Scuba Diving in Tenerife what to expect?
Tenerife Geography
The Canary Islands are situated just off the coast of Africa in the Atlantic Ocean, (approx 100km west of Morocco) they are the remaining cones of long-extinct volcanoes. There are seven large islands and numerous smaller islands that collectively make up the Canary Islands, Tenerife is the largest island some 97km in length and 48 to 16km in width. Mount Teide, on Tenerife, is the highest mountain in Spain, at 3,718m as well as the third tallest volcano in the world . Teide remains active, although its last eruption occurred in 1909. The majority of coastline is rocky with a few beaches. The two closest islands to Tenerife are to the west, at a distance of some 30Km, La Gomera between the two islands the ocean drops to some 500m+ deep. To the east of Tenerife is Gran Canaria some 75Km away, between the two islands the ocean drops to some 3500m+ deep.
How does this effect Scuba diving on Tenerife
Most of the scuba diving in Tenerife takes place within a few hundred meters’ of the shore and no more than a couple of kilometers from harbor. Dive sites range in depth from a few meters to the limits of recreational diving, also on most dive sites it is possible to do a multilevel dive. Although there are a few shore dives possible the majority of the Tenerife dive sites are accessible by boat only. Dive centers tend to use Rigid Inflatable Boats (RIB) and return to harbor during dives for a surface interval as the journey time to a dive site is a few minuets to 20mins maximum. For this reason no one in the Canary Islands runs the large "Live Aboard" dive boats you find in some parts of the world. If you have booked accommodation away from the coast take care not to accede the 600m rule. See additional blog article "Flying after Diving"
Tenerife Climate
The island, which lies at the same latitude as the Sahara Desert, enjoys a warm tropical climate with an average air temp of 18–24 °C (64–75 °F) in the winter and 24–28 °C (75–82 °F) in the summer. With cooling onshore and offshore breezes the air temp always feels very pleasant. Take care though the sun is deceptively fierce, you will burn. Water temperatures range from 19Deg C in the winter months to 24-26Deg C at summers end. The prevailing winds are North Easterly at they hit Mnt. Teide and rise clouds form. In general the north of the island is also some 4-6 deg C cooler than the south. On average Tenerife has 15 days of rain a year with 75% in the north of the Island. During the winter months the north of Tenerife can have rough seas. The maximum tidal range is 1.5-2.0m along with occasional days where we get currents.
How does this effect Scuba diving on Tenerife
Most people dive here in either a 7mm or 5mm wetsuit. Some people a semi-dry or dry-suit for the winter months. With its mild and stable climate it is possible to dive very nearly 365 days per year in the south of the island, whereas the north of Tenerife in the winter months can be undiveable with divers travelling to the south of the island to dive.