With more than 234 kilometres of coastline, Tenerife in the archipelago of the Canary Islands and a warm and pleasant subtropical climate is a perfect place for water sports at 2 hours flying time from main Europe.
The island also offers a rich nature to the visitor; it is acclaimed for its millenary forestry and the variety of seabirds that nest on the island, and a huge gastronomic offer with multicultural flavours.
These facts justify the more than six million tourists that Tenerife receives each year.
For visitors interested in scuba diving and snorkelling the island is a small paradise close to Europe with crystal clear waters allowing a visibility of more than 30 metres and a warm water temperature all year round. Not only that the volcanic precedence of the island creates a variety of cliffs and underwater walls, caves, tunnels and basaltic columns.
Reefs in Tenerife
But wait; there are reefs in the Canaries? Of course, there are not the same coral organisms as in the Tana Reefs, but the variety of underwater volcanic structures on the seabed allows for the development of a rich underwater biodiversity.
On the rocky seabed grows a variety of coral and algal life, forms that serve as food and shelter for fish and invertebrates.
The influence of the tides and ocean currents on the island also create different conditions around the island's coastline, this coupled with the effects of being an oasis of life in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean increases the biodiversity present for the diver and underwater photographer who delves into these waters.
Which plan to follow on your holidays?
Don't miss the Experience Teide peak excursion: on foot or by cableway
Get to know the most visited national park in Europe and climb the highest peak in Spain. Exceed your limits on this excursion of ascent to Teide peak with permits.
If you want to live a unique and environmentally friendly experience, and also get to know the Teide National Park with a Senda guide, which has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, then this is the place for you. Unesco World Heritagebook your place for a guided visit to Teide with permits.
Diving in Tenerife
Like the other islands of the Canary archipelago, Tenerife offers a multitude of places for scuba diving and snorkelling. On the south side of the island are the most popular places for divers because the sea currents are weaker than in the north and it is more accessible for visitors.
The southern side of the island is mainly made up of sandy seabeds that form beautiful underwater landscapes. But for the more experienced divers the north side of the island which is more influenced by the volcanic origin is an excellent place to practice this water sport. The more exposed rocky north side with its tunnels and caves are excellent places for the development of marine reefs and a truly impressive place to visit..
Yellow Mountain
Declared a natural monument, Montaña Amarilla translates as Yellow Mountain. Located in the south of the island of Tenerife, it is a geological formation made from submarine volcanic eruptions, where you can see a set of aligned volcanoes and different basaltic and pyroclastic formations of land and sea.
See the reefs that form in this area from the eroded basaltic rocks that shelter all kinds of marine life, a truly amazing sight.
Also this area is very calm with the diver because it is well protected from the sea currents and the water is very clear, it is a good place for people who are getting into underwater sports.
The Cathedral
Located on the north side of Tenerife, this underwater canyon structure with arches and windows where sunlight filters down to the bottom reminds the visitor of a cathedral.
It is located at a depth of 35 metres and is inhabited by a huge community of gorgonian corals and a variety of fish including moray eels that are easily spotted at La Catedral.
Located on the north coast, it is a place of moderate difficulty where you can face strong sea currents and waves, but the beauty of the place is worth the risk.
El Simplon Reef (Tenerife)
Again on the north side of the island, near the town of Puerto de la Cruz, is El Simplon.
There you can see a variety of caves and arches of volcanic formation that is inhabited by an extraordinary diversity of marine life, communities of huge anemones that serve as shelter for fish and crustaceans, and as a great attraction manta rays that use these places as hunters.
Simplon Reef is between 12 and 20 metres deep and is not exposed to strong ocean currents, which makes it a good place for beginners to dive.
The Rapadura
Under the waters of Tenerife there is a place that made the cover of National Geographic, this place is La Rapadura.
It is a basaltic formation made from the interaction of volcanic magma with seawater that left us with this regular structure of hexagonal columns that are a true spectacle to behold.
Nothing we can write here can describe the beauty of this place so all we can do is encourage you to visit this place, but be aware that it is located at a depth of 50 metres so it is reserved for divers with some experience.
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