You’ve seen the videos. Gliding through volcanic rock formations, high-fiving octopuses, breathing like Darth Vader underwater. It looks peaceful. But here is the truth most dive centers won’t tell you: Peaceful comes from preparation.
At Barbarian Diving , your official SSI dive center in Los Cristianos, South Tenerife, we don’t just throw you in the water and hope for the best. We teach you to dive like a warrior: smart, strong, and calm under pressure.
If you are gearing up for your first Try Dive or signing up for your SSI Open Water Diver course here in Tenerife, you probably have questions.
Is it scary? Will my ears hurt? What if I panic? What about sharks?
Let’s break down the real rules of diving safety. No fluff. Just the essential knowledge you need to descend like a warrior and surface like a legend — right here in Los Cristianos.
Table of Contents
What Nobody Tells You About Beginner Diving in Tenerife
Most people think the hardest part of diving is the gear or the swimming. It’s not. The hardest part is your brain.
When you first put your face in the water at Playa de Los Cristianos and breathe through a regulator, every instinct your body has developed over 20+ years screams: “Stop! You can’t breathe underwater!”
This is the “Barbarian Moment.” Do you panic? Or do you adapt?
At our SSI dive center, we train you to adapt. The waters of South Tenerife are perfect for this, sometimes calm, sometimes with low visibility . That’s not a problem. That’s real training.
“The beach of Los Cristianos is an excellent training dive site with its sandy entry and sandy bottom. Although visibility can sometimes be quite poor, that makes it even better for low-visibility training dives.” — SSI MyDiveGuideThe Golden Rule: Never Hold Your Breath
The Golden Rule: Never Hold Your Breath
This is rule number 1. Literally. In scuba, we have a dark humor saying: “There are bold divers and old divers, but there are no bold old divers.”
Why it matters: When you are at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, say, at 12 meters off the coast of Los Cristianos, the air in your lungs is compressed. If you hold your breath and swim up, that air expands, that’s why we need to breath continously.
Always keep your airway open. Breathe continuously. That’s the first lesson every SSI Open Water Diver learns.
The 3 Pillars of Barbarian Dive Safety
Forget the complicated physics. To dive safely in Tenerife, or anywhere in the world, you only need to master three things: Equalizing, Buoyancy, and The Rule of Thirds.
1. Equalizing: Stop Hurting Your Ears
The Problem: Pressure.
The Solution: Act early.
If you wait until your ears feel like they are being stabbed by an ice pick during your descent in Los Cristianos bay, you have waited too long.
How to do it :
- Pinch your nose
- Gently blow through your nose (like you are trying to pop your ears on an airplane)
- Tilt your head side to side
The Barbarian Tip: Do this on the surface before you even start going down. Do it every two feet of descent. If it hurts, go up a little bit and try again.
Your ears are not supposed to scream. If they do, signal your SSI instructor. They will help you ascend slightly and try again.
2. Buoyancy: Don’t Be a Falling Brick (Especially Near Volcanic Reefs)
Buoyancy is how you float mid-water. Bad buoyancy means you are flapping your arms like a windmill and kicking coral. Good buoyancy means you look like a Jedi — gliding effortlessly over the volcanic rocks of Palm-Mar Wall or Neptune’s Cave.
The SSI way:
- Breathe to rise: Want to go up a little? Take a deeper, slower breath. Your lungs fill with air, you float.
- Breathe to sink: Want to go down? Exhale fully. You sink.
- Use your BC (Buoyancy Compesator): Small, gentle taps on the inflate/deflate button. No punching.
The Barbarian Rule: Small breaths, small changes. You are not a ceiling fan; you are a diver.
“Perfect buoyancy comes with practice. At Barbarian Diving, we practice until you look like a pro, or until you stop kicking the sand.”
3. The Rule of Thirds (Air Management)
Never, ever let your tank hit zero. This is drilled into every SSI Open Water Diver student.
