El Bufadero

El Bufadero is one of the most famous, visually dramatic, and biodiverse dive sites located just a short boat ride from our harbor in Los Cristianos. Known for its unique underwater topography, volcanic structures, and abundance of marine life, it is an absolute must-dive when visiting Tenerife.

📋 DIVE SITE OVERVIEW

• ⚓ Dive Type: Reef / Volcanic Walls / Marine Life Sanctuary
• 📉 Depth Range: 10 to 22 meters (Perfect for both beginners and advanced divers)
• 🌊 Water Conditions: Generally calm with mild currents, offering excellent visibility (often exceeding 20 meters).
• 🤿 Suitability: PADI Scuba Diver, Open Water Diver, and higher.

🐢 KEY HIGHLIGHTS & WHAT YOU WILL SEE

• The Volcanic Wall & «Bufadero» Blowhole: The site is named after a geological volcanic fissure. You will swim along a stunning basaltic wall featuring overhangs, small caves, and swim-throughs formed by ancient lava flows.
• The Turtle Sanctuary: El Bufadero is famous for being a hotspot for Tenerife’s resident green sea turtles. Because the shallow parts of the volcanic reef are rich in algae and seagrass, these majestic, friendly creatures are frequently seen feeding, resting, or gliding right alongside divers.
• A Ray Paradise: Look down at the sandy bottom bordering the reef! You will regularly spot massive Atlantic roughtail rays, butterfly rays, and elegant common stingrays camouflaged in the sand or soaring effortlessly through the blue.
• Teeming Marine Ecosystems: The crevices of the volcanic wall are packed with life. Keep your eyes peeled for hidden octopus, curious moray eels (including tiger and fangtooth morays), bright neon damselfish, and large schools of roncadores (bastard grunts) hovering near the rocks.

📸 UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS FOR EL BUFADERO

El Bufadero offers some of the best lighting and marine life interactions in Tenerife, making it a dream destination for underwater photographers and GoPro users. To capture that perfect shot without disturbing the ecosystem, keep these tips in mind:

• Use the Sun & Shallow Depth to Your Advantage: Because the green sea turtles spend a lot of time resting and feeding on the top of the reef between 10 and 14 meters, you will have plenty of natural sunlight. Keep the sun behind you to capture the vibrant green hues of the turtles and the bright blue of the Atlantic without needing heavy external strobes.
• Master Your Hovering (Zero Contact): Turtles are incredibly relaxed at this site, but they will swim away if you make sudden movements or crash into the reef. Use your Peak Performance Buoyancy skills to hover completely motionless a few feet away. Let the turtles approach you—curious turtles will often swim directly toward your camera lens!
• Shooting the Rays on the Sand: If you spot a massive butterfly ray or stingray on the sandy bottom at 20 meters, approach slowly from a horizontal angle rather than dropping down from directly above them (which mimics a predator and scares them off). Use a wide-angle setting to capture the scale of these giant gliders against the volcanic seabed.

💡 WHY DIVE EL BUFADERO WITH DIVING ATLANTIS?

Because El Bufadero spans a wide depth range (from the shallow reef top at 10 meters down to the sandy floor at 22 meters), it is highly versatile. Our experienced instructors know exactly where the turtles love to rest and how to navigate the volcanic formations safely. We adjust the dive plan to match your certification level, ensuring you get the maximum bottom time and the best marine life encounters without any stress.

🪶 Ready to swim with the turtles of Tenerife? Slots for our daily boat trips to El Bufadero fill up quickly. Book your guided dive online with Diving Atlantis in Los Cristianos today and instantly save 10% on your booking!