Abades: Guided Snorkeling Tour with Photos

The best part of this Playa Abades snorkeling tour is the personal attention. Groups are limited to six, and guides such as Natalie and Andre adjust the pace for children, nervous swimmers, and first-timers. You’ll look for colorful fish among volcanic rock, with possible sightings of rays, octopuses, and sea turtles.

I like the included underwater photos and videos, which save you from worrying about a camera. I also like the strong safety focus and the fact that non-swimmers can take part with extra support. The main catch is wildlife: turtles are possible, not promised, and reaching their feeding area requires a fair amount of swimming.

Key points at a glance

• Small groups: Usually limited to six people, though groups may occasionally be combined.
• Wildlife sightings: Expect fish and reef life, with a chance of seeing rays, octopuses, turtles, squid, or barracudas.
• Support for beginners: The guides have more than 20 years of experience and can assist nervous or weak swimmers.
• Photos included: You receive underwater photos and videos at no extra cost.
• Simple beach meeting: Meet in front of Magilu Restaurant, directly across from the beach.
• Good value at $35: Equipment, wetsuit, instruction, guide, photos, and videos are included.

Starting at Magilu Restaurant in Playa Abades

Your meeting point is easy to identify: look for Magilu Restaurant, with white benches in front of the ocean. The beach is directly across the road, and parking is plentiful, so arriving by car is fairly simple. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you’ll need to make your own way to Abades.

This is a practical meeting place, but do not expect a full watersports center with every facility. A nearby café may help if you need a toilet or somewhere to change, but there is no changing room or toilet provided as part of the tour. Bring your swimsuit under your clothes and pack a towel.

The guides speak English, Spanish, and German. Natalie and Andre are named by returning customers as especially reassuring guides, but the exact guide depends on the day. Before entering the water, tell the team honestly how well you swim. That information helps them bring the right flotation aids and set a sensible pace.

Getting ready with wetsuits and proper equipment

The two-hour experience begins on the beach with equipment fitting and a safety briefing. You receive a mask, snorkel, fins, and a neoprene wetsuit. Long and short wetsuits are available, which matters in the Atlantic even on a sunny Tenerife day.

The equipment is more than a minor detail. A mask that fits well keeps water out and lets you spend your energy watching the fish instead of adjusting your gear. Fins make it easier to move calmly, while the wetsuit adds warmth and some comfort in the open water.

The guides explain how to breathe through the snorkel, clear the mask, and move without thrashing. You should tell them if you feel anxious before the group goes out. The strongest feature of this tour is not speed or distance. It is the patient supervision, especially for families and people who have never snorkeled before.

If you wear glasses, you cannot put ordinary spectacles under the mask. You’ll need to manage without them unless you have suitable prescription swim equipment. That is worth knowing before you book.

Exploring the volcanic reef close to shore

Once everyone is ready, the group enters the sea from Playa Abades and begins exploring the rocky underwater area. The setting is shaped by Tenerife’s volcanic coast, with stones and reef providing shelter for small fish and octopuses.

You can expect the guide to point out marine life and keep the group together. The underwater route may include different snorkeling areas along the coast, with depths chosen to suit the people in the group. The exact route depends on sea conditions and the abilities of the participants.

The fish are the reliable attraction. You’ll see many small, colorful species moving around the rocks, and the clear shallower areas make this a good introduction to Atlantic snorkeling. The scenery is not a tropical aquarium, and it should not be sold as one. This is open ocean around a volcanic island, with natural conditions and changing visibility.

That natural quality is part of the appeal. You are not visiting a controlled enclosure, so the fish behave like wild animals. You may find an octopus tucked beneath a stone, a ray gliding over the bottom, or squid moving through the water. You may also see barracudas, as one outing did, but none of these sightings can be guaranteed.

The turtle question: possible, never certain

The tour currently has six sea turtles living around the beach area, and the guides know where they often feed. That gives you a real chance of seeing one, but it does not make a sighting certain. The ocean is open, and the turtles move freely.

A typical turtle search may involve around 20 to 40 minutes near the feeding area. That is a meaningful part of the session, but it is not a long wildlife expedition. One outing may bring a close encounter lasting several minutes, while another may produce rays and fish but no turtle at all.

This is the main point to understand before paying. If your entire decision rests on seeing a turtle, the tour carries a risk. If you see the turtle as a bonus on top of fish, reef, instruction, and photographs, the value is stronger.

Non-swimmers should take special note. You can still enjoy fish and other sea life with the guides’ assistance, but the turtle area is farther out and requires more swimming. A non-swimmer should not book expecting to reach that spot.

Why beginners and families often fit well

The guides describe the activity as suitable for people who are nervous, inexperienced, or poor swimmers, and the tour has been adapted for children as young as six. Children under five are not accepted.

I like the way this changes the feel of the outing. You are not being pushed to keep up with a fast group. The guides can hold a nervous swimmer’s hand, provide extra flotation support, and check that everyone is comfortable. Several families have used the tour as a first ocean snorkeling experience, including parents with children aged six, seven, and nine.

That said, beginner-friendly does not mean effortless. You still need to enter the sea, wear fins, use a mask, and follow instructions. If you cannot swim at all, state that clearly when booking. If you are simply uneasy in open water, the guides’ experience with frightened participants should help, but the sea may still feel demanding.

