Puerto del Carmen: Snorkeling Trip with Dive Instructor

Puerto del Carmen’s Playa Chica gives you an easy way to see Lanzarote’s Atlantic life without committing to scuba training. After a short lesson, you enter from the shore and spend about an hour floating with a guide who points out fish and small sea creatures.

I like the small groups of up to 10 and the quality Scubapro mask, fins, snorkel, and wetsuit. I also like the calm, patient teaching style reported from guides including Igor, Raul, and Elva, especially for first-timers and nervous swimmers. The main consideration is firm: this is not suitable for non-swimmers, children under 8, or pregnant women.

Key points to know

• Shore entry at Playa Chica: You walk into the Atlantic directly from the dive center area, rather than boarding a boat.
• One hour in the water: The full activity lasts two hours, including changing, briefing, snorkeling, and a short snack break.
• Small-group guidance: Groups are limited to 10, so the instructor can help with mask fit, breathing, and spotting marine life.
• Warmth and flotation: The wetsuit helps you stay warm and makes floating easier, including during winter.
• Clear practical limits: Non-swimmers and children under 8 cannot join, and late arrivals cannot be accepted.

What the two-hour Puerto del Carmen snorkeling trip is really like

This is an introductory snorkeling outing, not a certification course and not a boat safari. You meet at Playa Chica, change into your gear, listen to a safety talk, and walk into the water from shore with the group.

That simple setup is part of the appeal. You do not lose time boarding a vessel or traveling to a distant site. The focus stays on getting comfortable in the water and learning how to look beneath the surface.

The $65 price includes the equipment, insurance, instructor, water, cookies, and the guided hour in the sea. You pay extra only for your own transport to Playa Chica and any optional tip for the guide. For a first snorkeling session, that is a fair package, particularly if you would otherwise need to rent a mask, fins, snorkel, and wetsuit separately.

The tradeoff is that you should not expect a long marine expedition. The actual water time is about one hour, and conditions in the Atlantic can affect visibility and what you see. The experience is best judged as a friendly introduction to Lanzarote’s underwater world, not as a full-day wildlife outing.

Finding the meeting point at Playa Chica

The activity takes place at Playa Chica in Puerto del Carmen, a familiar spot for water activities. Look for the instructor and local team near the last bench when walking from the restaurant toward the sandy parking area, with the ocean on your left. Blue IKEA bags help identify the meeting point.

You may also see divers and dive center vehicles nearby. The exact meeting time and location are sent one to two days before the activity, so check your email and phone after booking.

This final confirmation matters. The team prepares the correct equipment in advance, including wetsuit and fin sizes, and needs personal details from every participant for sizing and insurance. You will be contacted by WhatsApp or email. If you have not heard from the provider, use the WhatsApp number on your booking voucher during office hours, listed as 8:30 to 15:30.

Give yourself extra time for parking, traffic, and finding the beach. The activity starts at the stated time, and late arrivals cannot join or receive a refund. Arriving at least five minutes early is the official advice, though I would allow more if Playa Chica is unfamiliar to you.

The briefing makes this suitable for first-timers

Before entering the water, the instructor explains how to use the mask, snorkel, fins, and wetsuit. You learn the basic habits that make snorkeling easier: how to breathe through the snorkel, how to keep the mask in place, and how to use your fins without tiring yourself out.

The briefing also covers safety and the kind of marine life you may see in the Atlantic. That natural-history element gives the hour more purpose. Instead of simply swimming around and hoping to notice something, you have a guide looking with you and helping you understand what is in front of your mask.

This is especially useful if you feel uneasy about the ocean. Several highly praised instructors, including Igor and Raul, are described as patient with nervous beginners and children. One guide spent time reassuring a participant who was afraid of being in the water, while another helped two children with different anxieties enjoy the session.

That does not change the participation rules. The activity is not suitable for non-swimmers. If you are not comfortable swimming, you should not book on the assumption that an instructor can make an exception. The staff can support beginners who can swim but have little or no snorkeling experience.

Getting fitted with Scubapro equipment

The included gear consists of a mask, snorkel, fins, and wetsuit. The equipment is supplied by the operator, and participant sizing is collected ahead of time so the team can prepare before you arrive.

A good mask fit matters more than most beginners expect. If water keeps entering, you spend the session adjusting the seal instead of watching fish. The instructor checks the equipment and explains how to use it, which takes away much of the trial and error that comes with borrowing gear from a beach kiosk.

The wetsuit has two practical jobs. It helps keep you warm in the Atlantic, and it adds buoyancy, making it easier to stay on the surface. That is why the activity can operate during winter, though you should still bring a towel and dry clothes for afterward.

Bring swimwear to wear under the wetsuit, sunscreen, a towel, and a change of clothes. The operator provides water and cookies, but you should not treat the snack as a replacement for a meal. There is no hotel pickup or drop-off, so plan your own way to Playa Chica.

Entering the Atlantic from shore

Once the group is dressed, you enter the water from the beach area. There is no boat transfer, so the first minutes are about getting used to the mask, breathing, and fins while staying close to the instructor.

That gradual start is valuable. Many first-time snorkelers discover that the hardest part is not swimming, but relaxing while their face is in the water. The guide can correct small problems before they become frustrating, and the wetsuit helps you float while you learn.

You remain in a small group during the water session. The instructor assists you, keeps the group together, and helps locate fish and other small creatures. You should expect a guided search rather than a fixed list of species. Marine sightings can vary with visibility, conditions, and the animals’ movements.

The rules are straightforward: look, but do not touch marine life. That protects the animals and keeps you safe. Even a harmless creature can be disturbed or defensive when handled, and responsible snorkeling means observing without chasing or grabbing.

