One short trip can change how you see the ocean. This Try Scuba experience in Tenerife pairs a real safety setup with hands-on practice, then sends you into clear water to spot marine life around volcanic formations. It’s a simple plan, but it’s built to help beginners feel steady fast.

The first thing I liked is the small group size (max 3 people). With fewer bodies in the water, you get more coaching, more checking, and less waiting around.

The second thing I liked is the guided attention from instructors like Kathy and Sergio, plus Kathi and Antonio in the same team. Their style comes through in the way they plan for your comfort level and focus on safety without turning it into a lecture.

One possible drawback: this experience needs good weather, so if conditions are rough you may have to shift dates.

Key things that make this Try Scuba stand out

• Safety briefing first: equipment use and core rules before you go in
• Shallow-water practice: you build basics under instructor watch
• Volcanic Tenerife underwater scenery: formations that look different from most places
• Marine life spotting focus: sea turtles, rays, angel sharks (when conditions allow)
• Max 3 people: more personal support, especially for nervous first-timers
• English briefing, plus real multilingual support: German/English mentioned in instructor feedback

Getting to Benchijigua and starting at 8:30

Your morning begins at Calle Espigón del Benchijigua, 7, 38650 Arona, Tenerife. The start time is 8:30am, and the activity ends back at the same meeting point. The timing matters because clear-water conditions can be better earlier, and you’ll want the full instruction block while you still feel fresh.

If you want pickup, it’s available for an extra 5 euros. That’s not included in the base price, but it can be worth it if you’re staying off the most convenient routes. The operator also notes you’re near public transportation, so it’s doable even if you’re not using pickup.

The vibe here is not a huge assembly line. The cap of 3 people is a big deal. It means your instructor can actually watch how you’re breathing, how your gear sits, and whether your body is relaxing into the process.

What the 3-hour plan actually feels like

The total time is about 3 hours. That’s long enough to cover the stuff that makes the ocean feel manageable, not long enough to wear you down if you’re new.

Here’s the flow you should expect:

1) Briefing and safety rules on land

You get an instructor-led setup covering essential safety guidelines and basic underwater technique. You’ll also get guidance on how the equipment works—so you’re not figuring out critical bits mid-water.

2) Gear on, then shallow practice

After the briefing, you put on your scuba equipment. Then you practice essential skills in shallow water. This is the part that turns scuba from scary to doable: you can focus on control and breathing without the added pressure of deeper water.

3) A guided underwater outing

Once the team confirms you’re comfortable, you head into the clear waters around Tenerife with a guide. In feedback, people specifically mention the team aims for good odds of seeing sea life—like rays, octopuses, and sometimes sea turtles—while also adapting when visibility changes.

Because it’s guided, you don’t have to lead yourself. That’s a major value for first-timers who don’t want to guess.

The safety briefing: short, direct, and focused on what matters

The briefing is where this experience earns its trust. You’ll cover safety guidelines first, then get basic technique and equipment usage explained. The goal isn’t to overwhelm you with terms. It’s to make sure you can handle the basics calmly when you’re underwater.

This is exactly what people praise in instructor feedback—an easy pace, clear English explanations, and instructors who make nervous first-timers feel like they’re in good hands. One person even highlighted how the briefing was easy to understand in English, and another talked about tough conditions on the day, with the guide still adjusting so they could see as much as possible.

In practice, what you should look for during the briefing is:

• Do you understand how your gear is supposed to feel and move?
• Are you comfortable enough to ask questions before you enter the water?
• Does the instructor check your comfort level, not just your gear?

If you answer yes to all three, you’re set up for a much smoother experience.

Shallow-water skills: where first-timers gain real confidence

The shallow-water practice is the most important part for people who’ve never done this before. It lets you rehearse the basics where it’s easier to manage. Even the best plan on land can feel intimidating once you’re surrounded by water, so practicing early helps your brain stay calm.

What’s included here is instruction and supervision—your instructor stays close and watches your technique. That matters because your biggest early wins usually come from small adjustments: posture, breathing rhythm, and comfort with the equipment. The operator explicitly frames this as essential skill practice in shallow water, before moving into deeper underwater exploring.

If you’re anxious, take comfort in the pattern. Many first-timers leave with more confidence than they expected, and feedback points to instructors respecting limits and comfort levels. That “your pace is okay” mindset is a big reason people return.

Your guided underwater time around Tenerife’s volcanic coast

Once you’re ready, the team guides you into Tenerife’s clear water. Tenerife’s underwater terrain is shaped by volcanic formations, and that shows up in how the seafloor looks and how the water environment feels—more texture, more structure, and more to visually explore.

This is the part where you’ll try to see sea life. Based on the experience description and instructor spotter style mentioned in feedback, keep an eye out for:

• Colorful fish and big schools of fish
• Octopuses
• Rays
• Sea turtles (occasionally, depending on conditions)
• Angel sharks (mentioned as a possible sighting)

There are two important realities here:

1) Wildlife sightings aren’t guaranteed. The best guides improve your odds, they don’t control the ocean.

