Tenerife : Snorkeling underwater with freediving Instructor

Breathe first, then meet Tenerife below. This three-hour session combines calm breathing and stretching with guided snorkeling around Radazul, so you learn more than how to float with a mask. I like the small-group limit of 10 and the chance to work with Carlos, whose relaxed teaching style earns repeated praise. The main consideration is that you must be a confident swimmer, and sea conditions can force a reschedule.

I also like that the price includes the full kit, a snack, and photos and video from the water. The hour of ocean time should feel more personal than a crowded boat trip, though removing glasses may be inconvenient for anyone with strong prescription needs.

Key details before you book

• Breathing comes first: Yoga, stretching, Qigong, conscious breathing, and ear-equalisation practice prepare you for the water.
• Radazul is the setting: Meet at Radazul Beach, near one of the three wooden platforms facing the ocean.
• Carlos leads the water session: He is described as calm, welcoming, and clear when explaining basic freedive skills.
• The group stays small: A maximum of 10 people gives the instructor room to guide you properly.
• The price covers the essentials: For $52 per person, you receive equipment, wetsuit, weighted apnea belt, snack, photos, and video.
• You need to swim: This is not a learn-to-swim activity, and it is not suitable for non-swimmers or children under six.

Why this is more than ordinary snorkeling

Many snorkeling sessions begin with a quick handout of fins and a mask, followed by a rush toward the water. This one takes a slower route. You first learn how to settle your breathing, stretch your body, and equalise your ears before entering the sea.

That preparation changes the feel of the experience. You are not simply looking down from the surface. You are learning how to stay relaxed while briefly dipping beneath it, with an instructor nearby and a clear method for handling pressure in your ears.

The underwater portion lasts about an hour. That is enough time to get comfortable with the equipment, watch for marine life, and practise the breathing ideas from the platform. The session is still snorkeling rather than a full freediving course, but it offers a first look at the sport.

I would especially consider this for someone who finds ordinary snorkeling a little hurried or awkward. The breathing work gives your body something useful to focus on, and the calm approach can make the water feel less intimidating.

Starting at Radazul Beach and the wooden platform

The activity begins at Radazul Beach. The meeting point is one of three wooden platforms in front of the ocean, so look for those rather than expecting a large shop or obvious street-side office.

The supplied information also gives Av. Colón, 22 as the starting location and return point. Since the beach meeting details are more specific, check your booking information carefully before setting out and allow time to find the correct platform.

The dry portion takes place on the wooden platform. This is where you meet the instructor, hear the safety introduction, and prepare for the water. It is a simple setting, but it puts the lesson right beside the sea rather than in a classroom.

You should arrive ready for an outdoor activity. Bring a swimsuit, towel, sunscreen, and a good attitude toward getting wet. The provider advises not eating during the hour before the session, so plan your meal timing sensibly.

The first hour: safety, stretching, and controlled breathing

The opening lesson covers the basics of snorkeling safely and explains how to equalise your ears when you dip below the surface. This matters because ear pressure can quickly spoil an otherwise pleasant session. Learning the technique before you are in the water gives you a chance to ask questions without fins, mask, and waves getting in the way.

The group then moves through stretching, yoga, Qigong, and conscious breathing. The goal is not an athletic workout. It is to relax your mind and body so you do not waste energy fighting the water.

The breathing section receives particularly strong praise. Nele describes it as useful during the later snorkeling session, while Sven found the lessons about relaxing before entering the water especially insightful. Those comments point to the real strength of the activity: the preparation has a clear purpose rather than being a decorative wellness add-on.

Carlos leads this part of the experience. His teaching is described as welcoming, calm, and easy to follow. That is valuable in a small group, where a good instructor can spot uncertainty and explain a technique again without making you feel rushed.

You will also receive the equipment during this stage. The package includes fins, mask, snorkel tube, wetsuit, and an apnea belt with weights. The belt is part of the freedive preparation, so listen closely to the instructor’s guidance and use the equipment as directed.

About an hour among Radazul’s marine life

Once the preparation is complete, the group enters the sea for roughly an hour of guided snorkeling and underwater viewing. The session is designed to help you notice the seabed, colorful fish, and other marine life around Radazul.

The experience is not presented as a race to cover a large area. It is more about moving calmly, using your breath, and becoming comfortable below the surface. The instructor’s presence helps you focus on technique while also pointing out what is worth watching.

One particularly memorable sight reported from the session is a ray. The area is also described as having colorful fish, though marine sightings can never be guaranteed. Sea conditions, visibility, and wildlife are naturally changeable.

The water portion may suit you best if you are curious about basic freedive skills but do not want to commit to a longer technical course. You get an introduction to breathing, equalisation, and relaxed underwater movement without the scale or formality of a full certification program.

There is one important limit. You must already know how to swim. The instructor creates a safer setting through preparation and supervision, but this is still an open-water activity. If you are uncomfortable in the sea or cannot swim confidently, choose a land-based experience instead.

The equipment and what it means for comfort

Having the equipment included makes the $52 price easier to assess. You do not need to arrange your own fins, mask, snorkel, wetsuit, or weighted belt, and the instructor can help you use the kit as part of the lesson.

