Snorkeling in Radazul Tenerife
- Ana Mano
- Apr 25, 2024
- 3 min read
Immerse in one of the best places to observe marine life in Tenerife by snorkeling all the way from Playa de Radazul to Playa Tabaiba.
Near the Muelle de Radazul is the small volcanic sand beach of Radazul and the swim from this beach to Tabaiba beach is simply incredible. Next to the rocks you'll find a fascinating array of fish and sea slugs the size of cats! Without a doubt, one of the best snorkeling spots in Tenerife.
We decided to swimm all they way to Playa Tabaiba because it was only around 500m distance, and well, why not? Near the rocks at the coast the turquoise water is beautifully crystal clear which makes it possible to see amazingly well the aquatic fauna and flora.
On the way to Playa Tabaiba we found a huge cave with a small hidden - and inaccessible for pedestrians - beach decorated with beautiful green plants, where on one side there was a family of Turtle Doves and on the other a family of Black Swifts, which were constantly circling us. They are beautiful and very fast, so I didn't have much success on trying to photograph them. We stopped there to take some photos and warm up under the lovely sun.
Recommendations on snorkeling in the Atlantic
It's very important to take breaks during snorkeling to warm up your body, as the water isn't exactly a warm bath. We're talking about the Atlantic Ocean... it's cool! With an yearly average temperature of 20°C, it can actually cause thermal shock if you don't take these breaks and get out of the water for some minutes. Snorkeling isn't the same as swimming, it's more like a meditative slow motion swim and your body temperature will drop easily if the water is inferior to 25°C.Â
The more chilly ones can opt to buy a snorkeling suit or a wetsuit. In that store that everyone knows but I won't say the name, it starts with D and ends with ON, the suits are very affordable and you can even buy them on the island. Another tip: wear swimming plugs to avoid pain in your sensitive ears.Â
Marine species I saw while snorkeling in Radazul Tenerife
If you're well equipped, jump into the sea and get ready for a beautiful moment in contact with Canarian marine nature!
Some of the species we saw, in addition to those mentioned in the story about snorkeling in Charco del Viento: Ophioblennius atlanticus or Redlip Benny - very cute with little horns and a pink pout; Aplysia dactylomela - giant slugs, I've seen white ones with black circles pattern and some that are completely black; Abudefduf Luridus or Canary Damselfish- an incredibly beautiful fish, all black with electric blue neon accents; White Sea Bream; Menippe Stone crab; among others. Take a look at the illustration I made to get a better idea.
On the way back, at Tabaiba Beach, you can choose to walk along the walkway that runs along the cliff, take the opportunity to warm up your muscles on the long staircase and enjoy the magnificent scenery.Â
Oh, one more thing: while I was looking up for the name of the sea slugs online, I ended up finding photos of silly people picking them up as if they were their own pets. Please don't do that! I doubt they would be interested in being adopted and, besides, I think if someone suddenly grabbed us out of the air and tickled us while taking selfies with us it would be bizarre to say the least. So control the temptation and respect the amazing marine life ;)
How to get to Radazul
Getting there is very easy, the problem is the timetables... we're talking about an island right? So go to the TITSA website and check the timetables before you leave, preferably the day before to avoid any surprises. From the Santa Cruz Interchange, take the bus number 138 or 139, both in the direction of Tabaiba Baja (via Radazul). Get off at Radazul and voila! Be careful, Google may indicate you to take the 111, 121, 122, which would be great because it would increase the bus frequency, but take in account that those buses do not pass through Radazul, instead they stop at Tabaiba, around 20 minutes walking away to Playa Tabaiba and 30 minutes to Playa de Radazul.
Have lots of fun on your adventure snorkeling in Radazul in Tenerife!