People with mobility impairments and wheelchair users cannot take part. A cold is also listed as a reason not to participate, likely because breathing through a snorkel is uncomfortable when congested. Pregnant women can snorkel according to the activity information, but personal medical advice should guide that decision.

Photos and videos make the $35 price stronger

At $35 per person, this is a good-value half-day activity because the cost includes the guide, mask, snorkel, fins, wetsuit, photos, and videos. You do not need to rent a camera or pay a separate media fee afterward.

The photos also give the tour a useful keepsake. Underwater memories are difficult to capture on a phone, and the guide can focus on taking pictures while you focus on staying calm and watching the marine life. The quality will naturally depend on water clarity, light, and how close the animals come, but the media is included rather than treated as an expensive extra.

The price is less attractive if you expect transportation, changing facilities, or a guaranteed turtle encounter. You pay for a guided introduction to the local sea life, not a private wildlife charter. For a small group with equipment and media included, though, the cost is reasonable.

What the two-hour schedule feels like

The advertised duration is two hours, including preparation, equipment fitting, instruction, time in the water, and the return to shore. Do not expect all two hours to be spent swimming continuously.

The opening briefing is valuable. You’ll learn how to use the equipment and how the group will move. Then the guides lead you into the water, look for fish around the rocks, and decide how far to continue based on conditions and ability.

A strong swimmer may find the pace gentle. That is intentional. The tour is built around keeping a mixed group together, not covering the greatest possible distance. Families and first-timers will appreciate this. Confident snorkelers who want a long, independent swim may prefer a more demanding outing.

At the end, you return the equipment and receive the underwater photos and videos. Keep your schedule flexible afterward if you want time to dry off, change, or sit at a nearby café. The beach meeting point does not provide a dedicated changing room.

What to pack for Playa Abades

Bring a sun hat, swimwear, towel, and beachwear. Sunscreen is a sensible addition, although it is not listed among the required items. Wear your swimsuit before arrival if you want to avoid changing beside the beach.

You’ll leave personal belongings in the provider’s car while you snorkel. Bring only what you need, and ask the guide where to place valuables before entering the water. The beach has plenty of parking, but you are responsible for reaching the meeting point.

If you are prone to feeling cold, ask about the wetsuit options before going out. A well-fitting suit can make the difference between enjoying the fish and thinking only about getting warm.

Who should book this snorkeling tour?

This experience suits families with children over five, first-time snorkelers, nervous swimmers, and anyone who wants a short, guided look at Tenerife’s marine life. The small-group format is especially useful if you want someone watching your technique and comfort rather than sending you into the water on your own.

It also suits photographers and families who want a record of the outing without carrying a camera. The free photos and videos add real value at this price.

You should think twice if you have limited mobility, cannot manage basic water activity, have a cold, or want a guaranteed turtle encounter. Strong swimmers who want a long independent route may also find the pace too easy.

Practical booking advice

Book with the understanding that conditions and wildlife control the day. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option keeps your plans flexible.

Try to mention your swimming ability and any fear of open water when booking. This allows the team to prepare flotation support and organize the group more effectively. Groups are normally kept very small, though they may occasionally be combined.

The activity provider is Meerjungfrau Apnoe Akademie ES. The guides’ background in freediving and instruction, along with more than 20 years of work with children and nervous participants, explains why the safety briefing and personal support receive so much attention.

Should you book the Abades snorkeling tour?

I would book this if you want a friendly, well-supported introduction to Tenerife’s underwater world at a modest price. The combination of small groups, good equipment, wetsuits, patient instruction, and free photos makes it more than a basic beach rental.

Just set your expectations correctly. Fish are the dependable sight, while rays, octopuses, squid, barracudas, and turtles are possible extras. If you can accept that wildlife is unpredictable, Playa Abades offers a memorable two-hour outing without the cost or time commitment of a full boat excursion.

FAQ

Where does the snorkeling tour meet?

Meet in front of Magilu Restaurant, directly across from Playa Abades. Look for the white benches facing the ocean.

How long does the activity last?

The tour lasts two hours, including preparation, equipment fitting, instruction, and snorkeling.

What is included in the price?

The $35 price includes the guided snorkeling tour, guide, snorkeling equipment, a long or short wetsuit, underwater photos, and videos.

Are hotel transfers included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you must arrange your own transport to Playa Abades.

Can non-swimmers take part?

Non-swimmers can take part with assistance and can see fish and other sea life. They cannot generally reach the turtle area because it requires more swimming.

Will I definitely see a sea turtle?

No. Six sea turtles currently live around the beach area, but the activity takes place in open ocean and sightings are not guaranteed.

What marine life might I see?

You might see colorful fish, rays, octopuses, squid, barracudas, and sea turtles, depending on conditions and the season.

What languages do the guides speak?

The guides speak German, Spanish, and English.

What should I bring?

Bring a sun hat, swimwear, towel, and beachwear. You may also want to bring sunscreen and only the personal items you need.

Who cannot take part?

The activity is not suitable for children under five, people with mobility impairments, wheelchair users, or people with a cold. Pregnant women can take part according to the activity information.