El Puertito
Depth is the range from the top of the site to its usual maximum; "recommended cert" is the mainstream-agency level operators usually ask for, not a legal rule. Currents and visibility change daily — treat everything here as planning ranges.
El Puertito's green turtles made this modest cove one of Tenerife's most requested dives, and that fame is now its central management problem. A handful of turtles took up residence over the sandy bay years ago, grew habituated — partly through illegal feeding — and drew crowds of snorkelers and divers that authorities have since worked to calm. Sightings remain possible but are no longer the near-guarantee social media suggests, and responsible operators brief hard: no food, no touching, no blocking an animal's path to the surface. Beyond the turtles, rays and trumpetfish work the quiet shallows.
The moment you come for: Green turtle encounters when luck cooperates, calm shallow water, easy snorkel access
Topography: Sheltered sand bay with low volcanic reef arms
Entry: Small cove west of Costa Adeje, Tenerife, with a walk-in sandy entry; also reached by boat and kayak tours.
Know before you splash
Hazards: Heavy snorkeler and kayak traffic on summer days.
Conservation: Feeding and touching turtles is illegal and harmful; interaction rules are actively enforced and encounters must stay on the animals' terms.
Who you'll meet
For photographers
Wide angle: ★★★★☆ · Macro: ★★☆☆☆ — editors' 1–5 rating of what this site gives each style of shooting