Abades: Guided Snorkeling Tour with Photos

At Playa Abades, the best surprise may be how much life sits close to shore. You’ll swim over volcanic rock and reef among colorful fish, with a chance of spotting a ray, octopus, or one of the beach’s sea turtles. The guides, including Natalie and Andre, are especially good at helping nervous swimmers get comfortable.

I like the tiny groups of up to six and the fact that wetsuits, equipment, photos, and videos are all included for $35. I also like the careful support for beginners and non-swimmers, who can use extra flotation help and stay with the guide. The main catch is simple: turtles live here, but they are wild animals, so no sighting is promised.

Key points to know before booking

• Six sea turtles may visit the beach, but open-ocean conditions mean you might not see them.
• Non-swimmers can take part and see fish, though the turtle area is farther out and requires more swimming.
• Natalie and Andre have earned praise for calm instruction, friendly help, and adjusting the outing to children and nervous adults.
• The $35 price includes gear, wetsuit, guide, photos, and videos, making it a strong value for a two-hour outing.
• Groups are normally limited to six, though groups may occasionally be combined.
• There is no hotel pickup, and there may not be a changing room or toilet at the beach.

What this Abades snorkeling tour is really like

This is a shore-based snorkeling outing, not a boat trip. You meet directly in front of Magilu restaurant, opposite Playa Abades, where you find the guide and get fitted with your equipment.

The setting is practical rather than polished. You’ll see white benches near the water, plenty of parking, and a beach that makes getting in and out fairly straightforward. You do not need to arrange a marina transfer or spend time on a boat before reaching the water.

The experience lasts two hours, including preparation, safety guidance, fitting your equipment, and time in the sea. That is long enough to settle into your breathing and learn how to spot small creatures without turning the outing into an exhausting half-day trip.

The group size matters here. A normal maximum of six lets the guide keep an eye on everyone and adjust the pace. The operator aims for very small groups, though you should know that groups can occasionally be joined together when needed.

Getting fitted with wetsuits, masks, and fins

After meeting the guide, you’ll receive a mask, snorkel, fins, and a neoprene wetsuit. Long and short wetsuit options are available, so the guide can help you choose what suits the conditions and your comfort.

The wetsuit is useful even in warm weather. It gives you some insulation, adds a little buoyancy, and makes the session more comfortable if you are not used to spending a long time in Atlantic water.

Good equipment can make or break a first snorkeling experience. A mask that leaks or fins that do not fit will distract you from the fish. The guides have been praised for offering several wetsuit and flipper options, then helping people find a workable fit.

You’ll get a safety briefing before entering the water. The instructors have more than 20 years of experience and also work with children and people who are afraid of the sea. That background shows in the way the activity is presented: you are not expected to arrive as a confident swimmer.

If you wear glasses, bring contact lenses if you use them and can do so safely. Ordinary glasses cannot be worn under the snorkeling mask. This is a small point, but it can save you from arriving at the beach with no practical way to see clearly.

Entering the water at Playa Abades

The tour takes place in the open sea near Playa Abades. The beach is described as free of dangerous animals in the water, but that should not be confused with a swimming pool. Sea conditions can change, and you still need to follow the guide’s instructions.

The underwater scenery includes volcanic rock formations, reef areas, and fish gathering around the stones. You may move between different snorkeling spots along the coast, with the guide choosing areas that suit the group’s abilities and the day’s conditions.

This is one of the more appealing parts of the outing. You are not simply dropped in one place and told to look around. The guide helps you notice where fish hide, where octopuses may be tucked beneath stones, and where larger animals are more likely to pass.

You may see schools of colorful fish, smaller reef creatures, and squid. Rays and stingrays are also possible. The exact mix changes with the season, water conditions, and luck, so you should book this for the experience of exploring the sea, not for one guaranteed animal.

Fish, rays, octopuses, and the turtle question

The fish are the most dependable attraction. Several people have described seeing plenty of colorful fish, even on days when the weather was not ideal. For a first snorkeling session, that steady supply of smaller sea life may be more satisfying than spending the entire outing searching for one large animal.

Octopuses are harder to spot because they hide under stones and blend into their surroundings. The guide’s local experience helps you look in the right places, but you will need patience. This is a good outing for you if you enjoy being shown how to observe, rather than expecting constant action.

Rays have also been seen during the tour. They move quietly and can be easy to miss, which is another reason to stay close to the guide and avoid racing ahead.

Turtles are the headline sight, but they need a clear explanation. The beach currently has six sea turtles that may feed in the area. They are wild, and they do not appear on command. The tour description itself warns that a sighting may not happen.

The turtle area is also a longer swim. Non-swimmers can still join the activity and see fish and other sea life, but they should not expect to reach the turtle location. One account describes around 20 to 40 minutes near the turtle feeding area, yet even that time may produce no sighting.

That uncertainty is not a flaw in the guides’ work. It is the reality of wildlife viewing. Still, the wording matters when you decide to book. If seeing a turtle is your only reason for coming, you may leave disappointed. If you see one calmly breathing near the surface, as some participants have, it can become the highlight of your holiday.

Why this works for nervous swimmers and families

The strongest part of this experience is the human support. Guides have helped non-swimmers, weak swimmers, children, and people who feel nervous in the ocean. Extra flotation aids can be brought when the guide knows in advance that someone needs them.

