Tenerife - August 2003

Following the success of our Seals and Bubblemakers we decided to organise our first trip during school holidays so that we could qualify many of them abroad with our UK instructors. Tenerife seemed an ideal choice as there was sun, sand, lots for non divers to do and warm clear water.
What we didn't expect were Pilot Whales, Manta Rays, Rays and more fish than you could shake a snorkel at. This is a place which is not at the top of most UK diver's lists, think again, because we will be making regular trips back. If you're off to Tenerife independently, give Tim a call and he will sort out your diving.

Relaxed Atmosphere

Sandy beaches, miles of restaurants with everything from traditional Spanish food, French, curries, Chinese and of course McDonald's and Burger King. But there are plenty of places to get away from it all. Car hire is competitive and the petrol cheap.

Junior Divers

Straight off the beach and we gave some of our Seal team their first experience of sea diving. Gently sloping bays are ideal. We also took the oportunity to qualify some of our older Seal team members to Junior Open Water.

Helping Hand

It is always very pleasant to have mums and dads helping out on the shore. The climate is great for sun worshipers but be very careful as it is too easy to over do it. The sea was 28 degrees Centigrade going down to about 23 degrees at 30 metres, and the land was as hot as you could stand it. There was always plenty of shade available if required.

Pilot Whales

Most of the bays offer whale and dolphin watching safaris. You are guaranteed to see one or other (or so they say) and we weren't disappointed. They have strict rules regarding how close the boats can get, which from what we could see, was very well observed, however the whales just kept coming up to the boats. Having been disappointed in Iceland, this was a great thrill.

Sting Ray Dive

Probably one of the most famous dives on the island, although only a couple of minutes out of the harbour by boat. You anchor to the sand and follow the line down. At the bottom you are greeted by more rays than you can count. This has been going on for so long that human feeding is almost part of the eco system. There is also a small wreck to explore.

Sea Horses, Sharks and White Tigers

During our stay, many people took the oportunity to book a few excursions. Mount Teidi at over 3700 metres is spectacular, Loro Parque is a very full day, there is Whale Watching, Prirate Ships, a Water Park and loads more. The Dive Shop is also a booking agent for many top excursions.

Manta Rays

Thursdays are Manta Ray day, although our host Tim has been on the island for years and never seen one. We were hanging off SMB's doing our three minute safety stop and it just turned up. At least 2 metres across it just circled us between the surface and about 10 metres. It stayed for about 10 minutes and then just flew off in to the blue. Simply stunning.

Loads of Fish

Shoals of fish, Common Rays, Atlantic Rays, Cornet Fish plus the biggest eel gardens we have ever seen greeted us in Tenerife. The lack of corals was similar to parts of the Maldives, but the richness of the marine life more than made up for this.

Caverns and Caves

Not particularly known for the cavern diving, and perhaps not as spectacular as Malta, we did find a few suitable sites. For those adequately qualified, we had a little look around adding a bit of excitement to the dives. Proper planning and equipment were on hand and there was still plenty to see within the light zone.

Cornet Fish

I just like this picture. A cornet fish waiting to greet us as we leave the cavern system. The rule of thirds was strictly observed on air and we had plenty of light to illuminate the interior. In fact with 2 50w torches it was almost brighter in the cavern than outside.

The Party

No trip is complete without the final party, and Tenerife was no exception. Tim and Dive Shop staff put on a fantastic BBQ. Presentations for all our newly qualified divers, advanced divers and seals all took place followed by a special presentation to Dawn on her birthday.