Chuchos

Located just outside the harbor of Las Galletas, Los Chuchos (which literally translates to «The Stingrays» in the local Canarian dialect) is globally famous as Tenerife’s ultimate stingray paradise.

The site consists of a volcanic rocky reef section bordered by a vast, open sandy plain. Because generations of local marine life have gathered here, the resident rays are incredibly curious and comfortable around humans. It is widely considered one of the most interactive, thrilling, and action-packed marine life dives anywhere in the Canary Islands.

📋 DIVE SITE OVERVIEW

• ⚓ Dive Type: Sandy Plains / Volcanic Reef / Heavy Marine Life Interaction
• 📉 Depth Range: 15 to 21 meters (A flat, very easy-to-manage depth profile along the sandy bottom)
• 🌊 Water Conditions: Usually features a very mild current and outstanding clear water, with visibility consistently reaching 25 to 30 meters.
• 🤿 Suitability: PADI Open Water Diver (OWD), Advanced Open Water, and underwater videographers.

🐠 KEY HIGHLIGHTS & WHAT YOU WILL SEE

• The Gathering of the Rays: As soon as you descend down to the sand line at 20 meters, you will be met by the true rulers of the site. Multiple species of massive rays will circle gracefully around you, including giant common stingrays, beautifully patterned bull rays, and massive rough-tail stingrays with wingspans that can easily stretch over two meters wide.
• The Eagle Ray Fly-Bys: Keep your eyes turned upward toward the blue! Elegant common eagle rays, recognizable by their pointed wings, dark backs, and duck-bill faces, love to cruise slightly above the reef, flying past the group in perfect formation.
• A Bustling Fish Metropolis: The presence of the rays draws an incredible volume of other sea life. You will find yourself swimming alongside curious canarian parrotfish, massive schools of silver bream, and large pufferfish floating lazily near the rock structures.
• The Moray and Trumpetfish Hunters: Hidden inside the cracks of the nearby rock wall, large tiger moray eels and black morays peek out from their shelters, while slender trumpetfish hover vertically in the water column, using the shadows of the rays to sneak up on small prey.

📸 UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS FOR LOS CHUCHOS

• Get Low and Shoot Up: The rays at Los Chuchos will often glide just inches above your head. To get a truly breathtaking wide-angle shot, kneel carefully on the sand flats (ensuring your buoyancy is stable and you aren’t disturbing the bottom), angle your lens upward, and capture the pure white undersides of these giant gliders silhouetted against the sunlit blue surface.
• Keep Your Lens Clean and Watch for Backscatter: Because there are so many large rays moving along the sand floor, they can occasionally kick up fine sediment. If you are using external flashes or strobes, position them wide apart and angled slightly outward to avoid lighting up floating sand particles right in front of your camera lens.

💡 WHY DIVE LOS CHUCHOS WITH DIVING ATLANTIS

Los Chuchos is the kind of dive that makes your heart race in the best possible way. It offers unparalleled, up-close wildlife encounters where you don’t have to search for the marine life—the marine life actively comes to you! Our expert instructors manage the dive profile with maximum safety and respect for the ecosystem, ensuring you can relax, breathe smoothly, and enjoy being surrounded by the most majestic rays in Tenerife.

Ready to kneel on the Atlantic floor while giant stingrays soar right over your head? Experience the unmatched magic of Los Chuchos. Book your guided boat trip online with Diving Atlantis today and automatically secure your 10% online booking discount!