re observing, not directing.

Rafaella and Ron’s guiding style: calm, organized, and patient

The guides are a big reason this tour earns such high scores. You’ll meet Rafaella and Ron as a duo, and their vibe is consistent: friendly, organized, and serious about safety. People who were nervous in the water repeatedly say the team helped them settle in.

A detail that stands out from how they run things: they don’t just give a lecture and hope for the best. They actively watch the group and provide extra assistance when needed, including for small children, non-strong swimmers, and seniors. That’s why you’ll see a broad range of participants in the water at the same time.

They also manage comfort when someone needs to stop early. If someone has to head back to shore, the guides handle it in a way that doesn’t leave others confused or waiting around. You still feel like the trip stays structured.

Language support is also strong. The tour runs with live guides in multiple languages, so you’re not stuck guessing what to do.

Photos and videos are included: your best souvenir isn’t the shell shop

One of the smartest “vacation value” choices here is how the tour handles memories. An underwater photographer takes photos and videos during the excursion, and you receive them digitally for free. Several people mention getting images sent by WhatsApp after the tour, which is exactly what you want while your snorkeling day is still fresh.

You also have chances to get that classic shot: you floating in clear water with reefs and fish behind you. Even if you don’t think you’ll look good underwater, the guides encourage poses, and the action naturally frames you with sea life.

If you’re traveling with kids or someone who won’t remember every detail, the photos make the experience easier to share later.

Price and value: $45 for gear, coaching, and real marine access

At about $45 per person for a 2-hour outing (with 50 minutes in the water), the value comes from three things that cost money in almost every other tour: gear, guidance, and underwater media.

Most snorkeling tours charge extra for equipment or skip the quality part. Here, you get the full wetsuit setup plus fins, boots, and mask components that actually help you float and breathe comfortably. Then you add a professional guide team that supports beginners and keeps everyone together. Finally, you get the photos/videos included, which often turn into a hidden add-on elsewhere.

Put together, it’s a straightforward trade: you pay to snorkel safely in a protected area, with the equipment already sorted and the souvenir already handled. That’s a good deal if you want to spend your time looking at sea life, not negotiating gear or buying a pricey photo package later.

Weather, wind, and water conditions: what can change on Tenerife

Even on a calm-looking coastline, the ocean can change quickly. This snorkeling activity may be subject to change or cancellation due to poor weather, strong wind, or adverse sea conditions. The guides will choose the best way to run the session based on what the sea is doing that day.

A practical tip: if you see wind, don’t assume it’s automatically pointless. Many people say they still had excellent visibility and calm enough conditions once they were out by the reef. The key is that the team checks conditions and picks where everyone should snorkel.

If you have motion sickness, plan ahead. The tour specifically advises people prone to it to use medication, and in general, the beach entry setup helps because there’s no boat ride.

Who should book this Tenerife snorkeling tour (and who should skip it)

This tour fits best if you want a guided snorkeling experience that’s friendly for beginners and families, and you care about doing it the right way.

You’ll likely enjoy it if:

• You’re new to snorkeling and want coaching
• You want calm, sheltered water close to shore
• You’d like sea turtles as a bonus, not a guaranteed demand
• You want pro gear and free underwater media

It may not fit if:

• You’re a non-swimmer. Extra help exists for non-strong swimmers, but non-swimmers are listed as not suitable.
• You have mobility impairments or wheelchair needs. The tour doesn’t suit those access needs.
• You fall outside the weight limits. People under 66 lbs (30 kg) and over 309 lbs (140 kg) aren’t listed as suitable.
• You’re not able to supervise minors. Minors must be under adult supervision.

If you have pre-existing medical conditions, tell the provider ahead of time. Safety planning is part of the experience, not paperwork fluff.

Practical tips before you go: what to bring and how to show up ready

Bring swimwear—this is simple but important because you’ll be advised to arrive dressed. The tour starts from the beach, and there’s a public shower on-site, so you can reset after you’re done.

Arrive about 10 minutes early so you have time for gear fitting and the safety briefing. If the provider asks for your measurements (they contact you by WhatsApp or email a day prior), respond quickly. It helps them get the wetsuit fit right the first time.

If you’re bringing a camera, remember the rule about needing previous snorkeling experience. If not, you can still get great photos from the underwater photographer and focus on enjoying the water.

One last tip: turtles are wild. If you don’t see one, it doesn’t mean the tour failed. The reef still has plenty to watch, and the guides are intentionally not chasing animals for a photo moment.

Final verdict: should you book this snorkeling tour?

Yes, I’d book it if you want a guided, beginner-friendly Tenerife snorkeling tour with a strong emphasis on safety and animal respect—and you like the idea of free underwater photos and videos built into the price.

Skip it only if you’re a true non-swimmer, need wheelchair access, or you’re traveling with someone who can’t follow basic safety instructions. Also, go in with the right mindset on turtles: you have a good chance, but you’re snorkeling for the whole underwater world, not for a guaranteed wildlife encounter.

If your Tenerife plan includes time at a lively resort area, this is a nice contrast: you trade crowds for calm water, reefs, and a professional team like Rafaella and Ron who take the job seriously.

FAQ

How long is the snorkeling part?

You’ll do about 50 minutes of guided snorkeling, with the total experience lasting around 2 hours.

Where do I meet the tour?

Meet at Magilu and look for a guide wearing a Snorkel Tenerife Excursions shirt. The tour starts from the beach in Abades.

Do I need to be a strong swimmer?

You don’t need previous snorkeling experience and you can get extra assistance if you’re not a strong swimmer. Non-swimmers are listed as not suitable, so be honest about your comfort in the water.

Are sea turtles guaranteed?

No. Green sea turtles are possible in this marine protected area, but sightings can’t be guaranteed because they are in their natural habitat.

What snorkeling gear is provided?

You’re provided with mask, snorkel, fins, boots, and a full wetsuit. The tour also includes water and insurance.

Is a full-face snorkel mask allowed?

No, the tour does not allow the use of a full face mask.

Do they include photos or videos?

Yes. An underwater photographer takes photos and videos during the excursion, and you’ll receive them digitally for free.

What should I bring?

Wear or bring swimwear. If you have any relevant health details, inform the provider ahead of time.

What if the sea is rough or the weather changes?

The excursion might change or be canceled due to poor weather, strong wind, or adverse sea conditions. The provider contacts you in advance if measurements are needed.

Which languages do the guides speak?

Live guides are available in Spanish, English, Italian, Swedish, Dutch, and German.

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