Tabaiba Wreck (El Peñón)

Overview: The Tugboat El Peñón of Tabaiba

Located in the coastal municipality of El Rosario on Tenerife’s north-east coast, the Tabaiba Wreck (El Peñón) is the island’s premier artificial reef and wreck training site.

The 35-metre (115-foot) harbour tugboat was scuttled intentionally in 2006 to regenerate local marine biodiversity. She sits completely upright on a clean sandy seabed at a maximum depth of 32 metres, with the wheelhouse and upper deck rising to 16m to 20m.

Detailed Dive Route

• Shore Entry: Walk down the stairs of the Tabaiba protected sea-pool area and giant stride into the calm coastal water.
• The Surface Swim & Descent (0m–16m): Surface swim 50 metres out to the descent buoy and follow the chain down directly onto the tugboat’s wheelhouse at 16m.
• The Wheelhouse & Funnel (18m–22m): Swim through the open, prepared wheelhouse doors where schools of trumpetfish and cardinalfish hover in the shade.
• The Engine Room & Propeller (28m–32m): Advanced divers can explore the open engine compartments, inspect the massive bronze propeller at 32m, and look under the hull for resting butterfly rays (Gymnura altavela) and dusky groupers.
• Reef Return: Ascend to the shallow volcanic wall at 10m to follow the coastline back to the sea-pool ladder for your 5m safety stop.

Safety & Certification Rules

• Certification Required: Open Water (18m) can view the upper deck and wheelhouse; Advanced Open Water (30m) required for the propeller and seabed.

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 32m)

• 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).