Tenerife is the largest of Spain’s Canary Islands, located off the coast of Western Africa and is renowned for the high levels of tourism and its marvellous sunshine. What many people don’t realise is that this popular island has another side to it —one of stunning natural landscapes, fascinating museums and galleries, and a lively carnival culture to rival that of Brazil. But if you need more convincing, here are 10 reasons to fall in love with Tenerife…

Teide National Park

Perhaps the main highlight of Tenerife is Teide National Park, which is home to Spain’s highest mountain, a volcano named Mount Teide. You can travel up the mountain in a cable car (making sure to bring a coat as it is chilly at the top), visit the Teide Observatory, or simply tour the beautiful national park itself.

Tenerife-Teide

Image by Lüdia, with permission under Creative Commons licence

La Tejita Beach

If you’re serious about topping up your tan in style, La Tejita Beach is definitely the place to be. Located not far from El Medano, this gorgeous stretch of sand offers spectacular views of a geographical formation known as Montana Roja (the Red Mountain), and boasts plenty of sun loungers and umbrellas.

Auditorio de Tenerife

This impressive piece of architecture is Tenerife’s answer to the Sydney Opera House; a soaring, majestic white building that hosts all kinds of musical performances. If you don’t have the time or budget to see a show here, you can take a guided tour of the building, or stop for a drink in the main café.

Watersports at El Medano

El-Medano-Kite-Surfing

Image by juan.aguere, with permission under Creative Commons licence

If you’re into your watersports, you’ll want to head straight for the beach town of El Medano. The strong winds in this area of Tenerife make for excellent surfing, kitesurfing and windsurfing, but the surrounding beaches are also perfect for sunbathing and swimming.

La Laguna Cathedral

If you’re going to visit one historic piece of architecture on Tenerife, make it this beautiful cathedral, which is located in the city of San Cristobal de La Laguna. Constructed in the early 1900s, it houses the remains of Alonso Fernandez del Lugo, who conquered the island and founded the city.

Pyramids of Guimar

One peculiar tourist attraction on Tenerife that is certainly worth a visit is the Pyramids of Guimar. These terraced structures were built from lava stone in the 19thcentury, and the motives behind their building remains unclear — although some archaeologists have theorised that they were created for agricultural purposes.

Snorkelling with turtles at El Puertito

El Puertito is a quaint little fishing village on the southwestern coast of Tenerife, near to Adeje. It is not notable for much, and remains largely untouched by the tourist trade. However, it is an excellent spot for snorkelling, particularly if you are interested in seeing the local turtles.

Cueva del Viento

Adventurous types will absolutely love the cave system at Cueva del Viento, in the town of Icod de los Vinos. The complex of tunnels and caverns is in actual fact a lava tube, created after volcanic eruptions from Pico Viejo in Teide National Park.

Museo de la Naturaleza y el Hombre

This excellent museum is located in the city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and is considered one of the best museums in the Canary Islands. Exhibits about Teide volcanic eruptions, the Guanche mummies (ancient indigenous people of the Canary Islands), and local wildlife and geology are particular highlights.

Siam Park

Siam-Park-Tenerife

Image by Steve P2008, with permission under Creative Commons licence

If you’re visiting Tenerife with children, you’ll definitely want to visit Siam Park, a Thai-themed water park that boasts some brilliant rides. Whether you want to relax and cool off, have fun with the whole family, or get your heart rate going with something a bit more daring, Siam Park will have the ride to suit you.

Whether you’re visiting Tenerife on a cruise and enjoying the comfort of a ship, for a package holiday or as part of a long tour around Europe, you’ll find plenty to keep yourself entertained and illuminated. In fact, the only thing you’ll have to worry about is leaving…

I would like to thank Dive and Sea Tenerife for posting this article. Their site is a great place to learn about, plan and even book your dive trip to their school in Tenerife. After reading this I highly recommend you check out their list of the best dive sites on the islands.

In or out of water, divers can’t get enough of the practice. While, ideally, they’d spent every day in the depth of the ocean, watching the underwater world slowly float by, unfortunately this isn’t always possible. Most divers have work, a family and other obligations to attend to, which make constant dive trips too time-consuming and expensive.

Luckily, for the times you can’t get into the water, there are more than enough riveting movies that will ignite your diving passions and fulfill your underwater wanderlust. These five films are some of the best showcases of the great blue oceans that can be watched on the screen. By the time you’ve got to the credits, they’ll have you itching to put on your dive tank and roll back into the water.

Finding Nemo
Let’s face it, there isn’t a diver out there who hasn’t created a narrative for the fish they see underwater at some point in their life. Finding Nemo takes this phenomenon to a whole other level. As one of Pixar’s greatest successes, this film is an underwater epic, following a very unfortunate and down-on-his-luck clown fish, Marlin, on his mission to save his son who has been captured by a dentist from Sydney to be put in his office fish tank.

Along with the help of an amnesic blue tang fish, he explores the majority of the ocean floor, meeting a plethora of different species along the way. Whether he’s having dinner with vegetarian sharks, hanging loose with surf-nut turtles or attempting to speak whale, Marlin’s exciting adventures are bound to have any diver hooked and wishing they could be right there alongside him.

Thunderball
Many James Bond films are left incomplete without the epic and essential dive scene. However, Sean Connery’s underwater battle in the 1965 film “Thunderball” is definitely king of them all. Parachuting in from the sky or driving through the ocean on an underwater jet-ski, the two sites collide in a tense and exciting harpoon shoot out.

James’ aquatic gadgets, undeniable style and incredible ability to freedive for a large amount of the scene makes for a classic Bond flick. With a sneak peak of the underwater wildlife in the form of a terrified crab, rowdy octopus and unfortunate shark, who happens to stumble up on the struggle, this dive scene includes everything any diver wants from an epic underwater viewing experience!

Le Grand Bleu
Also known as the Big Blue, this 1988 title starring Rosanna Arquette, Jean-Marc Barr and Jean Reno is a dive epic like no other. Taking an idea close to many divers hearts—that of becoming part-fish—this film follows Jacques, a childhood diver whose true potential isn’t discovered until a chance meeting with Johanna and an unexpected dive shows that his physical state is more reminiscent of a dolphins than a human.

