SHORE DIVE · SOUTH TENERIFE

Abades, South Tenerife

Abades is a relaxed, easy shore dive on Tenerife's south-east coast, best known for one thing above all: a genuinely high chance of watching green sea turtles feeding peacefully on seagrass, just metres from the entry point.

DIVE SITE OVERVIEW

REGION

South Tenerife

ACCESS

Shore dive · Abades

RECOMMENDED LEVEL

Open Water (all levels)

TYPICAL DEPTH

Shallow, gently sloping

MAXIMUM DEPTH

Suitable for all certified levels

VISIBILITY

Generally good

WATER TEMPERATURE

18-24°C

Why We Love Abades

Turtle encounters are never something we can promise on any dive, anywhere. What makes Abades special is how consistently the odds are in your favour here, thanks to the seagrass that draws turtles in to feed.

Beyond the turtles, Abades quietly overdelivers: angelsharks, several species of stingray and cuttlefish all turn up regularly enough that most divers leave the water with more than one highlight from the dive, not just the one they came for.

Abades is a small coastal village on Tenerife's south-east coast, and its dive site has built a well-earned reputation for one thing above everything else: turtles. The seagrass meadows just off the entry point are a regular feeding ground for green sea turtles, and on a good day it is not unusual to spend several minutes calmly watching one graze, undisturbed by divers keeping a respectful distance.

It is a straightforward shore entry with a gentle, easy profile, which is exactly why it works so well for such a wide range of divers: relaxed enough for newer Open Water divers, and rewarding enough that experienced divers keep coming back for the marine life.

MARINE LIFE

Marine life you might see

Green Sea Turtle

YEAR-ROUND

The signature sighting at Abades — turtles are regularly seen grazing on the seagrass meadows close to the entry point.

Atlantic Angel Shark

YEAR-ROUND

This critically endangered species turns up here more often than at many other south-coast sites, usually resting camouflaged on the sand.

Stingrays

YEAR-ROUND

Several species of stingray are seen regularly, often partially buried in the sandy seabed.

Cuttlefish

YEAR-ROUND

Cuttlefish are a frequent sighting here, drifting over the seagrass and sand.

CONDITIONS & SUITABILITY

Entry

Easy shore entry, suitable for all certified levels.

Current

Usually mild.

Temperature

Approx. 18°C in winter to 24°C in summer.

Best season

Year-round.

Exposure protection

5 mm is comfortable for most divers; some prefer 7 mm in winter.

PERFECT FOR

Open Water divers of every experience level, Discover Scuba Diving and Try Dive guests, and anyone hoping for a relaxed, high-probability turtle encounter.

NOT RECOMMENDED FOR

None specifically — Abades is one of our most accessible sites and suits nearly every certified diver.

💡

BARBARIAN INSTRUCTOR TIP

Keep a calm, steady pace once you reach the seagrass, and give any turtle plenty of space. They'll often keep grazing undisturbed if you stay relaxed and avoid chasing or crowding them — that patience is usually rewarded with a much longer, closer encounter.

Frequently asked questions

Am I likely to see a turtle at Abades?

There are no guarantees with wild animals, but Abades has a genuinely high chance of turtle sightings thanks to the seagrass meadows they feed on near the entry point.

Is Abades suitable for newly certified divers?

Yes. It is an easy, gently sloping shore dive suitable for all certified levels, including newly certified Open Water divers.

Is Abades a shore dive or boat dive?

It is a shore dive, entered directly from the coast at Abades.

What else might I see at Abades?

Alongside turtles, divers regularly encounter angelsharks, several species of stingray and cuttlefish.