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, so 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
Green Sea Turtle
Bottlenose Dolphin
Loggerhead Turtle
Nudibranchs
"Charted here" species were listed by our editors from the sources on this page. Counts are GBIF occurrence records: observations logged within about 5 km of the charted position since 1990, matched only against the species in our catalogue. They show what has been seen there, not a promise of what you will see.
For photographers
Wide angle: ★★★★☆ · Macro: ★★☆☆☆ (editors' 1–5 rating of what this site gives each style of shooting)