Radazul (Marina Drop-Off)

Overview: Tenerife’s Premier Deep Wall & Training Marina

Located just 10 minutes south of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Radazul is a protected marine haven featuring a deep, vertical volcanic wall dropping from 10m to past 40m directly off the marina steps.

Sheltered from north-easterly trade winds, Radazul provides year-round calm water, exceptional 30m+ visibility, and immediate deep-water access without boat rides.

Detailed Dive Route

• Shore Entry: Walk down the stairs inside the sheltered marina bay into 5m water.
• The Volcanic Wall (12m–35m): Exit the harbour mouth and drop along the sheer basalt wall:
  • Yellow gorgonian fans and black coral colonies at 30m+.
  • Large dusky groupers, barracudas, and schools of Atlantic trumpetfish.
• The Deep Sand Chutes (30m–40m): In the deep sand, spot resting angel sharks and giant stingrays (Dasyatis pastinaca).

Certification & Depths

• Level: Open Water (18m) along the upper reef; Advanced Open Water (30m) and Deep Specialty (40m) along the vertical wall.

Technical Dive Profile & Navigation

1. Entry & Descent Mechanics

• Descent Method: Careful shore walk-in over reef platform or steps, kicking out to the descent buoy before dropping to prevent surface drift.
• Ear Equalization: Equalize continuously every 1 metre during the descent phase to prevent sinus or middle-ear barotrauma.
• Compass Heading & Navigation: Set a primary heading toward the main reef structure. Maintain buddy contact within 2 metres throughout the descent.

2. Deep Section & Gas Management (14m to 35m)

• NDL Discipline: At depths of 30m, your No-Decompression Limit ticks down rapidly. Monitor your dive computer continuously.
• The Craig Rule: Divers certified to Open Water level (18m maximum) must stay on the upper reef shelf and never follow advanced divers down past 18m.
• Turnaround Gas: Signal your buddy and start your ascent when the first diver reaches 110 bar (or one-third of usable cylinder capacity).

3. Ascent & 5m Safety Stop

• Ascent Rate: Ascend along the reef wall at a controlled rate not exceeding 9 metres per minute.
• Mandatory Safety Stop: Complete a strict 3-to-5-minute safety stop at 5 metres (15 feet) before deploying an SMB and surfacing with a 360-degree overhead scan.

Marine Life & Habitat Zones (Biologically Verified)

• Apex & Pelagic Predators: Atlantic Bonito (Sarda sarda), Greater Amberjack, Striped Barracuda.
• Reef Fish & Keystone Species: Canarian Dusky Grouper, Island Grouper (Mycteroperca fusca), Parrotfish / Vieja (Sparisoma cretense).
• Macro Biodiversity & Benthic Invertebrates: Tiger Morays (Enchelycore anatina), Brown Morays, Red-Rock Cleaner Shrimp (Lysmata grabhami).
• Elasmobranchs & Marine Reptiles: Resident Green Sea Turtles (Chelonia mydas), Angel Sharks (Squatina squatina), Roughtail Stingrays (Bathytoshia centroura), Bull Rays (Pteromylaeus bovinus).