His journey takes him back to the Mediterranean, where his love of the underwater world was born, and re-unites him with childhood friend, Enzo, as their old rivalry is re-ignited. Enzo, now the reigning diving world championship, struggles with the threat from this old friend and the group is pushed into dangerous territory as their adventure unfolds. Diving from beginning to end and a passion encapsulated perfectly in the lead characters; this film is definitely one for dive-lovers.

Men of Honor
Perhaps one of the noblest diving films on the market, that makes any-one who loves the sport proud to do so, Men of Honor follows the men of the Navy divers training school in their heroic and dangerous quest to become the best and protect their country from the depth of its oceans. Based on a true story, protagonist Carl Brashear, played by Cuba Gooding Jr, aims to be the first African American and amputee diver on the US Force. However, in a time where racism is still common practice, he is forced to go up against many who don’t believe in him to prove he has what it takes.
On the flip side, Leslie Sunday, played by Robert DeNiro, is a washed-up and bitter trainer, determined to crush Carl’s spirit and send him back to where he came from. As the film progresses, so does the two men’s relationship, and before you know it, the story becomes one of heart-warming triumph and, combined with more than enough spectacular dive scenes, is a must-see for anyone who’s ever donned scuba gear and flippers.

The Blue Planet
Although not a film, The Blue Planet series by David Attenborough is an essential part of any divers television collection. Nowhere else can you find such an in depth and eclectic collection of information about life in the depth of our beautiful blue oceans. No other program showcases the reasons we dive as well as this series.

Available on Netflix, it works as pre-dive inspiration, a post-dive celebration and even as a commiseration to those diving withdrawals when you can’t get in the water. The eight episode series covers everything from coral reefs and artic oceans to changing water levels and the effects they have on wildlife. Including never before seen footage of certain species and practices, it’s everything a diver could want in terms of content and cinematography. Just be sure to remember that if you are planning to watch this on Netflix, particularly if you’re on a dive trip abroad, you may been to use a VPN to unblock the content and gain access to it, as unfortunately the program is subject to geo-blocking.

There are so many great dive films on the market, these are just a few of them. If you know of anymore that should be on the list, then be sure to leave a comment below!

Author bio: Jess Signet is an avid traveler, travel writer and lover of the open seas. She loves to travel, dive and snorkel and hopes you’ll enjoy these movies as much as she does!

Open Water Diver, Rescue Diver and Divemaster Courses

Date: September 7, 2014 Author: Dive-And-Sea-Tenerife

Tenerife-Diving-PADI-Rescue-Course-Exercises

Paul is back !! Paul is spending 2 weeks here with us doing his PADI Rescue course and some dives.
This week has also been one of the busiest i have ever had.
On monday we dived Poco naufragio and peqeño valle, and in the afternoon i did the PADI Rescue confined sessions with Paul and Seahorse, one of my favorite courses to do, and always a lot of fun.
The week continued with a PADI Advanced course with a wonderfull couple of students, Ellen and Trystan.
While continuing the PADI advanced course I started a PADI Open water diver course with Maik, a possible intern.
We flew through the week with a night dive at tabaiba to continue the advanced, then the open water dives and the last advanced dive at yellow mountain. And finally we finished the week on friday with 2 of Casandra’s friends doing Discover Scuba Diving experinces , and also finishing my open water students dives.
I spent my saturday sleeping to recover from the week, but i hope i have another week like this one, full of lovely people and great experiences.

Starfish almost a PADI Divemaster

Date: September 1, 2014 Author: Dive-And-Sea-Tenerife

This week was for Starfish, we spent most of the week finishing every skill and dive Starfish had to do to become a PADI Divemaster. We finished the stamina, did the deep assesment, completed the book and exams, and got her to lead and brief some dives.
This was also Paul and Casper’s last week diving with us, it has been a lot of fun diving with them, listening to all the story’s and experience’s they have had.
Unfortunately the weather took a bad turn near the end of the week because of the aftermath of a hurricane across the Atlantic.
Although rough, it was a fantastic experience diving in different conditions than the usual and gave us all an insight into a different type of diving.
Im lookin forward to next week when Paul arrives and Starfish finally get’s her 60 dives. It is going to be a good couple of weeks.

Boat Diving Tenerife

Date: August 25, 2014 Author: Dive-And-Sea-Tenerife

This week was the start of our new Divemaster intern, Seahorse, and also marks the halfway point of Starfish’s internship.
We had some very interesting diving this week, going to Abades and Alcala and also preparing the boat for it’s entry into the ocean.
We also started Seahorse’s PADI Advanced Open Water course doing Fish ID, and then Deep and Drift on sunday.
We spent most of the time diving with a father and son from Holland, two really good divers, which made our week really interesting, hearing about all of their diving experiences.
The end of the week marked the beginning of the boat being back in the water, and we did two dives on it on Sunday. It was fantastic being back on the boat and revisiting all the dive site’s I missed so much.
I can’t wait to get back on it and do some more diving all along the coast.
The other days of the week went as usual, we did some theory, I did some maintenance of all the kit that needed looking at, and I did some admin stuff.
I only have a few weeks now until the Instructor Development Course (IDC) and time is simply flying by, but i’m looking forward to these last few weeks, with the boat in the water, and the sun shinning in Tenerife.

Sayonara Fellow Divers :-( Goodbye Tenerife

Date: August 18, 2014 Author: Dive-And-Sea-Tenerife

The last week of my internship. I can’t believe its already been 8 weeks! These weeks have brought me so much joy! I met people I will never forget, I’ve been laughing so hard with tears in my eyes and had amazing experiences underwater. I’m going to visit the deep corner for a bit and share one of my favorite quotes:

“Sometimes we are lucky enough to know that our lives have been changed, to discard the old, embrace the new, and run headlong down an immutable course. It happened to me … on that summer’s day, when my eyes were opened to the sea.”

— Jacques Yves Cousteau

My first dive with Dive and Sea Tenerife was at Abades 1st reef, and on Sunday I finished off with style in just the same place! Abades is one of the better exploration dive sites in Tenerife, it is endless what the reef can share if you look really close!

I’m going to miss everybody and I am very thankful for the opportunity. Randall did a good job bringing me from PADI Advanced diver to Divemaster! And I learned so much from Flounder and I am very impressed by his endless patience teaching me the mask clearing skill! And the other interns, Steve and Alan, THE Americans! We had so much fun! And sweet Starfish, I will see you in Singapore! I’m ready for the Tempura Shrimps!