2) Conditions change. One person described limited visibility and still praised the way the instructor worked to maximize what they could see.

So go in with the right mindset: your win is not just a checklist of animals. Your win is learning how to move safely and comfortably while you look around and take in the underwater world.

Meet the instructors you might end up with: Kathy, Sergio, Kathi, Antonio

This operator’s strength shows through in the instructor team names people mention again and again.

• Kathy and Sergio come up frequently in feedback. People describe them as professional, friendly, and focused on making you feel safe and at ease.
• Kathi and Antonio also get strong mentions, especially around structured teaching and building confidence step by step. One detailed account specifically notes Kathi teaching in German while Antonio explained in English, with a calm, clear approach to safety and underwater learning.

Even if you don’t get those exact pairings, the important takeaway is the teaching style: instructors tailor their guidance to your experience level and your comfort. For nervous first-timers, that matters as much as the marine life.

And because the group is very small, you’re more likely to get real personal feedback. Not generic instructions. Real corrections, pacing, and reassurance when you need it.

Photos not included: plan to bring your own way to remember it

The one thing you won’t get included is photos. That doesn’t mean you can’t take your own, but you should know ahead of time that there’s no bundled photo package in this price.

If you want images of your experience, plan to rely on your own device strategy or ask directly what options exist on the day. Since the listing only notes that photos are not included, don’t assume there’s a photographer.

Price and value: $90.11 with equipment and insurance included

At about $90.11 per person, this can feel like a fair rate for what’s included—especially if you’re comparing it to “pay for everything separately” setups.

Here’s what you do get:

• Use of scuba equipment
• All fees and taxes included
• Insurance included

Those inclusions are the big value points. Equipment is expensive on its own, and insurance can be the difference between a straightforward day and a headache if something goes sideways. When you add in the structured briefing, shallow practice time, and a guided underwater outing, the pricing starts to make sense.

What’s not included is photos. That’s it. No surprise add-ons listed beyond pickup.

Also, the max 3 travelers detail makes the experience feel less like a mass activity and more like real instruction. For beginners, that’s often worth more than squeezing in a lower price with a bigger group.

What to wear and how to prepare (so the morning runs smoothly)

You’re doing a morning session with brief on-land instruction and then time in shallow water. You’ll want to keep things simple:

• Wear swim-friendly clothes you can rinse
• Bring a change of clothes for the end
• Keep your valuables secure and dry on your way in

The tour info notes service animals are allowed, and that most people can participate. Still, if you have specific mobility or medical concerns, it’s smart to confirm ahead of time with the operator. Scuba is fun, but it’s also physical.

One more practical tip: arrive a few minutes early. Meeting point mornings can be busy even when the group is tiny.

Weather matters: Tenerife can shift fast

The operator states this experience requires good weather. That’s normal for any ocean activity, and it’s worth respecting. If conditions are poor, the plan can be moved to another date or you can get a full refund.

So check the forecast the day before and again the morning of. If you’re flexible with your schedule, you’ll have an easier time.

And don’t let weather anxiety ruin the fun planning. The bigger lesson is this: the team runs the session only when conditions support the safest learning environment and the best chance to enjoy the water.

Who should book this Try Scuba in Tenerife?

Book this if:

• You’re new to scuba and want shallow-water practice before heading into open water
• You want small-group instruction (max 3)
• You care more about feeling safe and guided than chasing a “race” to see everything
• You’re hoping for marine life like rays, octopuses, and possibly sea turtles, with instructors who know where to look when conditions allow

You might not love it if:

• You’re hoping for packaged photos
• You can’t be flexible with weather-related date changes
• You want a long, all-day multi-spot program (this is about a focused ~3-hour instruction + outing)

Should you book this Try Scuba with the Barbarian team?

If you’re a first-timer who wants the ocean to feel friendly, I think this is a strong pick. The combination of a real briefing, shallow-water skill practice, and a guided underwater outing—plus insurance and equipment included—adds up to good value. Add the max-3 group size and the instructor style praised in feedback (Kathy, Sergio, Kathi, Antonio), and you’re set up for a calm, confidence-building morning.

I’d book it if Tenerife is on your itinerary and you can fit a morning start. Just go in with a flexible mindset about wildlife sightings and remember: the best souvenir is how comfortable you feel when you return to dry land.

FAQ

How long is the Try Scuba experience?

It lasts about 3 hours.

What’s included in the price?

Use of scuba equipment, all fees and taxes, and insurance are included. Photos are not included.

Is pickup available from my hotel?

Pickup is available for an extra 5 euros.

What time and where does the experience start?

It starts at 8:30am at Calle Espigón del Benchijigua, 7, 38650 Arona, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain. It ends back at the meeting point.

Do I need to be certified before I go?

The experience is designed for people who can participate, with a briefing, equipment instruction, and shallow-water skills practice before you continue with the guided underwater outing.

What happens if the weather is bad?

This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.