Tenerife is well known for its volcanic landscapes, dramatic underwater topography, and of course, its wreck diving. Among the most talked-about wrecks on the island are the El Condesito and the Tabaiba Wreck (El Peñón). While both sites attract divers, not all wrecks are created equal—and if you’re planning your dives, it’s worth knowing where to put your energy!
The Condesito – a piece of history, but showing its age
The Condesito is often mentioned because there is much more dive centers around the south of the island, but to be honest? For many years, it was a popular site for divers. However, today the wreck has deteriorated heavily. Storms and time have taken their toll, and the El Condesito has broken apart into scattered pieces.
What does that mean for scuba divers?
- There is very little structure left to explore
- Penetration is not possible, as the wreck is unstable and unsafe
- It’s more like swimming over a field of debris than exploring a ship
- The marine life can still be interesting, but it’s not much different from what you see at other dive sites on Tenerife
For many, the Condesito ends up being more frustrating than rewarding—especially after the effort of getting there.
The Tabaiba Wreck – Tenerife’s true wreck diving experience
In contrast, the wreck at Tabaiba offers everything most divers are looking for in a wreck dive. This is the wreck of the tugboat El Peñón, which was deliberately sunk in 2006 to create an artificial reef. Being relatively new, the structure is still intact, solid, and recognizable as a ship.
Why divers love it:
- Bigger and newer than the Condesito, with a clear shape and features
- You can actually enter the wreck safely at several points, making for a real wreck diving adventure
- It sits at a depth accessible for recreational divers, but still deep enough to keep it exciting
- Over the years, the wreck has become home to a wide variety of marine life – schools of fish, barracuda, octopus, and sting rays are common.
It’s simply a much richer and more satisfying dive, whether you’re a beginner exploring wrecks for the first time, or an experienced diver looking for an engaging site.
Big Plus: No boat needed, easy entrance from the shore, so no problems with sea sickness!
Dive Tabaiba as Part of Your Training
Another reason why the Tabaiba wreck stands out is that it’s not just a fun dive—it’s also a training site. In our PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course (AOWD), one of the dives (wreck adventure dive) takes place at the wreck, giving you the chance to combine learning with exploration. If you want to take it further, you can even complete your PADI Wreck Diver Specialty course here and practice proper wreck diving techniques in a safe environment. For an extra thrill, the site is also perfect to explore with a DPV (underwater scooter), adding a whole new dimension to your wreck diving adventure.
So our recomendation from Scubanana is: Skip the Condesito, head for Tabaiba
While the Condesito might still carry a certain nostalgia, it has fallen apart to the point where it’s not really worth the trouble. The Tabaiba Wreck, on the other hand, is Tenerife’s showcase wreck: bigger, newer, more intact, and far more exciting to explore.
If wreck diving is on your list while visiting Tenerife, make sure you don’t miss Tabaiba—you’ll leave the water with the feeling of having explored a real shipwreck, not just a memory of what once was.