I’m going to miss all of my nicknames, Ollie, Thor and Olivos. Going back to Karoline is going to be a bit boring.

Ciao, Adios, Hadebra and Byebye!

Finally a PADI Divemaster :-)

Date: August 11, 2014 Author: Dive-And-Sea-Tenerife

I’ve been waiting for this moment since the start of my internship, I’m finally a DIVEMASTER! The feeling I had when we finished off the last assessment was so incredible! A lot of hard work has finally paid off. The path to Instructor suddenly doesn’t feel that long!

We started off the week doing Starfish’s Rescue Diver. I had so much fun being the tired, panicked and unresponsive diver. Starfish really got the feeling of being in a serious situation when I grabbed her mask and tried to climb her as a panicked diver. The same day I finished off my Search and Recovery and Rescue Assessment. It feels very good every time I tick off something from the “will I soon be a Divemaster”-list.

Tuesday we headed off to Alcalà, which is one of my favorite dive sites here in Tenerife. We always see turtles here. Not only one or two, but three! They are so friendly and curious. We had 3 certified divers with us Lynn, Paul and Nick so we all enjoyed our recreational dives looking at beautiful rock formations, fish and turtles!

The next day we were ready to drive off to Abades. Starfish and I were going to map Abades to draw an understandable map with bearings, depths and kick cycles. We were really happy about the result and in the end of our dive we saw a HUGE octopus out in the open chilling at the reef. I was ecstatic!

Thursday we started the day in the pool with DSD’s. Two kids, and their dad from France. This was the first time I heard Randall bringing his entire dive lingo out in French! Even if I didn’t get a single word he was saying I enjoyed both the confines and the Open Water Experience. As Randall and myself were going with the DSD’s and the mom, which is certified, Flounder went off with Lynn and Paul for the last dive here with us in Tenerife this time. When we came back I did my Divemaster exam… and damdamdaaa… I passed!

Friday, THE day! First we went straight down to the pool to tick off the last skills I needed to do in the pool. While I was swimming my 400m, Flounder and Starfish practiced skills! The next step was to bundle up the kit, go down to the Marina (other side, open water) we decided to go a little crazy and do my Deep Assessment in a very wavy condition. Randall, Flounder and I had a proper workout swimming out and descended next to the Marina Wall. It was a lot of surge, so we swam hard for 10 minutes before we hit the 18m depth mark. Did one necessary skill and headed back, then with the current. Felt very good when our legs were all like jelly. So I finished off my Divemaster almost rolling up on the beach in the waves!

The last day of the week we had two DSD’s Ting and Rory from England. We had a nice pool session before we headed off to Alcalà to see my favourite turtles once again!

Next week is my last, eight week. And my very good friend Malin is going to join us to do her PADI Open Water course. It’s going to be an awesome week!

Another fabulous new Divemaster intern Starfish joins our team

Date: August 4, 2014 Author: Dive-And-Sea-Tenerife

This week was a week full of excitement, it was our new Divemaster intern “Starfish” first week here, and I had 3 new PADI Open water students to teach, the week went by really quickly.

We went off to Abades with Esther, Stephen and Jacob for their first ever dives on their PADI Open water diver course, they all had a great time and were excited to head off to finish their course the next day at Radazul. So excited were they that they booked to complete a couple of fun dives too.

Then I had fun as Katie and Ian were back with Katies friend Heather for her PADI Discover Scuba Diving experince (DSD). Heather did excellently and we hope that she will get to complete more dives in the future. It was a really good week filled with nice people and fantastic dives.
Although I still have over a month left, I can’t help but think my time here is almost up. Time has been flying by, mixing all the days and weeks together. But still every day there is something new to enjoy, a new student, and new intern, or maybe even a new dive site.
Im looking forward to my last couple of months here in Tenerife with Dive and Sea.

I am so close only a few more items to complete and I will be a Divemaster!!!

Author: Dive-And-Sea-Tenerife

Diving-Tenerife-Divemaster-PADI-Dive-And-Sea

This week has been a bit different with mostly administrative work and finally completing my PADI Divemaster Manual now studying towards my Divemaster exams.

We started off the week in the pool to go through the 24 skills you need to learn to complete your Divemaster. It’s so much fun to see how much my skills have improved since we started. Now I just have to look forward to the Divemaster marked Skill session.

Stamina exercises has been a task this week as well. I finished off my 100 Meter tow and 800 meter snorkel at both 4 points out of 5! I Couldn’t be happier!

We had two beautiful dives at Abades with Katie, Ian and Heather . The visibility, air consumption and weather was impeccable! Before we headed off for Abades we tried El Puertito and Alcalà, but both places had bad conditions. Better safe then sorry!

Two more weeks to go, and my Divemaster certification is breathing me in the neck!

Tenerife has Sea Snakes!

Date: July 28, 2014 Author: Dive-And-Sea-Tenerife

This week was probably the best week I have had here as a PADI instructor and maybe as a diver, full of new things, and wonderful customers.
On monday we had the pleasure of diving with Ian and Katie, two lovely people doing their PADI Advanced course, we had a great time diving.
Also we got to do Lewis’s final advanced dive and Alan and Steve’s final dive here, it was a fantastic dive, and I am very happy both Lewis and Alan and Steve got to finish on a high.
The rest of the week just kept on giving, we started two PADI Open Water referral’s, and it was good watching them getting better and better on every dive.
As for what I saw, I found a SEA SNAKE, my first one, which was truly awesome, and some groups of bigger fish that I have yet to name or identify.
All in all a great week, and I hope the day’s flow as quickly and smoothly as these one’s have.

Tenerife….. I want to stay forever

Author: Dive-And-Sea-Tenerife

Another busy week here at Dive and Sea Tenerife. This has been a very “real” Divemaster week for me. I’ve been a part of every dive and I have been assisting, briefing, leading and helping out where it was needed. And I love it! First time leading all by myself was a bit frightening, but I powered through and learned so much from it!

We have been exploring two new dive sites, to me, this week. First we went to Playa San Juan and then El Poris, I was leading both and it’s amazing how focused you can get when you just need to trust your compass and visual references to get back to the exit point.

