Scuba Diving in Turtle and Ray Area

Abades Bay gives you a rare kind of underwater introduction: after about 30 minutes of basic instruction, you enter a sheltered bay where sting rays, turtles, angel sharks, and reef fish may be nearby. The small format matters. You are paired with an instructor, not sent along in a large group.

I like the calm, personal setup, and I like that the session includes real safety exercises before you explore. Instructors Csaba and Levente are praised for patience and care, while the bay has produced sightings of squid, trumpet fish, eels, snails, and a small angel shark. The main drawback is the strict schedule around flying: you cannot fly for 12 hours after the session, and the experience can be canceled or moved for bad weather.

Key points at a glance

• Abades Bay wildlife: Look for rays, turtles, angel sharks, trumpet fish, squid, snails, eels, and colorful reef fish.
• Maximum two people: You enter the water with an instructor in a very small group, useful if you feel nervous or want close guidance.
• About 30 minutes of preparation: The briefing covers basic scuba skills, expectations, and safety exercises before you explore.
• Professional personal care: Csaba, Levente, and the wider team are praised for making first-timers feel relaxed and well supported.
• Roughly 2.5 hours total: The time includes instruction, gear preparation, water exercises, and exploration.
• Plan around air travel: Leave at least 12 hours between this activity and your flight.

Why Abades Bay makes a good first underwater outing

Abades Bay is the heart of this experience. Rather than treating scuba as a one-off equipment lesson in a pool, the session takes you into a bay with a real reef setting and a good chance of seeing marine life.

The list of possible sightings is unusually appealing for a first outing. Rays are a key draw, and you might also find turtles, angel sharks, butterfly rays, trumpet fish, squid, eels, snails, and smaller reef fish. Wildlife is never guaranteed, of course, but the range gives the outing more character than a simple lesson close to shore.

The bay also suits mixed ability levels. A first-timer can focus on breathing, balance, and comfort in the water, while someone with previous experience may spend more time watching for animals and examining the reef. The team has also handled more advanced training, including rescue work, night sessions, and deeper underwater practice, so the setting is not limited to complete beginners.

I would choose this experience if you want a gentle introduction with a real sense of place. You are not simply learning how to operate equipment. You are learning in a bay where the lesson can quickly turn into a wildlife search.

The first 30 minutes: briefing, gear, and safety

The first part is designed to remove the mystery from scuba equipment. You receive about 30 minutes of instruction covering the basics and what to expect once you enter the water.

That briefing is especially important if this is your first time. You need to understand how to breathe through the regulator, communicate underwater, and respond to simple instructions. The exact lesson format is not given, but the experience clearly includes practical exercises before the wider exploration begins.

You then get fitted with scuba gear. This takes some patience, and I would not rush it. A correct fit helps you feel secure and lets you focus on the water instead of adjusting equipment.

Before setting off around the bay, you complete several exercises to confirm that you are safe and comfortable. This is one of the strongest parts of the format. It gives you a chance to settle down before marine life and open water compete for your attention.

The instructors’ manner matters here. Csaba and Levente are singled out for being patient, supportive, and clear. That is exactly what you want at this stage. A good instructor does not make you feel foolish for needing a reminder, and this team appears to understand that comfort is part of safety.

Entering the water with no more than two people

The maximum group size is two participants, with an instructor accompanying you. That is a major benefit at this price point.

Large beginner groups can feel rushed. You may spend much of your time trying to stay close to the guide or waiting for someone else to solve an equipment issue. Here, the instructor can pay close attention to your breathing, position, and confidence.

This setup is also helpful for couples, friends, or two family members booking together. You still need to confirm the practical arrangements at booking, but the stated maximum is two participants for the activity.

The small group does not mean the experience is private for one person. If you book alone, the format still allows close supervision. If two people book together, you share the instructor’s attention, but not with a large crowd.

I would particularly value this arrangement if I were uneasy about going underwater. A calm guide close by can make the difference between a tense session and an enjoyable one.

What you might see around the reef

The marine life is the reason to choose this bay rather than treat the session as a basic equipment class.

Rays are the most consistent theme in the experience. Sting rays and butterfly rays may glide over the bottom, and their slow movement gives you time to watch without chasing them. Keep your movements controlled. Underwater wildlife is best observed quietly, and sudden swimming usually makes the moment shorter.

Turtles are another possible highlight. One sea turtle sighting made a strong impression on a participant who had hoped to see one for years. You should not book on the promise of a turtle, but it is a genuine possibility listed among the bay’s wildlife.

Angel sharks are an especially interesting possibility. They rest close to the seabed and can be easy to miss if you are staring only at the open water. A small angel shark has been seen during a beginner session, which shows why the pre-water exercises matter: once you are comfortable, you can slow down and notice animals that are not flashy.

The smaller creatures add variety. You may see trumpet fish, colorful reef fish, squid, snails, or eels. These sightings make the experience worthwhile even if the larger animals stay out of view.

I would bring realistic expectations. The sea is not a wildlife show, and conditions affect visibility and animal activity. Still, Abades Bay offers enough variety to make the search rewarding.