We use the Rule of Thirds:
- 1/3 of your air to go out and explore (e.g., swim to the El Condesito wreck)
- 1/3 of your air to come back
- 1/3 of your air for your buddy (or emergencies)
Check your pressure gauge every 5 minutes. If you see the needle hit 70 Bar, it is time to turn the dive around and head back to shore or the boat.
“Air is your lifeline. Treat it like gold.”
What About Sharks? (The Question Everyone Asks in Tenerife)
Here is the Barbarian reality check: You are more likely to be killed by a vending machine than a shark .
| Threat | Deaths Per Year (Worldwide) |
|---|---|
| Vending machines | 13 |
| Sharks | 5 |
Sharks are efficient hunters, but they don’t want to eat a scuba diver. You are too big, too bubbly, and not a seal.
In Tenerife, you might see angel sharks resting on the sandy bottom of Los Cristianos . They are harmless if you don’t bother them.
The Barbarian rule: Respect the ocean, don’t fear it. Look, don’t touch. Take photos, not souvenirs.
Why Train with Barbarian Diving? (SSI Los Cristianos)
| Feature | What It Means For You |
|---|---|
| Official SSI Dive Center | Internationally recognized certification |
| Los Cristianos beach entry | Easy, sandy access — perfect for beginners |
| Small groups | More one-on-one time with your instructor |
| Training in real conditions | Low visibility? Currents? You’ll learn to handle it |
| Multilingual instructors | English, Spanish, and more |
| Free hotel pickup | From most hotels in South Tenerife |
“We don’t just certify you. We prepare you.”
Our SSI Courses in Los Cristianos
Try Dive (Discover Scuba Diving)
Never dived before? This is your first taste of the underwater world.
- No experience needed
- Instructor by your side at all times
- Max depth: 5-8 meters
- Location: Playa Los Cristianos (sheltered bay)
- Includes: full equipment, SSI recognition, photos, and a beer after
“Your only task will be to fully enjoy the aquatic environment and the feeling of floating in space.”
SSI Open Water Diver Course
Become a certified diver in 3 days, recognized worldwide.
- Academic learning (online or in person)
- Confined water training (pool or shallow bay)
- 5 open water dives in the Atlantic Ocean (Los Cristianos and Palm-Mar)
- Small groups, maximum safety
- Languages: English, Spanish, German
By the end: You are an internationally certified SSI Open Water Diver. And a Barbarian.
For Certified Divers (Fun Dives)
Already have your certification? Join us for guided dives in South Tenerife’s best spots:
| Dive Site | Depth | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Playa Los Cristianos | 5-12m | Sandy bottom, octopus, angel sharks |
| Palm-Mar Wall | 12-30m | Sea turtles, wall dives, boat access |
| El Condesito Wreck | 18-25m | A cement carrier wreck — classic Tenerife |
| Neptune’s Cave | 15-25m | Cavern dive, volcanic rock formations |
| Roncadores del Palmar | 10-20m | Beautiful volcanic reef |
Practical Information for Your Dive in Los Cristianos
| Where are you located? | Los Cristianos, South Tenerife ,in front of the beach |
| What SSI courses do you offer? | Try Dive, Open Water Diver, Advanced Adventurer, and more |
| Do I need to know how to swim? | Yes , basic swimming ability required for SSI certification |
| What should I bring? | Swimsuit, towel, sunscreen, and a sense of adventure |
| What’s included? | Full equipment, insurance, SSI certification, water, coffee, and beer after dives |
| Is there an age limit? | Minimum 10 years old for Try Dive |
| Do you speak English? | Yes,English, Spanish, German, and other languages on request |
Ready to Try Diving in Los Cristianos?
Los Cristianos is waiting. The Atlantic is calling. And we have a weight belt with your name on it.
Whether you want to try a Try Dive, start your SSI Open Water Diver course, or just explore the volcanic reefs of South Tenerife with a certified guide, Barbarian Diving is here.
👉 Book your Try Dive
👉 Start your SSI Open Water Diver course
👉 Contact us for questions
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