Last Sunday we had an amazing night dive at Radazul! I love night dives, their so exciting and mysterious. And it was Lewis’s first night dive as well, and he did very good! Monday we headed off to Abades to dive with the vibrant fish life. The visibility was PERFECT and we got great pictures of the second reef. Next day it was time for mapping Tabaiba for my Divemaster. So much to think of when mapping, but Tabaiba is always fun whatever you do!

Alan and Steve is back in America and we really miss our awesome Americans. So at right now and until Monday it’s only me as an Intern.

I simply love life here and want to stay forever…

PADI Instructor… Why do anything else?

Date: July 21, 2014 Author: Dive-And-Sea-Tenerife

Diving-Tenerife- PADI-Discover-Scuba-Diving-2

This week was good fun and a learning experience for me with Lewis,for his PADI Advanced Open Water Course.

Lewis did really well with his PADI Advanced course as well as throwing in some more recreational dives into the mix, he loved his night dive at Radazul and couldnt wait to carry on for more dives.
So well done Lewis in his holiday here in Tenerife he started with his Discover Scuba Diving Experience, then his Open Water and now he is a PADI Advanced open Water diver!! with 19 dives!!
Also at the end of the week we were joined by Ian and Katie for their PADI Advanced Open Water course, they had compelted their PADI Discover Scuba Diving with Dive and Sea Tenerife two years ago and after completing their PADI Open Water in the cold scottish waters decided to come back to Tenerfe for their Advanced course. They both did excellently on the course, and next week they are heading back to do some fun dives and a DSD (PADI Discover Scuba Diving) for Katies friend.

PADI Open Water and Advanced Courses……..

Author: Dive-And-Sea-Tenerife

This week has been hot and sunny in Tenerife! Lewis decided to continue his diving education and we went to Alcalà to do his Navigation and Peak Performance Buoyancy. As always he did a good job and we enjoyed looking at the two turtles that lives there. Both very curious! Alcalà is such a good dive site with deep water entry and cool rock formations with vibrant aquatic life!

Thursday we were supposed to go for a night dive at Tabaiba, but after a couple of Lewis’s Advanced Dives we realized that it was too much of a surge to dive. We drove over to Abades to see if the conditions were better, but unfortunately to choppy waters there as well. Either way it was a fun road trip, singing in the car and Alan and I had a dance session in the car park.

Friday we had a PADI Open Water student. Flounder and I went to the pool with them, and as Randall and Mick did the confines we practiced skills. I’m so glad my skills are improving! And in all the seriousness, it is so much fun! Kit set up and speeches before skills are so hard, it’s like learning a new language. Submersible-pressure-gauge-low-pressure-inflator-hose, tongue-rolling words right there!

After work we went to the Americans flat to make tacos and played beer pong! That game is so much fun, and the first run I had beginners luck out of another world! Alan and Steve are leaving us on Tuesday. It’s going to be sad to see them go, and hopefully I will visit them in America at some point!

Divemaster Internship in Tenerife? 100% yes

Date: July 20, 2014 Author: Dive-And-Sea-Tenerife

My eighth and final week in Tenerife has been full of bittersweet feelings.
On one hand I cannot wait to head back home, but on the other hand I am going to miss the people, places, and especially the diving!
We had the chance to deep dive Tabaiba for the last time. We had planned to dive at night at Tabaiba to complete one of our favorite customers, Lewis, PADI advanced open water course. Unfortunately the current at the dive sight was too strong so we had to cancel the night dive.

Outside of the dive shop, we had time this weekend to soak up the sun at one of our favorite beaches in El Medano. When we arrived at the beach, the water was completely filled with kite surfers and large waves. It was so much fun trying to body surf in the waves while avoiding being run over by all the surfers. After the beach session we walked to Flashpoint where we devoured the best cheeseburgers we have found on the island.

It is a sad feeling having to pack up all my dive equipment. I know when I get home I will have a few more months of diving, but the water there does not compare to the water we have been spoiled to dive in for the past two months.

The time has flown by, every dive and every person I have met here will leave a lasting memory. I would recommend this internship to any water lover who wishes to enjoy eight weeks of fun, sun, and excellent diving!

Scuba Diving – Learning a new language!

Author: Dive-And-Sea-Tenerife

Diving-Tenerife-Aquatic-Life-Sharks-Sting-Rays-Fish (83)

This week has been hot and sunny! Lewis decided to continue his diving education and we went to Alcalà to do his Navigation and Peak Performance Buoyancy. As always he did a good job and we enjoyed looking at the two turtles that lives there. Both very curious! Alcalà is such a good dive site with deep water entry and cool rock formations with vibrant aquatic life!

Thursday we were supposed to go for a night dive at Tabaiba, but after a couple of Lewis’s Advanced Dives we realized that it was too much of a surge to dive. We drove over to Abades to see if the conditions were better, but unfortunately to chappy waters there as well. Either way it was a fun road trip, singing in the car and Alan and I had a dance session in the car park.

Time to leave Tenerife :(

Author: Dive-And-Sea-Tenerife

And so my final week here at Dive and Sea Tenerife has come to an end :(. I have learned so much and my diving has gone from amateur to professional. The people that I’ve met and the places that I’ve been I will always keep with me for the rest of my life. Im definitely going to miss Tenerife!

Alright so anyway my last week here has been pretty fun got to do my last dives a tabaiba which made me very happy! The first dives where with Richie who was a PADI divemaster back in the mid 90′s, his bouyancy was awesome. We then went to back to tabaiba to do Lewis’s deep, wreck, and night dives for his advanced course. Unfortunately though we had to cancel the night dive due to a current and bad vis, but its always better to be safe than sorry.

Overall this internship has been amazing. The people that I’ve met here I plan on staying in contact forever, we’ve had so many good memories. And hopefully we can go on dive trips together in the future.

Ill miss el medano beach and the burgers at flashpoint. Ill miss the night life at las americas and of course I will miss all of the diving here. Even though its the end of my internship in Tenerife, it is only the beginning of my journey with scuba diving. I’ll miss you all……………. Alan out!

Have you checked out our Special Offers for July yet?

Date: July 18, 2014 Author: Dive-And-Sea-Tenerife

We have got some fantastic special offers for you in July 2014!

Want to know what’s down deep?
The PADI Deep Diver Speciality will show you how to do it safely and also have some fun for only 225€

Already an Open Water diver?
The PADI Advanced course will open up new possibilities for you.
PADI Advanced Open Water Course 250€

Do you just want to go diving? We have it covered. 4 dives for only 120 euro.

