Tenerife, a pearl of the Spanish archipelago of the Canary Islands, does not only offer majestic mountains and volcanic landscapes. On the south coast, the sea is the undisputed protagonist, inviting visitors to sail its waters or dive into its depths and be fascinated by its inhabitants.

This area of the Atlantic Ocean is ideal for observing whales and dolphins, including colonies of playful bottlenose dolphins that live in the area all year round and, in the same coexistence with humans, approach boats in a friendly way and provide a show with their acrobatics out of the water. This has put Tenerife in first place in Europe for the number of people who go to watch whales in freedom (every year more than half a million people from different parts of the world travel to the Canary Islands to admire them).

But if the dolphin shows are impressive, the presence of the pilot whales (also known as bottlenose dolphins), more than 16 feet long and weighing between one and two tons, is indescribable. Showing their dark backs, these marine specimens surprise with their smooth displacement. Inhabiting the area all year round because of the food available and the water temperature, they are a testimony to the rich marine life that thrives around Tenerife under the gaze of Los Gigantes, the cliff that rises imposingly over the Atlantic towards the depths that surround the island.

These waters are also visited by different species of dolphins, such as the rough-toothed and striped Atlantic spotted dolphins. Orcas, blue whales, sperm whales and northern, tropical and fin whales, the latter of which can grow to over 82 feet, have also been spotted.

 

 

Diving in the area

For the more adventurous, diving in the crystalline waters of Tenerife is unique. Taking advantage of the excellent visibility, diving on the seabed covered with seba, a marine phanerogam plant that forms extensive green tapestries, vital to the balance of the underwater ecosystem as it is food for various species, is ideal to meet its inhabitants, including vieja, a fish that swims synchronously in multicolored schools, as well as other specimens. Other sea dwellers we will find are loggerhead turtles, Canary lobsters and spider crabs.

Look out for the moray eels that inhabit the cracks in the volcanic rock, sticking their heads out curiously, but always alert to what is going on around them. Every corner of the ecosystem is teeming with life, from small crustaceans to large fish that take refuge among the rock formations and the remains of sunken ships.

 

 

 

Exploring the sea caves

Over time, the constant pounding of the sea has created caves along the coast of Tenerife. These caves offer a natural spectacle where the play of light and shadow in the water creates a mystical atmosphere. You can visit Cueva del Tancón and Punta de Teno, the latter located in the western part of the island. It is a place where the sea and the land meet in a unique way, creating an environment that can only be described as magical.

 

 

 

Text: Nicole Posselt ± Photo: Aquaholkics Topic, Misrtioc Sea, Fundación Aquae