Following a meeting in the pub in October 2022, where members expressed an interest in doing a warm water trip, we organized a club trip to Tenerife in June 2023. Early enough to miss the school holidays (expensive flights) but late enough to enjoy the warm summer water (about 24c). We all stayed air BnB or similar in Costa Silencio, and then dived with Tenerife Scuba, run by Chris, who we have known for about 8 years. Our dive guide was Alex, such a font of knowledge on both dive sites and critters.
On meeting up and getting our kit sorted, the first days dives were undertaken at Yellow Mountain, Costa Silencio. We saw lots of life including turtles, beautiful coloured wrasse and a big shoal of feeding bass as well as a shoal of grunts. Everyone was happy, I think the turtles made the day! If only shore diving was this easy in the UK.
The following day, we picked up our kit, now nicely dried out, and tanks refilled, packed up the minibus and headed off to Poris to do a nice reef dive with lots of octopus and cuttle fish. After a full hour in the water, after taking the photograph (hear, speak see no evil!) we then packed the kit back in to the minibus and headed over the bay to Abades. This bay is famous for its seagrass beds, and almost a guarantee of finding at least one turtle grazing on the seagrass.
As usual it delivered, along with mini sting rays, and lots of cuttle fish too. Back at the bus, we had a wee wait while Chris brought the spare keys, but not a bad wait in the sun, breeze and beautiful views over Poris Lighthouse.
Day three and everyone except SiFish and myself decided to have a day off. We zoomed off with Alex and dives some lovely sites, one called the Moon Pools, where we found more nudibranchs than we though possible. Lots of huge ones an even a Spanish dancer, probably in the last throws of life as a parrot fish was trying to eat it.
The moon pools is a lovely less frequently dived location, as there is a bit of a walk from the car, but well worth it. The pressure changes as the waves sweep in to the caves is something to experience. It makes your chest boom! Definitely a dive I will do again, to see the abundance of marine life, and the light in the pools.
Day four and Catherine, Des and Janet went out on the rhib to do some boat diving. We didn’t join them as there wasn’t space, but from the size of their grins on their return, the day was definitely an enjoyable one. Lots of smiles and some good stories about seeing huge rays, octopus, wrecks and eels. No one had a camera sadly, but the enjoyment level was 10+
Diving out of Las Galletas marina is quite easy. The rhibs are quite big and have a ladder that you can climb up to get back in. There are three wrecks to dive, plus a lot of reefs some with resident huge Atlantic rays, which are great to see. Who doesn’t love kitting up, rolling in and then following the dive guide to see some amazing sites?
Final day diving was spent going along the coast past Las Americas and to the west. The first dive was ar Puerto de Alcala, where you might find golden eels if lucky! We parked in the harbour and kitted up. The get in was at the steps, then a swim out via the mooring buoys to the reef wall. Following the reef there are lots of critters and fish to find, including trigger fish, octopus, runcadores, and lots of sand dwelling critters. We swam out until 120 bar was reached, then turned around and came back swimming over than through the reef. Sadly we didn’t see any golden eels, but everyone had a fun dive.
We packed up the bus and then headed down the coast to Playa de San Juan. This is a beach close to a harbour, but is the home to lots of butterfly rays, Atlantic rays, common rays, eagle rays, angle fish and many other things.
We headed out with SiFIsh leading the way, seeing so many large rays on the way. Everyone was really excited. The dive route then takes you out of the harbour to the sea side of the wall where there are some really impressive shoals of fish, which just swirl around you. An amazing experience. We then swam back in to the harbour, with SiFIsh and the team opting for a get out on Playa de Aguadulce, and a wee bit of a walk back to the bus…. Nic opted for the direct route, already changed and ready by the time the rest of the group appeared!
So diving done, we all headed back to base to wash down kit, and sort everything out. We all then went out to one of the banana plantation restaurants: El Cordero, which is based in a banana plantation but does the most amazing spread of grilled meats, fish and vege. A must if you are in Tenerife. After eating and drinking too much, and deciding that a revisit in 2024 was a must, we headed back to our accommodation by taxi, everyone had had an excellent time and really warmed to Tenerife and all it has to offer.
So who is coming in 2024?