These offers are available throughout June and can also be booked in June and taken at a later date.

PADI Divemaster— Yes Me a Divemaster

Date: July 14, 2014 Author: Dive-And-Sea-Tenerife

I can officially check off all the requirements needed to become a PADI certified Divemaster!
I had the pleasure to complete my 60th dive at one of my favorite sites, Abades, where we took our young PADI open water student Lewis. I have to say, it was a rewarding feeling to see Lewis complete his open water course, because just two weeks prior we were taking him on his first ever dive as a Discover Scuba Diving participant.
It was a very gratifying moment to see a customer start with no idea what to expect when it comes to recreational diving, and then to watch them transform and fall in love with the sport.
This week also concluded the FIFA World Cup Finals. Being one of the few Americans to enjoy watching the event back home, it was really neat to witness the event abroad. After work, all the interns met up at a bar in the local town of San Blas to watch the showdown. The atmosphere was unlike any I have experienced previously when it comes to watching football. The only disappointment was watching Argentina lose.
It’s a bittersweet time for me right now to only have one week left for my internship. I know I will be happy when I am back home, but at the same time it is hard not to miss such a beautiful place and all the great people I will have to leave behind. So for now, I plan to make the most out of these last days and bring home some awesome memories of working here in Tenerife with Dive and Sea Tenerife!

My best Turtle impression ever!

Author: Dive-And-Sea-Tenerife

Diving-Tenerife-Moray-Eels-Fangtooth-Dive-And-Sea-Divemaster

This week has been so exciting! It started off with Lewis who took his PADI Open Water Course with us and he did so well!

So much fun to see how he just mastered the skills and got so comfortable in the water!

Also, I got my first taste of the life of being a PADI Divemaster! A couple from England did a DSD with us and I helped through the whole process! I learned so much that day!

Friday, it was time for Lewis’s Open Water dives 4-5 and we went to Montaña Amarilla (Yellow Mountain) it is a great dive site with really cool rock formations! Can’t wait to go back and explore even more.

And little did I know what Sunday was going to be like… Stamina day! I never minded lifting weights, but hardcore stamina it’s just very tiring! We started off the day skills in the pool. It’s just hilarious how I look whilst doing the Hover! Like a turtle on its back!

Hopefully I will manage to turn over at some point! Haha! So now I’ve just started my 4th week and I’m getting better at my skills and swimming! One happy diver! Ciao!

Ollie

DSD’s, Dive Sites and Divemasters

Author: Dive-And-Sea-Tenerife

Diving-Tenerife-PADI-Discover-Scuba-Diving

This week was fantastic.
On Monday we had two dsd’s at EL Puertito and they where really good, so monday was a good start to the week.
On Tuesday I did Lewis’s PADI Open water 1 and 2, he was very good in the water which made my day so much more enjoyable, the rest of the day we worked on the dvd and the book.
The next day we took two advanced divers to El puertito, one of them wanted to do the internship, it looked like she had fun so it looks like she will be doing 8 weeks of diving with us.
Thursday we took 3 DSD’s (Discover Scuba Diving) out to Abades, they all had their pro’s and con’s but a lot of fun to dive with, I hope they come back to do a course.
Friday was Lewis’s final day we went to Yellow mountain, a dive site I hadn’t done in a long time. Lewis really enjoyed it and so did I, I was very impressed by his skill’s and I have no doubt that he will be continue his diving education.
Saturday was my day off, I unfortunately did nothing, just moped around my apartment and complex for a while.
Sunday we did a pool session with Flounder and Ollie and then went down to the marina for stamina and rescue exercises, it was a very nice week, and I hope I have a lot more like it here in Tenerife.

Turtles, Tenerife and Tears….. almost

Author: Dive-And-Sea-Tenerife

7 Weeks in Tenerife and t-minus 7 days until the end of my diving internship :-(.
I can’t believe that I am almost done, I’ve done so much in these past 7 weeks but it seems like such a short time. But on the positive side I Alan am now officially, well at least on paper, a PADI Divemaster!!! Oh snap!!

Its a pretty good feeling if I have to say so myself. So besides Steve and I becoming Divemasters, this week was pretty interesting. I got to dive with Lewis on his first and second open water dives on Tuesday, he is a natural underwater.
We then went to El Puertito with two sisters from Singapore, to see the turtles. At the end of the second dive, which I was leading, one of the sisters had trouble equalizing and I had to help her swim back to shore. In that moment I truly felt like an actual Divemaster.
On Friday we took Lewis to Yellow Mountain to complete his open waters four and five, which he did great on. He then passed his exam, and we welcomed him to the ranks as a certified diver!

Overall a great week! Now on to my last and final week at Dive and Sea Tenerife. I miss my home and my family, but I feel like I’ve made a home and a family here. Alright no more sentimental talk right now, I’ll leave that for my last blog. On to week number 8!

Diing with Turtles in Tenerife? We have it covered

Date: July 7, 2014 Author: Dive-And-Sea-Tenerife

I like to think of this week as the week of the turtles! I had the privilege to go on three turtle dive trips, two to the infamous El Puertitio (a.k.a. El Puerturtleo) site, and one at another site called Alcala.
The dive site at Alcala was a very fun trip because none of us had ever dived there before. After getting lost on our road trip, we finally found our destination tucked into one of the nicest little towns I have seen on Tenerife. After first walking the beach of the new site and starting to build a reasonable dive plan for the site, we happened to come across a few divers just about to enter the water. We asked them a few quick questions about the schematics and were more than happy to find out that there lived a few large green sea turtles in the area! We enthusiastically got kitted up and made our way to a pier toward the end of the beach and entered the new site using a deep water entry technique. Using our knowledge of underwater navigation we took a tour of the entire dive site by circling its entire circumference. And right when we were headed back to shore we saw the biggest green sea turtle I have yet to see on the island!
Unlike at El Puertito, this turtle was not very curious about us divers, but he didn’t seem to mind when we followed him around a few rocks as he grazed on some algae. Even though this story seems to be the highlight of my week, there was still something better that topped it.
The next day at the El Puertito site we entered the water around 9 am, and just five minutes down we happened to cross paths with the biggest and most mature green sea turtle known to inhabit the area. As usual the turtle made his rounds, inspecting each diver carefully for any signs of a free breakfast. But after realizing we had no food to offer, the turtle uncharacteristically swam about us for what seemed like half an hour. We were very spoiled on this dive, the turtle was having fun swimming along with us, we found a good sized octopus hidden amongst the rocks, and I was fortunate enough to bring my Go Pro to capture most of the dive on video!
So if your looking to go diving with Turtles, Tenerife is the place!
I have to say that has been my best dive since being here, but I am still optimistic that with 2 weeks still to go I will have a chance for even more amazing dives!