A personal teaching style that suits beginners

The strongest praise centers on the instructors’ conduct. The team is described as friendly, patient, caring, and professional. Those qualities are more useful than a flashy sales pitch when you are learning to breathe underwater.

Csaba and Levente are specifically named, and the wider team includes staff such as Kelsey, Chris, and Jack. The exact instructor for your session may vary, so do not assume you will be assigned to one particular person. What you can expect is a staff culture built around close guidance and encouragement.

The team has also worked with people at different stages. First-timers have felt safe, while more experienced participants have used the academy for advanced training. Someone nearing 60 completed a demanding divemaster program with the team, while children aged 11 and 14 took part in a first underwater experience with their family.

That does not establish a universal minimum age or guarantee that every child will qualify. It does show that the instructors have experience helping people with very different levels of confidence.

The practical lesson is simple: tell the staff if you are nervous, inexperienced, or unsure about the equipment. This small-group format gives them room to adjust their pace.

What the two-and-a-half-hour schedule really means

The advertised duration is about 2 hours and 30 minutes. That is not two and a half hours spent continuously underwater.

Your time includes the basic lesson, briefing, equipment fitting, safety exercises, and the underwater exploration. The exact length of the water portion is not stated, so plan for the full block rather than assuming you can squeeze in another activity immediately afterward.

This timing works well as a half-day plan. You can build the rest of the day around it, but I would avoid booking anything that depends on leaving at the exact finish time. Gear changes and water conditions can affect the pace.

The activity begins and ends at the same meeting point in Abades, at C. 16 de Mayo, B8, 38588 Abades, Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Pickup is offered, with a green minivan identified by license plate 1327 MWS. If you use pickup, look for that vehicle and confirm the arrangement before the day.

The listed operating hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Sunday, from September 30 through November 30, 2026. If your visit falls outside those dates, check availability rather than assuming the same schedule applies.

Is $106.94 good value?

At $106.94 per person, this is not the cheapest way to spend a morning in Tenerife. It is fair value if you place a high price on close instruction, included scuba equipment, and access to a bay with a strong range of marine life.

The maximum of two participants is the key value point. You are paying for a guided session with much more personal attention than a large introductory group normally provides. The price makes more sense for someone who wants reassurance and an instructor nearby, not simply the lowest possible cost.

The experience also suits a pair of friends or relatives who want to share a first underwater outing. Seeing rays or a turtle together adds a memorable element that a standard lesson may lack.

The value is less clear if you already hold substantial scuba experience and want a long, technical session. The advertised format is built around basic instruction and safety practice, so experienced participants should confirm the planned depth, bottom time, and level of independent exploration before booking.

Who should book this experience

I would recommend it to:

• First-timers who want close supervision
• Couples or friends who prefer a maximum two-person format
• Families checking an underwater activity for older children
• Certified participants who want to explore Abades Bay with a local instructor
• People hoping to see rays, turtles, angel sharks, and smaller reef creatures
• Anyone who values patient instruction more than a rushed, high-volume operation

It may not suit you if you need a flexible cancellation option. The booking is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If poor weather forces a cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund, but ordinary changes of plan do not qualify.

You should also avoid placing it immediately before a flight. The 12-hour no-fly rule is firm and needs to shape your schedule.

Practical details before you book

Confirmation is provided when you book. The activity is offered in English, and mobile tickets are accepted.

Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed. The information does not provide a full medical screening list or a formal age policy, so ask the operator directly if you have a health concern or are booking for a child.

Weather matters. A calm, clear day should make the session more comfortable, but the final decision rests with the provider. If poor weather cancels the activity, you receive a different date or a full refund.

Bring enough time for the whole appointment rather than arriving with a tight schedule. You will need to listen, get fitted, complete the exercises, and enter the water at the group’s pace.

Should you book the Abades Bay session?

Book it if you want a carefully supervised first scuba experience with a real chance of seeing rays, turtles, angel sharks, and reef fish. The small two-person format, patient instructors, and safety practice give it a strong edge over a crowded introductory session.

Think twice if your plans are uncertain, you need a refundable booking, or you are flying soon afterward. For the right schedule, $106.94 buys more than equipment and instruction. It buys personal attention in one of Tenerife’s appealing underwater spots, with the possibility of wildlife that turns a lesson into a memorable outing.

FAQ

Where does the scuba experience begin?

It begins at C. 16 de Mayo, B8, 38588 Abades, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain.

Where does the activity finish?

The activity ends back at the meeting point in Abades.

How long does the experience last?

The stated duration is approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes.

How much does it cost?

The listed price is $106.94 per person.

How many people take part?

The activity has a maximum of two participants, with an instructor accompanying the group in the water.

Is pickup available?

Yes. Pickup is offered. The vehicle is a green minivan with license plate 1327 MWS.

What language is offered?

The activity is offered in English.

What marine life might I see?

You might see sting rays, butterfly rays, turtles, angel sharks, colorful reef fish, trumpet fish, squid, snails, and eels.

Can I fly after the session?

No. You cannot fly for 12 hours after the session.

What happens if bad weather cancels the activity?

You are offered a different date or a full refund if poor weather causes the cancellation. The experience is otherwise non-refundable and cannot be changed for personal reasons.