A wetsuit can be useful during a session that includes a long period in the water. The mask and snorkel let you observe from the surface, while the fins help you move with less effort. The weighted apnea belt is not just extra equipment to carry. It supports the short underwater descents that are part of the instruction.

Glasses must be removed for the water portion. Contact lenses are allowed, and the provider can offer advice about special prescription lenses if your prescription is very strong. This is worth considering before you book, especially if you cannot see clearly without glasses.

The equipment list is generous for the price, but comfort still depends on fit. Use the dry preparation time to tell the instructor if the mask leaks, the fins feel wrong, or the wetsuit is uncomfortable. Small adjustments matter when you are trying to relax and control your breathing.

A small group with Carlos and multilingual instruction

The group is limited to 10 participants, which is a useful middle ground. You get the social feel of a shared activity without the crowd size associated with a large boat excursion.

A small group also matters during the breathing and equalisation work. Those skills are easier to learn when the instructor can answer questions and watch how each person handles the exercises.

The listed teaching languages are English, French, and Spanish. Carlos is the instructor named in the feedback, and his calm, friendly manner is one of the most praised parts of the session. Sandra is also mentioned for clear communication before the activity.

That combination should help you feel looked after from the first contact through the water session. Still, if you have a medical concern, a serious fear of open water, or a condition that affects breathing, ask for advice before booking. The provided information does not describe medical screening or a health consultation.

Photos, video, and the snack afterward

The provider uses underwater photo and video equipment during the session. That gives you a chance to leave with more than a damp memory and a blurry mental picture of a fish.

The photos and video are included, but the information does not promise a specific number of files or a delivery time. Think of them as a welcome extra rather than the main reason to book. The best part of the experience is still the preparation and guided time in the water.

After leaving the sea, you receive a healthy snack. The final 30 minutes are set aside for a break, aperitif, picnic-style pause, and local snacks. This is a small detail, but it makes sense after an hour of swimming and concentrated breathing.

The snack also gives the activity a gentle ending. You can come out of the water, recover, and talk through what you saw rather than rushing straight to your next appointment.

Is $52 a fair price?

At $52 per person, the value is good if you would otherwise need to rent equipment and pay separately for a guided session. The price includes the full sports setup, wetsuit, weighted belt, instruction, approximately an hour in the water, snack, and underwater photos and video.

The yoga, stretching, Qigong, and breathing lesson add something that a basic equipment rental would not provide. You are paying for coaching and a calmer way into the sea, not simply access to fins and a mask.

The value is less clear if you only want a short, independent swim. Someone who already snorkels confidently and has personal equipment may prefer to explore on their own. This session makes more sense when you want guidance, structure, and an introduction to freedive technique.

The small group helps justify the cost too. With no more than 10 people, the experience should feel more attentive than a large commercial outing, though the exact amount of individual coaching will depend on the group.

Weather, swimming ability, and practical limits

The activity takes place outdoors, so rain, strong wind, or rough ocean waves may lead to rescheduling. That is normal for a sea-based experience, but it means you should avoid placing this activity immediately before an important flight or fixed excursion.

You need to be a swimmer. The session includes snorkeling and underwater movement, and no part of the description suggests flotation support for non-swimmers.

The experience is not suitable for children under six or for visually impaired people. It also requires you to remove glasses in the water, though contact lenses are permitted and special prescription options may be possible.

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Tenerife plans are still shifting.

Who should book this Radazul experience?

I would recommend it to a confident swimmer who wants more than a quick look beneath the surface. It is especially well suited to beginners curious about freedive technique, people who enjoy breathwork, and anyone who prefers a small, coached activity over a large group outing.

It should also suit couples, friends, and solo visitors who like learning a skill while on holiday. The instruction is available in English, French, and Spanish, and the atmosphere described around Carlos is calm rather than competitive.

I would think twice if you dislike structured wellness exercises, cannot swim, need to keep prescription glasses on in the water, or want guaranteed wildlife sightings. The sea decides what appears, and poor weather can change the plan.

Should you book it?

Book this if the idea of learning to relax underwater appeals to you. The strongest reason to choose it is the thoughtful progression from breathing and equalisation to guided snorkeling, supported by equipment, a small group, and an instructor praised for his calm approach.

For $52, you receive a well-rounded three-hour experience rather than a bare snorkeling rental. Just arrive prepared to swim, accept that the weather may alter the schedule, and treat the ray, colorful fish, photos, and video as welcome possibilities rather than promises. If you want a gentle first step into freediving around Tenerife, this is a sensible choice.

FAQ

Where does the activity meet?

Meet at Radazul Beach, looking for one of the three wooden platforms in front of the ocean. Av. Colón, 22 is also given as the starting and return location.

How long does the experience last?

The full activity lasts three hours. About one hour is used for the class, safety briefing, workshop, stretching, and breathing preparation. Around one and a half hours cover the guided water session and marine life viewing, followed by a 30-minute snack break.

Do I need to know how to swim?

Yes. You must know how to swim, and the activity is not suitable for non-swimmers.

What equipment is included?

The activity includes sports equipment, fins, a mask, snorkel tube, wetsuit, and an apnea belt with weights.

Can I wear glasses in the water?

You need to remove glasses for the water activity. Contact lenses can be used, and advice is available about special prescription lenses if your prescription is very high.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The activity may be rescheduled if there is rain, strong wind, or wild ocean waves. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.