Tenerife, Turtles and fun :)

Author: Dive-And-Sea-Tenerife

Finally, I feel like I know where everything is and the routines in the shop.

This week has been a bit different from the first one.
We had to say goodbye to Patrick and his son James. It was sad to see them go,

I’ve learned so much from Patrick! He is such a good instructor and a very nice guy. Hopefully I get to dive with him again one day!
We did a very exciting dive at Alcalà! We had never been exploring this particular dive site before, so we had heaps of fun looking at a nice reef and two turtles.
I tried to do my swim (400m) in the pool. But I think karma decided I was not going to do it that day.First the goggles didn’t work properly so my contacts fell out, and second my towel flew in the pool and got soaked!

Sunday we had a productive day! I was observing Randall and Flounder doing confined skills with Louis who is going to do his PADI Open Water certification with us. He did so well and it’s going to be a thrill being a part of his open water dives too!
After the pool session, Flounder and I did some skills I need to know for my PADI Divemaster. Finally I feel like my skills are improving!

We finished off the week by learning knots from Randall in the sun. So nice to be able to work outside!
It’s all been a good week and I’m very excited for the next one to start!

Ollie

Turtles in Tenerife? Just a few!

Author: Dive-And-Sea-Tenerife

This week was probably one of the best i’ve had in a while, 2 days at El puertito and one day at another dive site at Alcala.
Let’s start with El Puertito, we went out for two dives with an Italian man named Fabio, the first dive was without a doubt on my top 5 dives i’ve ever done, within five minutes we were ambushed by a turtle, not even 2 minutes after that we found an octopus, my favourite thing ever, the turtle was centimetres away from me but all my focus was on the octopus, I could of stayed there for hours watching it, but we moved on to quickly find a second turtle, the daddy of the family, papa turtle stayed with us for the whole dive, I was so happy.
The second dive was also fantastic, I took my torch and I was looking under every rock and ledge and found some sea hares, some brittle stars, which are kind of like starfish on redbull. It was a great day and Fabio enjoyed it as much as us.
We also went to a little town called Alcala, about 15 minutes after El puertito, and a beautiful place. We soon found out that some turtles live there, so we set of to try and find them. After looking around for about 15 minutes we still couldn’t find any, my hopes were wearing thin. But on the far side of the bay, we came across a huge green turtle, way bigger than any I have ever seen, I would of screamed with joy if not underwater. We stayed with the marine giant for about ten minutes watching it feed and move around so gracefully, and then we left.
We want to go back there to explore some more and find all the other wonders hiding under the ocean.
The rest of the week went as usual, cleaning kit, maintenance, admin, etc
On sunday, my first PADI Open water student came in to do his confined dives, I was very exited and a little stressed, but once in the water I remembered everything I was taught and it went really smoothly from then on.
Im looking forward to doing his open water dives, and to anyone out there who would also like to explore the magical place we spend most of our day’s, come to Tenerife,, it’s worth it.

Final stretch to PADI Divemaster

Date: June 30, 2014 Author: Dive-And-Sea-Tenerife

On my final stretch until Divemaster status! With only 8 more dives to go,
I have completed all the other water skills and prerequisites. One of the last requirements I had to complete was a mapping activity where Alan and I were able to reconstruct the two reefs at the Abades dive site.
Each of us took turns taking underwater bearings using our compasses and depth readings off our dive computer while the other calculated distances using kick cycles. It was amazing how accurate of a map we created after only two map dives at the Abades reef.
Other exciting news this week included two birthdays. Outside of the dive shop we celebrated by having a fun night out at El Medano.
I also had another opportunity this week to descend on the Tabaiba shipwreck the same as last week, descending straight down to the deepest depths of about 28 meters. This time was better however because the visibility had improved and we had an extended bottom time to explore the wreck.
Another sad ending to the week was saying our goodbyes to instructor Patrick. Alan and I were both very lucky to have such an able and fun instructor and its obvious how improved my underwater skills have become under his instruction.
Although I am now more than halfway through my internship, I am still excited to finish with as much fun and intensity as I started this internship!

Dolphins 6 millions years older than thought!!

Author: Dive-And-Sea-Tenerife

Dolphins swam the oceans six MILLION years earlier than originally thought, ancient skull reveals

Studies of a skull fragment have revealed it to be from an ancient dolphin
Research was led by Mizuki Murakami of the Waseda University in Japan
The fossil was first found in 1970 but its origin has only just been revealed
It belonged to a species of dolphin that existed up to 13 million years ago
The finding makes dolphins 6 million years older than previously thought
Names Eodelphis kabatensis the species is an important evolutionary link

Dolphins may have been swimming the Earth’s oceans for six million years longer than previously thought, suggests a new study.
They are the most diverse family of living marine mammals and include species such as the Bottlenose dolphin and the killer whale.
However, their early evolution and fossil record has been steeped in mystery due to lack of good specimens.
Now a new study, published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, has re-described the oldest species of dolphin with a new name: Eodelphis kabatensis.
Although the partial skull was previously described in the 1970s, researchers behind the new paper say the scientific community largely overlooked it.
And the new re-description has important implications for the evolutionary history of dolphins.

First week in Tenerife……. its sunny :)

Author: Dive-And-Sea-Tenerife

I can’t believe my first week at Dive and Sea Tenerife is already over!
I’ve started the week with getting settled in. Learning where everything is and goes after a day of diving. I have like 6 new keys to figure out!

The Dive Center is in Golf del Sur and all I met so far is so caring and fun to be around!
Tuesday I took my EFR course. Both weird and fun to do all the scenarios with Randall, who is one of the instructors.

The day after, we went for a couple of dives at Abades. Steve and Alan (Divemaster Interns as well) were leading the dive one by one and they did such a good job!