One hour of fish spotting near Playa Chica

The main water session lasts roughly one hour. You float on the surface and follow the instructor’s attention toward colorful fish and other marine life. The experience is designed around relaxed observation rather than speed or athletic effort.

This makes it a good choice if scuba feels too serious or intimidating. You stay at the surface, use simple equipment, and learn a few basic techniques. You still get the pleasure of looking into the Atlantic, but without the training, compressed-air equipment, or commitment of a scuba session.

The guide is an important part of the value. A beginner may swim past a small creature without noticing it, while an experienced instructor knows where to look and can signal the group. Guides speak English, Spanish, or French, so check that the language offered at your selected time works for you.

The reviews attached to this activity give particular weight to the human side of the trip. Igor is praised for thorough instructions and patient group management. Raul is noted for helping nervous beginners feel safe and for pointing out many fish. Elva is praised for explaining details and showing participants what to look for. Mo is also described as helpful with beginners.

Guides can change, so book for the structure of the activity rather than expecting a particular person. Still, the repeated emphasis on patience is useful information if you are booking for a family or for someone who feels uncertain in open water.

What families and nervous beginners should know

The minimum age is 8, and the activity is not suitable for pregnant women or non-swimmers. Children who meet the age requirement still need to be comfortable in the water and able to follow the instructor’s directions.

This could work well for a family with different levels of experience because the guide stays with the group and explains the equipment before entering. The supplied feedback includes families with children who had separate worries or needed extra reassurance.

I would still speak honestly with your children before booking. Snorkeling requires wearing a mask, breathing through a tube, and putting your face in the Atlantic. A patient instructor can help, but cannot remove every source of discomfort. If a child is strongly afraid of open water or refuses to swim, choose a land-based activity instead.

Adults joining for the first time should feel more comfortable knowing that the session is designed for beginners. You do not need previous snorkeling experience, and the wetsuit helps you float. You do need basic swimming ability and a willingness to stay with the group.

Cookies, sea views, and a short finish

After the water session, you return to shore, remove the gear, and take a short break. Water and cookies are provided, giving you a simple chance to warm up, chat with the instructor, and look back over the bay.

It is a small detail, but it suits the pace of the activity. You are not rushed straight from the water into a vehicle or another scheduled stop. The pause lets you ask about the fish you saw and settle down before leaving.

Bring your own towel and change of clothes. The operator does not provide hotel transfers, and the supplied information does not promise showers or lockers, so pack simply and avoid bringing valuables you do not need at the beach.

A tip of about 10 percent is appreciated if the guide has been especially helpful. It is optional, not part of the $65 price.

Is $65 a fair price?

At $65 per person, the cost is reasonable for a two-hour guided activity with about one hour in the water. You receive a wetsuit, fins, mask, snorkel, insurance, instruction, a small group setting, and refreshments.

The price makes the most sense for beginners who do not already own gear. Buying or renting each item separately could reduce the appeal of the package, but the instruction and local wildlife spotting still add value. You are paying for someone to organize the equipment, explain the basics, manage the group, and help you notice what is below the surface.

The value is weaker if you want a long snorkeling day, a boat trip, or guaranteed encounters with particular animals. None of those are promised. Weather and sea conditions can influence the experience, and one hour in the water may feel brief to confident snorkelers.

The free cancellation policy allows a full refund when you cancel at least 24 hours in advance. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if you are arranging several activities around changing holiday plans. Last-minute bookings need care because the team must receive your sizing and insurance details in time to prepare the equipment.

Who should book this Playa Chica experience?

I would choose this trip if you are new to snorkeling, want a short activity near Puerto del Carmen, or prefer surface swimming to scuba. It also suits couples and families with children aged 8 or older who can swim and are happy to follow a guide.

The strongest reason to book is the instruction. If a mask, snorkel, or open water makes you nervous, the briefing and close support can turn an awkward first attempt into a pleasant one. The wetsuit also makes the session more comfortable than swimming in ordinary swimwear.

I would look elsewhere if you cannot swim, want hotel pickup, need a private group, or hope for a long independent exploration. You should also skip it if touching animals or collecting shells is part of your idea of snorkeling. The rules require you to leave marine life alone.

Should you book the Puerto del Carmen snorkeling trip?

Book it if you want an easy, well-supported introduction to Lanzarote’s sea life and can get to Playa Chica on time. The small group, good equipment, patient guides, and one-hour water session give beginners a sensible way to try snorkeling without signing up for scuba.

The best match is a swimmer who wants guidance, not an expert seeking a demanding marine expedition. Confirm your equipment details through WhatsApp or email, bring a towel and dry clothes, and leave extra time to find the meeting point. For the right participant, $65 buys a friendly and practical first look beneath Lanzarote’s Atlantic surface.

FAQ

How long does the snorkeling activity last?

The complete activity lasts two hours. About one hour is spent snorkeling in the water, with the remaining time used for the briefing, equipment, changing, and the short break afterward.

Where does the snorkeling trip take place?

The activity takes place at Playa Chica in Puerto del Carmen, Lanzarote. You enter the water from shore at the local dive location.

What equipment is included?

The price includes fins, a mask, a snorkel, and a wetsuit. The equipment is described as high-quality Scubapro gear.

Is the trip suitable for complete beginners?

Yes. The instructor explains how to use the equipment, basic snorkeling techniques, water safety, and the marine life you may see. You do not need previous snorkeling experience, but you must be able to swim.

Can non-swimmers join?

No. Non-swimmers are listed as unsuitable for this activity. Children under 8 and pregnant women are also not permitted to participate.

What should I bring?

Bring swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, and a change of clothes. Water and cookies are included.

Is hotel transportation included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. You need to make your own way to Playa Chica.

Which languages are available?

The instructors can provide the activity in English, Spanish, or French. The exact meeting time and location are sent after booking, usually one to two days before the activity.