Marine species of Tenerife
The waters of southern Tenerife are one of the richest marine ecosystems in the Atlantic. A guide to the species you may encounter during a boat trip from Puerto Colón.
Tenerife’s marine wildlife is unique in the Atlantic
Tenerife’s volcanic seafloor creates exceptional conditions for marine life. The island drops steeply into the ocean, bringing deep waters very close to the coast. This allows marine mammals, sea turtles, pelagic fish and many other species to gather in a way that can only be found in a few places in the world.
The southwest coast is home to one of the few resident populations of short-finned pilot whales on the planet, marine animals that have lived in these waters for generations. Alongside them, bottlenose dolphins, striped dolphins and fin whales make this corner of the Atlantic a privileged destination for whale watching in the Canary Islands.
Big Smile Charters operates within the Teno-Rasca Special Area of Conservation, a protected marine area where whale and dolphin encounters are carefully regulated. We follow the rules on every trip and carry hydrophones on board so you can listen to the animals without interfering with their natural behaviour.
Marine animals you can see in Tenerife
Each profile brings together biological facts, behaviour and the best conditions for spotting these species from the sailing boat.
Short-finned pilot whale
Globicephala macrorhynchus
+400 individuals in Tenerife
Bottlenose dolphin
Tursiops truncatus
Frequently sighted
Striped dolphin
Stenella coeruleoalba
Groups of up to 100 individuals
Fin whale
Balaenoptera physalus
Second-largest whale in the worldHow we observe marine wildlife at Big Smile
Safe distances
We never surround or chase marine animals. We always keep the required safety distances and let the animals decide whether they want to approach the sailing boat.
Hydrophones on board
We carry hydrophones on every trip so you can listen to whales and dolphins communicating underwater without getting too close or altering their natural behaviour.
Teno-Rasca SAC
We operate within the Teno-Rasca Special Area of Conservation and follow the Canary Islands whale watching regulations on every trip, without exception.
See these species in their natural habitat
The best guide to Tenerife’s marine wildlife is not found in a book. It is out on the water. From Puerto Colón, we sail every day to the areas where these species live, with groups of up to 10 guests, premium catering included and guaranteed sightings.
