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Can you swim in the ocean in Tenerife?

Tenerife is a stunning holiday destination with all year round sunshine. The climate is perfect for open water swimming in the Tenerife sea, where average air temperatures range between 17 C and 24 C with sea temperatures rarely dropping far below 20 C.



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The water on the coast of Tenerife is not particularly warm, but you can still swim, even during the winter months. On the other hand, the lower water temperature (due to cold currents) provides excellent natural protection from dangerous sea creatures.

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The island's climate is considered the best in the world. The Canary Islands are also the only European resort where you can swim most months of the year, as the water temperature in Tenerife never drops below 19 degrees Celsius, thanks to the warm currents of the Gulf Stream.

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Besides, the quality of the sea water around the Canary Islands is excellent and their beaches are regarded as open air spas. This is why they have been awarded a large number of blue flags, the European eco-label which guarantees the water is clean and meets environmental criteria as well as certain other standards.

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Stay safe while having fun in the Atlantic The beaches of the Canaries are among the safest in the world – over 60 stretches of sand have received the coveted Blue Flag award. Lifesavers often patrol the beaches, so everyone can safely enjoy the ocean.

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The graph below shows the range of monthly Santa Cruz de Tenerife water temperature derived from many years of historical sea surface temperature data. The warmest water temperature is in September with an average around 74.7°F / 23.7°C. The coldest month is March with an average water temperature of 66.6°F / 19.2°C.

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Puerto Colón beach Located in San Eugenio, Playa Puerto Colon is your ideal destination. It has clear and calm waters that often shade the shoreline turquoise. This makes it a beautiful scenery for photos, especially early in the morning or the sunsets.

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Volcanic activity and lava flow left behind dark-hued rocks, cliffs and minerals, and erosion over time has broken these down to form black sand. Whether on the touristed west coast or in the more remote north, all the natural beaches in Tenerife are covered in either black sand or pebbles.

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January is peak cold and wet time in Tenerife, if you want to avoid the wettest month but equally not suffer high temperatures or high prices the best time for you to go is between March and June.

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There are mosquitoes on Tenerife but not a lot. You will find them more in some areas than others, and importantly, they only appear at cer-tain times of the year. Tenerife fans often visit the island at the same time each year. If that happens to be at time when there aren't mossies, then they will never see one.

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Is it too hot to wear jeans in Tenerife? Jeans are very popular everywhere, but in the hottest months may be too uncomfortable. Opt instead for lightweight natural fabrics. Shorts, t-shirts and camisoles are perfectly acceptable.

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Can you drink the tap water in Tenerife? People in the Canary Islands tend to buy bottled water because much of the tap water here is desalinated sea water – it's safe to drink but not particularly pleasant taste-wise.

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Can you drink water in Tenerife hotels? Most of Tenerife drinking tap water comes from desalinated sea water and doesn't have a good taste, it's fine for bathing or washing clothes, etc. For drinking, tea, coffee or ice always use bottled water.

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Up to 21 different species of whales and dolphins can be found in the waters of the island of Tenerife. From the gigantic blue whale to the fearsome killer whale, it is possible to spot any of them, although the most common are the Calderón Tropical and the Bottlenose Dolphin.

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Roughly said, the northern part of Tenerife is great for hikers, outdoor activities in Tenerife and pristine nature lovers. I recommend the south of the island such as Costa Adeje, Los Cristianos or Los Gigantes for those who are looking for beach holidays and all the facilities of a tourist hub.

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Temperatures in Tenerife are around 20°C in winter with lows of 14°C at night. Tenerife weather warms up again from March until May. You can expect a daily average of 22°C with eight hours of warm sunshine each day.

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Consequently, north Tenerife is more humid with heavier rainfall, while the south stays hot and sunny most of the time. Due to the trade winds, the climate in Tenerife is also relatively mild with lower average temperatures than what you'd normally expect at these latitudes.

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The sea around Tenerife is still warm and perfect for swimming and many people actually consider that in October the water is at its warmest. In fact, the ocean in October is usually at its highest temperature, very similar to how it is in September as well.

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Areas to Avoid Because of its volcanic background, most beaches in Tenerife are volcanic with black sand which can be hot under the feet. If you're after a traditional sandy beach head to Los Cristianos and leave the southern resorts alone. Playa la Arena is also notorious for pickpockets.

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The Canary Islands have very low crime rates. The most serious tourist crime is often the pick pocketing of wallets, phones and passports in beach resorts. Keep a copy of your passport in your accommodation.

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Tenerife is a stunning holiday destination with all year round sunshine. The climate is perfect for open water swimming in the Tenerife sea, where average air temperatures range between 17 C and 24 C with sea temperatures rarely dropping far below 20 C.

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