I am very excited to learn how to map a dive and lead it!
Thursday it was time for my Confined water skills in the Marina as a part of the PADI Rescue diver course. Alan volunteered to be a tired, panicked and unresponsive diver.

So much fun! “Diver, diver! Can you hear me? Inflate your BCD! Drop your weights!” I’m just saying, Hollywood next…
I felt so good having Saturday off. Went home after a late Friday night and had a good sleep before working on my tan at the beach in Los Cristianos. Bye, bye pale Norwegian skin!
7 more awesome weeks to come!

Ollie

40 Dives already :)

Date: June 23, 2014 Author: Dive-And-Sea-Tenerife

So glad to announce I have successfully reached the 40 dive mark here in Tenerife!
I was happy to dive this milestone at the turtle site at El Puertito, where we saw one of the large green turtles that lives there as soon as we descended!

After being forty dives in, I quickly went to work performing the majority of my stamina tests including the tired diver tow, the 15 minute float, and the dreaded 800 meter snorkel swim.
On top of that I was able to finish my Divemaster book and passed the Divemaster exam with a 97%.

To finish off the week I was happy to dive a new site, Yellow Mountain, and added a few more deep dives at both Radazul and Tabaiba.
When we were diving Radazul I was leading the group and we happened to swim across a massive sting ray. Then the next day at Tabaiba we tried a new descent method where we swam to the deep side of the wreck and descended to about 28 meters. This was one of my coolest descents to date because it was such a far drop so we could not see the bottom or the shipwreck, everything around us was just blue.

On a sadder note, we had to say our goodbyes to Buzz as he finished his internship this week. Plenty of more fun and diving to come, hopefully by the next blog I can officially be certified as a PADI Divemaster.

Time is moving so fast; but the diving experience is getting better and better!

Date: June 16, 2014 Author: Dive-And-Sea-Tenerife

I cannot believe I have already enjoyed three weeks of my Divemaster internship!
I have become so comfortable with all the employees and the great weather; I only wish I could slow down time so I can enjoy this opportunity longer.

After attaining my PADI Advanced Open Water certification last week, the hard work has not let up and I am proud to now own the title of a PADI certified Rescue Diver!
All week I practiced my skills on how to safely and effectively rescue another diver in the water. It was great fun performing all the dive exercises in the Marina which entailed search and recovery, in-water rescue breaths, and my favourite, panicked diver scenarios.

Most of the rest of the week was spent enjoying the beautiful reef dive at Abades. This site has quickly become one of my favorite and most popular dive sites because of the magnificent variety of fish we always encounter.

It has been so rewarding to continually progress my PADI certification levels and next week I will be prepared to take the PADI Divemaster exam!

If all goes well, I can continue to accumulate my number of dives and sooner than I know it I will reach Divemaster status!

PADI Wreck Diver Special offer ~ Times running out!

Date: June 14, 2014 Author: Dive-And-Sea-Tenerife

One of our fabulous special offers for June 2014 is the PADI Wreck Diver Specialty for only 200 euro!

The wreck diver specialty trains you to safely navigate and enter any of the 1,000s of wrecks around the world.

The course takes just 2 days, 4 dives, and there is no exam !

Book the course before the end of June and you can take the course when you are next in Tenerife.

5 Tips to Remember if You’re Left Behind

Date: June 13, 2014 Author: Dive-And-Sea-Tenerife

Thankfully in Tenerife we dont have incidents relating to divers being left behind, however in some Countries, it has become a real problem!

So what do you do if left behind whilst diving? Check out the tips below.

1. Do a 360. If you come up and the boat is gone, turn a full circle, scanning the horizon for land, other boats or anything you could cling to. If safety is close, drop your weights to swim on the surface, but keep your mask and regulator/ snorkel intact.
2. Send up a signal. Every diver should have a surface- marker buoy, a signal mirror and an audible signal that connects to your low-pressure inflator. Use the mirror and audible alert if you see someone. A better solution is to carry a GPS beacon like the Nautilus Lifeline.

3. Conserve energy. If you have to swim for shore against the current, dont swim directly into it. Fighting a current is a fast way to burn energy. If you must swim against the flow, go diagonally or perpendicular.

4. Stay warm. Even with a wetsuit, extended time in the water can sap your body of heat. You can conserve body heat by hugging your knees to your chest.

5. Keep calm, but prepare to fight. Not only can thrashing lead to drowning, it also alerts sharks. Take deep breaths, and make intentional movements and decisions. If the sharks show up, be prepared to defend yourself by punching.

Top 5 Reasons to Try A Scuba Group Trip

Date: June 11, 2014 Author: Dive-And-Sea-Tenerife

Diving-Tenerife-Divemaster-PADI-Dive-And-Sea (11)

If you’ve never enjoyed the experience of a group scuba diving trip, now’s the time to sign up for one. Group trips offer many advantages and opportunities that you miss out on when traveling alone. Here are five reasons why you might want to sign up for a group trip:

1. Enjoy activities and locations chosen by experienced travelers
When planning a scuba trip in unfamiliar territory, it’s difficult to know where the best dive spots and operators are located. If you go on a group trip, all of the locations, dive operators and activities are chosen by experienced, knowledgeable travelers so you can enjoy the best experience possible.

2. Save money
Traveling can be expensive, especially when you travel alone. Going on a group trip is cheaper than booking an individual flight, which means you can spend less money on the travel fees and more money on fun souvenirs and experiences.

3. Great photos and videos of the experience
If you go on a scuba trip with a group, there will be other travelers who will shoot photos and videos, which will make it easier to show others some of your memories from the trip.

4. Create long-lasting friendships
Just like the summer camp you went to as a kid, group trips allow you to meet new people and create long-lasting friendships. A group trip is one of the best ways to meet new people and find new dive buddies. We often hear about folks who live in different parts of the world and meet up once or twice a year just to go diving.

5. Network with other guests
You never know how the connections you make can affect your future. Networking with the right people can open up opportunities for you down the road, whether it’s in your personal or work life. By signing up for a group trip, you are not only making new friends, but you are also making new connections.

5 reasons why Nudibranchs aren’t boring

Author: Dive-And-Sea-Tenerife

For some reason, Nudibranchs – also known as sea slugs – are often associated with being boring. Maybe that’s due to their land counterparts, the slug, but more than likely it’s because divers just don’t know enough about these incredible creatures which can be seen in Tenerife.

