El Puertito, small cove south of Adeje. You enter the water up to your waist and 3 meters from you, an 80 cm green turtle grazes on the algae on the rocks. No need for a boat, no need for a bottle, no need for a wetsuit in summer, a mask and snorkel are enough. Tenerife is one of the rare places in Europe where onboard snorkeling keeps its promises. The water is clear (15-30 meters of visibility depending on conditions), warm (20-24°C), and underwater life is there, within reach.
El Puertito (Adeje) is the most famous spot: resident green turtles, calm water in the cove, depth 2-5 meters, parrot fish, octopuses in the crevices. Problem: the world. Arrive before 9:30 a.m. or late afternoon. Abades is an abandoned former military village on the east coast, easy access via a dirt road, varied rocky bottoms, octopuses, juvenile barracudas, and almost no people. Radazul is the locals' favorite: a municipal pontoon, stingrays resting on the sand at a depth of 5 meters, squid at night for divers. Los Abrigos: a quiet fishing port, cuttlefish under the hulls of the boats, good visibility (variable depending on the day). La Caleta (north of Adeje) is the discreet spot: trumpet fish, moray eels in the rocks, and a chiringuito on the beach for lunch.
Around ten PADI and SSI centers on the south coast, all serious. The baptism (Discover Scuba Diving) costs 80-120€ depending on the center and is done in the open sea, not in a swimming pool, you see things from the first dive. Main sites: Las Galletas (rays, turtles, 12-18 m), Alcalá (caves and tunnels, 15-25 m), Los Gigantes (dizzying underwater wall, 20-40 m, angel sharks in winter). Radazul is the favorite playground of local divers: access from the shore, visibility 20 m+, abundant wildlife, legendary night diving (squid, hunting octopuses, moving rays). The water rarely drops below 18-19°C in winter — 5 mm is recommended from October to April, 3 mm is sufficient in summer.
The green turtles of El Puertito are protected by law. It is forbidden to touch them, feed them, surround them or swim towards them suddenly. Approach slowly, from the side, and let them go on their own. The cove is small, maximum 4-5 people in the water in one place. Kayak and paddle operators disembarking groups of 15 tourists with GoPros are a known problem, the municipality of Adeje is strengthening controls. Come early, stay quiet, move slowly, and the turtles will come by themselves. They graze on algae on rocks 1-2 meters deep, sit on the surface and observe. Access to El Puertito is free, but restrictions have been under discussion since 2024, find out before you leave.
The best time for snorkeling is May to November: water between 22 and 24°C, maximum visibility, rare jellyfish. In winter (December-March), the sea is rougher on the north and east coast — stay on the protected south and west coast. The turtles of El Puertito are present all year round. Jellyfish mostly appear in the fall after storms, check conditions the day before.
El Puertito before 9 a.m. or after 4 p.m. — between these times, the cove can have 40 people per 20 meters of coastline. Abades (east coast, discreet sign from the TF-655) is the spot that the locals keep to themselves: varied rocky bottoms, almost no people, and entry to the water is easier than El Puertito. For scuba diving, ask for a quote from several centers - prices vary from 80 to 120€ for an introduction, the difference is often due to the instructor/student ratio.
Mask, snorkel, and water shoes are the basics. Rental on tourist beaches costs 8-10€/day but the quality is often poor (leaking masks, bitten snorkels). If you plan more than 2 outings, buy your own mask before leaving, at Decathlon, an Easybreath costs €25 and changes everything. Short fins (15-20€) allow you to cover more ground effortlessly. For scuba diving: all equipment is provided by the centers, regulator included. Just bring a medical certificate if you have one (otherwise, the centers will have you sign a waiver).