Tiny group, big sea magic. In quiet Abades Bay on Tenerife’s east coast, you get a first scuba session with a private instructor and easy access from a calm sandy beach.

I especially like the two-diver max setup. You’re not squeezed into a big class, so you get real attention and ongoing checks. I also like that they handle the heavy lifting on-site with wetsuit and full scuba gear fitting, plus a clear explanation of how everything works before you go underwater.

One possible drawback: there’s paperwork and medical limits. You’ll fill out a medical form beforehand, and if you take medication or have a medical condition you may need official medical clearance, plus you can’t fly for 18 hours after.

Key Points Worth Knowing

• Abades Bay is calm and close to shore, so your underwater time feels practical, not rushed.
• Private coaching (max two divers per instructor) means more personal guidance and fewer worries.
• Full gear is included (wetsuit, tank, jacket, regulator), plus potable water for after.
• A volcanic house reef sits within easy reach from the beach, which is great for first-timers.
• Staff includes Cindy, Gi-Gi, and Katarina, and the team can offer Dutch guidance if needed.
• Safety and medical rules are strict, including restrictions on flying and high altitude afterward.

Why Quiet Abades Bay Beats the Busier Tenerife Spots

If you’ve ever tried to do water activities near the main tourist drag on Tenerife, you know the vibe: noise, crowds, and too much boat traffic for comfort. Abades is different. It’s a local village on the east coast, away from the busiest zones, with a quiet sandy beach and a protected bay where the ocean feels active even close to shore.

This matters because it changes the whole feel of a first scuba session. Instead of starting with “where do I stand” and “what’s happening around me,” you start with a calmer place. With less surface chaos, you can focus on learning basic control, breathing, and buoyancy without feeling like you’re doing it in the middle of a busy harbor.

There’s also a practical upside: the dive spots are easy to reach from the beach, described as about a minute walk from the dive center. That saves energy. On a day when you’re already putting on a wetsuit and heavy gear, every small reduction in hassle counts.

Private Coaching in a Small Group (Two Divers Max)

This is a private tour/activity, and the instructor-to-you ratio is the real headline. The group is limited to a maximum of two divers per instructor, which keeps the attention where it should be when you’re learning something new under pressure and weightlessness.

I like this structure because it’s not just about “being watched.” It’s about getting answers fast. You’re more likely to get clearer feedback on posture, breathing rhythm through the regulator, and how you handle buoyancy if your instructor isn’t juggling multiple people at once.

The staff team includes Cindy, Gi-Gi, and Katarina, and that matters for consistency. In other words, you’re not rolling the dice on who you get that day. The training approach described here is also very safety-minded: you get a proper safety briefing before you go in, and then you’re checked consistently during the session so you don’t feel abandoned underwater.

If you’re not a confident swimmer, that’s okay. The setup is geared toward first-time scuba. And because the instruction stays personal, you can move at your pace instead of being forced into someone else’s comfort level.

From Check-In to Your Gear: What the 9:00 Start Looks Like

The session starts at 9:00 am at the Zeus Scuba Center Tenerife area in Abades (C. 10 de Agosto, 22, 38588 Abades, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain). The activity runs about 3 hours total, and it ends back at the meeting point.

Before you touch any water, plan for the check-in and paperwork. You’ll fill out a medical form at the dive center prior to diving. If you’re on medication or you have any medical condition, you may need official medical clearance to join. This is a genuine good-sign safety practice, even if it feels like extra steps.

Then comes the gear stage. You’ll be provided with:

• a wetsuit
• scuba tank
• dive jacket
• regulator

Even if an instructor can do a lot of the physical adjustment underwater, you still get an explanation on how the equipment works and how you should behave underneath the surface. I like this approach for first-timers: it reduces fear because you understand what each part is doing, rather than treating the whole setup like a mystery machine.

After that, you head to the beach. Since the access is so close, you’re not losing time to long transfers. For non-divers in your group, the plan is simple: they can enjoy the beach or the snorkeling spots nearby.

The Underwater Plan at Abades: House Reef, Volcanic Rock, and Sea Life Close to Shore

Once you’re geared up, you go into a protected bay designed for easier, calmer learning. The key promise here is that the reef is a volcanic house reef and it’s accessible from the beach, meaning you’re not far from the starting point when you’re still building comfort.

You’ll practice the basics that make scuba feel like magic (and also like science). You’ll experience what it feels like to breathe through the regulator and what it feels like to be weightless once you’re down. For many first-timers, that “weightless” feeling is the moment they realize they’re not just floating—they’re controlling.

What you might see is part luck, part good site selection. The underwater highlights described include:

• sleeping octopus
• schools of fish in many shapes, colors, and sizes
• trumpetfish
• parrotfish
• rays
• starfish
• a possible seahorse encounter
• the chance of seeing a turtle

None of this is guaranteed, but the range tells you something useful: the bay is alive, and you’re not only looking at bare rock. Because fishing is forbidden here, and because there isn’t much surface movement (less swimmer and boat traffic), there’s a better chance you’ll see life close to shore.

This is also where a personal instructor shines. When you’re learning, you’re watching your buoyancy and your breathing. A good instructor helps you slow down and observe without turning your first underwater session into a frantic checklist.

Staff Who Keep You Calm: Safety Briefing and Real-Time Checks

Safety is handled upfront, and then it continues after you’re underwater. The session includes a proper safety briefing before the experience begins. You’re taught how you should behave underneath the surface, which is important because new scuba students often worry about making mistakes.