Here are just five reasons why nudibranchs deserve extra appreciation:

1. There are over 3,000 species
Every new nudibranch you see on a dive will be a completely different experience. That’s because there are over 3,000 species of nudibranchs and there are still more being discovered today. Nudibranchs can be seen in a wide variety of colours, shapes and sizes, and are found in both cold and warm waters across the world. In Tenerife we regularly see around 15 different variations.

2. Nudibranchs are toxic
Divers don’t have to worry about nudibranchs being poisonous, but predators do. Since they lack any protective shell, nudibranchs send warning signals that let other animals know they might be toxic to help keep enemies at bay.

3. They change colour based on their diet
Nudibranchs are carnivores and eat other small animals such as hydroids, sponges, anemones and barnacles. But, what makes the nudibranch unusual is that they often adopt the colour of their prey, leaving them looking brilliant, colourful and perfect for photos!

4. Nudibranchs are hermaphrodites
Although they don’t usually self-reproduce, nudibranchs possess both female and reproductive organs. This means that any nudibranch can mate with any other nudibranch of the same species, rather than being limited to male or female partners only – a nifty trait which makes it easier for them to reproduce.

5. They leave a slimy trail
As nudibranchs move across the ocean floor with their foot, they leave a trail of slime behind. This slime trail actually serves a clever purpose – it communicates messages to other nudibranchs, such as where to find a mate or that danger is nearby.

As you can see, nudibranchs are far from boring. In fact, they’re really quite interesting!

Night diving is the most amazing experience

Date: June 9, 2014 Author: Dive-And-Sea-Tenerife

The most exciting part of my week was becoming certified as a PADI Advanced Open Water diver!
During the process I was fortunate enough to dive a new site, Las Eras, where we saw a huge grouper lounging underneath one of the rocks.
Later on we saw some Scorpion fish and loads of jelly fish on my fish identification dive at Abades.

But by far the best dive of the week was at Tabaiba. Seeing the beautiful shipwreck during the day was amazing, but being able to explore the same site at night was the most incredible underwater adventure I’ve been on.
After descending with the lights off in the pitch black, then turning on our torches at the bottom of the ocean, I honestly had the feeling of being an astronaut exploring a strange planet in outer space!
If you havent tried night diving, you REALLY must, its just fantastic!

The more dives I accumulate, the better I get at recognizing the wide array of marine fishes in the area.
Pretty soon I will be confident enough to know all the usual fish we see at the dive sites.
I cannot wait to continue on to become a Rescue diver next week. The more I dive, the more I want to get back in the water and explore!

Summer has arrived in Tenerife :)

Date: June 8, 2014 Author: Dive-And-Sea-Tenerife

Thinking about getting away from it all?
Get over to Tenerife, the temperature is a glorious 28 degrees with low humidity and the water temperature is around 22.
With perfect diving weather and so much more to do in Tenerife it is the ideal holiday solution.
Need help with accommodation and excursions? Just ask and we will arrange everything for you.

Special Offers at Dive and Sea Tenerife for June 2014

Author: Dive-And-Sea-Tenerife

We have got some fantastic special offers for you in June 2014!
Fancy completing the PADI Specialty of Wreck diving?
Explore the wrecks you have heard so much about form other divers in complete safety, only 200 euro!
Or do you want it deeper for longer? The PADI Nitrox course is for you. The PADI Specialty includes 2 dives for only 150 euro.
Do you just want to go diving? We have it covered. 6 dives each for 2 divers for only 330 euro.

These offers are available throughout June and can alos be booked in June and taken at a later date.

Happy World Oceans Day

Author: Dive-And-Sea-Tenerife

World Oceans Day at Dive and Sea Tenerife

World Oceans Day is designated by the United Nations as a time to celebrate the extraordinary diversity of life beneath the waves and to focus on the increasing challenges the sea face, from acidification to pollution and overfishing.

Amazing first week in Tenerife

Date: June 2, 2014 Author: Dive-And-Sea-Tenerife

Upon arriving at my new home for the next 8 weeks (Dive and Sea Tenerife), my buddy Nate and I were greeted at the shop by Buzz and were given our new names.
Now known as Steve, and Nate as Alan, we were given a tour of the beautiful diving facilities, shown our new ride, and taken to our big apartment.

Things kicked off the next day when we took our first dive trip to El Puertito where the sun was shining, the water was clear, and I met my first Sea turtle!
I was amazed at how comfortable these massive sea turtles were with the divers in the water, they came right up close to investigate because they have very poor vision.

Things were even more amazing the next day when we were given the opportunity to dive our first deep water ship wreck! At Tabaiba, I dove deeper than I’ve ever gone – 30 metres!
We were lucky enough to have great visibility and I recorded the dive with my first Go Pro video. I can honestly say that things have turned out better than I could have ever asked for so far on this trip.

I would recommend to anyone who enjoys the underwater to take a trip and dive with the friendly staff here at Dive and Sea Tenerife.

Dive and Sea Supports Empty The Tanks

Date: May 24, 2014 Author: Dive-And-Sea-Tenerife Comments: Leave a reply

Anyone who has ever dived with us, or popped in to our Dive Center , will know how passionate the Owner and Staff are about the aquatic life.

Continuing with this support we are now proud to support the “Empty The Tanks” organisation who are lobbying to empty all the tanks of Dolphins and Orcas worldwide.

Unlike other Dive Centers we do not shy away from controversy but actively support these organisations.

Want to know more?

Check out this link

Dive and Sea Tenerife enters its 6th year

Date: May 23, 2014 Author: Dive-And-Sea-Tenerife Comments: Leave a reply

And it only seems like yesterday!
Dive and Sea Tenerife started from a diver who wanted to experience something better and as he was unable to find it in Tenerife, so set about starting his own Dive Center.

From small beginnings that Dive Center has now grown into a PADI 5 Start Instructor Development center, training not only recreational divers , but PADI Professionals from all over the world.

Want to know more? Pop by for a chat with the owner , Pete, and he is sure to tell you all over a pint!

New PADI Instructor joins Dive and Sea Tenerife

Author: Dive-And-Sea-Tenerife Comments: Leave a reply

Welcome to Kim (aka Alice) who joins us a PADI Instructor. Alice speaks English and Dutch and has a huge experience with diving in Tenerife and Gran Canaria.