Southern Tenerife Submarine Trip: Is It Worthwhile?

Thinking about dipping below the surface in Tenerife? The Southern Tenerife Submarine Safari seems almost too good to be real: You’re talking about taking a cruise below the Atlantic in a genuine submarine. That said, just what’s it like? And is it actually worth handing over your hard-earned cash? I went down to examine, so you don’t need to. Let’s take a look.

What is the Southern Tenerife Submarine Dive?

OK, so at its center, it is just a guided tour way, way down to the ocean floor. That’s the basic idea. You pack yourselves into a yellow submarine (a Beatles song comes to mind!), then very slowly sink something like sixty feet beneath the surface. Then, for what seems like a handful of minutes, but ends up being around fifty, you peer out of portholes at the world beneath the waves.

That’s the sales pitch anyway, and the bit that appeals to families on vacation, or anyone really wanting to glimpse a slice of marine life without getting their hair wet. However, does reality equal the hype? Actually, yeah. Tenerife’s sea life might just not be up there with the Red Sea, but the entire adventure—slipping beneath the surface in a genuine sub—is very awesome, and just a little James Bond.

Getting There and Check-In

The Submarine Safari runs from the San Miguel Marina in Amarilla Golf, and that is really down on Tenerife’s southern coast. If you don’t have a car, then it might just be an idea to book a tour that includes transport – there are plenty. The marina’s not very hard to find and it is really pretty. There are plenty spots for refreshments there, so get there that bit before your ‘dive’ so you can get something cool before submerging.

You need to check in around twenty minutes before departure so that they can just run through safety stuff. Honestly? The safety stuff is pretty thorough, so you can also rest easy that you’re in responsible hands. Oh, and the staff were rather pleasant.

What’s the Submarine Like?

Now, to the nitty gritty. The submarine, or Sub Fun Cinco, isn’t massive, but it’s still pretty comfy. You sit facing sideways along two rows, and there’s a massive porthole for each pair. This thing holds nearly fifty people so too it’s cozy; however, you’re not likely to feel crowded.

It’s that well air-conditioned that too it feels extremely comfortable, but just take something cozy if you easily feel the cold. One other really thing to know is that moving around while submerged is just that bit difficult, so head to the toilet prior to you ‘diving’!

The Submarine ‘Dive’ Experience

As you slip under the waves, so the whole adventure becomes very special. Sunlight glistens through the water, and it’s very, very quiet. As you gradually descend, you get a glimpse of divers close to your porthole, who you soon discover will ‘feed’ the local fish. And that’s done in view of the submarine, for your benefit!

Fish starts swarming – mainly small bream. This does sound somewhat contrived (because it is!), and not exactly the pristine Atlantic, but this is what is probably keeping things interesting for youngsters. The pilot gives an actually funny and useful running commentary. When we went on our adventure we actually passed a wreck – a sunken boat; which was amazing to watch. Honestly? The entire trip went very fast, so enjoy every moment.

Marine Life You Could See

OK, it’s just that bit hard to ensure exactly what sea life you’ll spot. We did get to see: Loads of bream (they seem extremely popular), some trumpet fish (beautiful and tubular) plus a few beautiful but somewhat shy rays. Apparently, there could be barracuda, octopus and, at certain times of the year, even turtles; so fingers crossed.

It may just be worthwhile doing a bit of learning about local sea life ahead of your adventure – but this depends on how immersed you want your experience to get. By the way, visibility really does depend on weather conditions and the day’s currents.

Is the Submarine Trip Suitable for Children?

Very much. Most children love anything various; also, this Submarine Safari, with its promise of dipping into a secret place, is just about awesome. The trip tends to be only around an hour, so youngsters won’t get fidgety. And because the air con has got this well cranked up, everyone is pretty much cozy as you sail along. Having said that, it may just be too expensive to be ‘just another hour’s entertainment’, so check if they might value the experience prior to you spending the cash.

Having said that, many youngsters also enjoy anything slightly ‘educational’, and here there’s plenty scope to chat about the Atlantic and what might just be making it its home. Honestly, most parents tend to discover their kids come away knowing something different about Tenerife than just that there are beaches.

Is it Worth the Money?

This is the killer question. Basically? Maybe. Here’s why. First, this tends to be extremely expensive, costing around fifty-five euros per adult (check current rates!). And it doesn’t come cheap for kids, either. Now, compared to several things you can get up to in Tenerife, this might just come in as quite pricey, so that, right away, puts loads of people off. Actually, this needs balancing with that seeing marine life any other way is quite tough.

OK, you can snorkel; but it could be cold, plus you have to get all the safety stuff right. You could learn scuba; and that will certainly be an event. However, this costs far more time and cash than the Submarine Safari. Or you could head for one of Tenerife’s somewhat small aquariums; however, you aren’t going to get a sensation of exploring the ocean deeps there, right? I think if it is the ‘only’ adventure you spring for during your hols then actually yeah, this might just be awesome. That said, shop around and get a discount.

Overall Verdict

So, as a family adventure which gives that bit more than a boat trip, it certainly takes some beating, right? Basically? Being down at the seabed, staring out of a submarine, will possibly stay in your memory way longer than any of Tenerife’s somewhat commercial waterparks. Just consider it, and make an informed decision based upon reading this, I’m hoping!