What’s especially reassuring is the described pattern of consistent checks during the underwater time. That means you’re not just handed a tank and told good luck. Instead, you’re guided step-by-step, and any small issue (comfort, control, breathing rhythm) can be corrected quickly.

I also like the human side of the team. The “Dream Team” combo of Cindy, Gi-Gi, and Katarina shows up in how the experience is described: helpful, caring, and focused on making sure you feel safe. If you speak Dutch, guidance may be available as well, which can reduce stress when you’re trying to understand safety instructions.

If it helps you feel better, this is also an activity that can work for families. The support described includes situations where adults could enjoy the experience even with young children around, helped by the staff’s assistance. That doesn’t mean you’ll get child care, but it does suggest the center understands families and keeps things organized.

Price and What You Actually Get for $98.40

The price is $98.40 per person for a private scuba try-out, with an average booking time of about 19 days in advance. That booking lead time hints that this is a popular slot, especially for people planning an east-coast Tenerife day around their schedule.

Is $98.40 a good deal? Look at what’s included:

• use of scuba equipment
• dive insurance
• access to your online diver profile and registration of your dive
• potable water

Equipment costs can add up fast if you have to rent on your own. Insurance is also a major hidden value. And the online profile registration is a nice touch if you want the documentation tied to your session.

What’s not included is straightforward:

• food and drinks other than water
• an extra transport fee (€20) for someone who joins for transport but not the activity

So the real “cost” beyond price is meals. There’s a supermarket and small restaurants on the cozy square in front of the center, which makes it easier to plan a simple post-session snack or meal without hunting across town.

Getting to Abades and Making It a Great Day

This session is well built for a half-day plan. Pickup is offered, which is handy if you’re staying a bit outside Abades. The meeting point is the Zeus Scuba Center area at C. 10 de Agosto, 22, Abades, and the session ends back at that same spot.

The timing is also practical. Starting at 9:00 am can mean calmer conditions and better light for enjoying your day afterward. You’ll be finished in about 3 hours, leaving plenty of time to eat on the square or wander the local neighborhood.

After your session, you’re not sent to some isolated location with nothing around you. You can step out and grab something to drink or eat at nearby restaurants with outside terraces, or pick up groceries if you’re doing something more DIY that day.

If you’re with non-divers, this is one of the better setups. Abades has a quiet beach, and non-divers can enjoy it or use the snorkeling spots. That keeps everyone from feeling like they’re on hold while you’re underwater.

Safety Rules and Health Limits You Must Respect

This is the part you should take seriously, even if you feel healthy.

Before the session, you must fill out a medical form at the dive center. If you use medication and/or have any medical condition, you need official medical clearance to join. That’s a clear rule in the experience info, and it’s worth treating it as non-negotiable.

There are also post-session restrictions:

• Flying is not allowed within 18 hours after your session.
• Reaching heights over 400 meters above sea level is not allowed within 12 hours after.

These rules affect real travel plans. If you’re touring Tenerife and planning a fast connection that involves flying later the same day, you’ll want to schedule around that 18-hour window. And if you have a plan to take a cable car or drive quickly into higher elevations, you’ll want to think about the 12-hour restriction.

Moderate physical fitness is also expected. You don’t need to be a gym athlete, but you should be comfortable with the physical side of suiting up, walking a short distance to the water, and handling basic movements calmly.

Who This Is Best For (and Who Might Feel Overwhelmed)

This experience is ideal if you:

• are trying scuba for the first time
• want personal attention in a very small group
• prefer a calmer, quieter bay with less surface chaos
• want equipment provided and don’t want to wrestle gear logistics on your own

It also makes sense if you want a refresher after a long break. The way the staff is described includes special care for someone returning after years away from scuba, which tells you they adjust to different comfort levels.

Where you might want to pause and think:

• If your schedule includes flying within 18 hours, you may not be able to fit this safely.
• If you have medical conditions or take medication, confirm your medical clearance early so you don’t get stuck at check-in.
• If paperwork stress would ruin your day, consider handling the medical form and any required clearance the night before.

Should You Book This Abades Bay Scuba Try-Out?

If you want your first underwater session to feel guided and calm, this is the kind of setup that’s hard to beat: small group, included gear, a protected bay, and instructors named Cindy, Gi-Gi, and Katarina who focus on safety and real support. Abades also gives you a more local, less chaotic Tenerife experience, plus a simple place to eat afterward.

I’d book it if you can fit the safety timing (especially the flying and altitude limits) and you’re willing to do the medical form properly. If you’re on medication or have a medical condition, start early with clearance so you don’t lose your day.

If you want a big, flashy water-park style day, this isn’t that. This is quieter. Smaller. More personal. And for many first-timers, that’s exactly what makes it work.

FAQ

Do I need previous scuba experience?

No. The experience is designed for first-timers, and no previous experience is needed.

How many people will be in the water with the instructor?

The maximum is two divers per instructor, which keeps the coaching very personal.

What scuba equipment is included?

You’ll get scuba equipment including a wetsuit, scuba tank, dive jacket, and regulator.

Do I need to fill out a medical form?

Yes. You’ll need to fill out a medical form at the dive center prior to diving. If you use medication and/or have a medical condition, you need official medical clearance to join.

Can I fly after the session?

No. Flying is not allowed within 18 hours after your session.

Are there height restrictions after scuba?

Yes. Reaching heights over 400 meters above sea level is not allowed within 12 hours after your session.

What about food and drinks?

Potable water is included, but food and drinks other than water are not included.