You should mention your swimming ability during booking or before the session starts. Do not wait until you are already in the water. The team can adjust the plan and bring suitable support, but they need to know what you require.

The guide may hold your hand, stay close, or modify the route to match the group. That does not turn the outing into a private lesson, but it can make the difference between panic and enjoyment.

Families with children have also been well served. Children aged six and nine have taken part, and the guide adjusted the session to their abilities. The minimum age is five, so very young children cannot join.

Pregnant women are allowed to snorkel according to the activity information. You should still make your own medical decision and discuss it with a doctor if you have concerns. The operator does not accept people with a cold, and that rule makes sense because congestion can make breathing through a snorkel difficult.

The activity is not suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments. There is also no promise of a changing facility at the beach. One nearby cafe has helped with toilet and changing needs, but you should not treat that as a formal part of the tour.

Photos and videos add real value

Underwater photos and videos are included at no extra charge. For many people, this is more than a souvenir. Snorkeling can be difficult to photograph yourself, especially when you are learning to breathe through a mask and keep your fins under control.

The camera also lets you share the experience with family members who were not in the water. Photos have been described as a highlight, and the free media makes the $35 price easier to justify.

You should not expect a professional private photo session with every person receiving a long personal film. The guide must supervise a small group and manage the sea conditions. Still, having images from the outing is a useful bonus, particularly if this is your first time snorkeling or if you spot a turtle, ray, squid, or octopus.

The photos also give the guide another reason to keep the group together. Stay near the guide when the camera is being used, and do not swim off in search of your own subject.

Is $35 a good price?

For two hours, $35 is a fair price, especially because it includes the guide, mask, snorkel, fins, wetsuit, photos, and videos. You do not need to rent the equipment separately or pay an additional media fee afterward.

The value is strongest for beginners. You are paying for instruction, local knowledge, safety help, and access to equipment, not simply for time in the water. A confident snorkeler with all their own gear may find the guided format less essential, but even then the guide can help locate fish and larger animals.

The small group also supports the price. A maximum of six usually means more direct attention than a large beach activity. The occasional combined group is worth keeping in mind, but the operator’s usual approach is to keep numbers low.

There is no hotel pickup or drop-off, so you must get yourself to Playa Abades. That keeps the cost down, but it makes the tour less convenient if you are staying far away or do not have transport. Parking is plentiful near the meeting point, which helps if you are driving.

You also need to bring swimwear, a towel, beachwear, and a sun hat. The operator says personal belongings will be left in their car, so bring only what you need and avoid taking valuables.

Language, timing, and cancellation flexibility

Instruction is available in German, Spanish, and English. That matters during the safety briefing, especially if you are nervous or need help with flotation equipment.

Starting times vary, so you need to check availability for your date. Plan extra time to find Magilu restaurant and get ready, rather than arriving at the last minute.

You can cancel up to 24 hours ahead for a full refund. The reserve-now-and-pay-later option is also useful if your Tenerife plans may change. These policies do not remove the need to check the weather or your own health before booking, but they make it easier to fit the outing into a changing holiday schedule.

Who should book this outing?

I would choose this tour if you want a friendly introduction to snorkeling rather than an unstructured swim from the beach. It suits families with children aged five and older, first-time snorkelers, and adults who are uneasy in open water.

It is also a good match if you want underwater photos without paying for a separate photographer. The combination of equipment, wetsuit, guide, and media keeps the cost clear and predictable.

Strong swimmers who want a longer turtle search should ask about the route and group plan before booking. The turtle area is farther from shore, and the outing must still work for the abilities of everyone in the group.

You should not book it if you need wheelchair access, have a cold, or expect a guaranteed turtle encounter. You also need to be comfortable leaving personal items in the operator’s car and managing without a dedicated beach changing room or toilet.

Should you book the Abades snorkeling tour?

Book it if you value patient instruction, small groups, and a chance to see real Atlantic sea life close to shore. The fish are the most reliable reward, while rays, octopuses, squid, and turtles add excitement when conditions and luck cooperate.

The guides’ calm help is the main reason this works for beginners and non-swimmers. Add free photos and videos, complete equipment, and a two-hour format, and $35 is good value.

Just set your expectations correctly. This is wildlife snorkeling, not an aquarium visit. You may see a turtle, but you may also spend the session with fish and reef life only. If that sounds worthwhile, Playa Abades offers an easy, well-supported way to try the water.

FAQ

Where does the snorkeling tour meet?

You meet at Magilu restaurant, directly opposite Playa Abades. White benches near the ocean help identify the meeting area.

How long does the activity last?

The tour lasts two hours. Starting times vary, so you need to check availability for your preferred date.

What is included in the price?

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

Can non-swimmers join the tour?

Yes. Non-swimmers can see fish and other sea life, and the guides can provide additional support. Non-swimmers should not expect to 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, but the activity takes place in open water and sightings are not guaranteed.

Which languages are available?

The instructors speak German, Spanish, and English.

What should I bring?

Bring a sun hat, swimwear, a towel, and beachwear. If you wear glasses, remember that ordinary glasses cannot be placed under the snorkeling mask.

Is the tour suitable for children and pregnant women?

Children must be at least five years old. Pregnant women can take part according to the activity information, while people with a cold, mobility impairments, or wheelchair users should not book this tour.