I can’t imagine living far from the sea. It is the battery that recharges the batteries of those of us who live near the water and the fuel that fills those tanks that are often running low on life. Despite this, I recognize myself as tiny in the face of such immensity and somewhat ignorant of the treasures it hides. A couple of weeks ago, I wrote in this same section about Rojas, a specific place on the northern coast of Tenerife where the remnants of a plane that made an emergency landing in the 60s rest in its waters. This fact, which I was unaware of, leads me this time to delve deeper into the landscape of our coast, hand in hand with those who are fortunate enough to dive and explore the ocean’s natural wealth.
Eduardo Acevedo has been diving in this vast blue for almost 30 years, showcasing to the world, through his lens, that other life beneath the sea. A faithful follower of Cousteau’s documentaries since he was very young, he doesn’t remember ever being far from the water. With goggles and fins, he used to spend hours discovering that new world. From his beginnings with spearfishing, he became interested in photography. It’s a hobby that has never ceased to amaze him and has led him to achieve significant success in international competitions. “The awards won in competitions around the world have translated into opportunities to keep travelling,” he confesses.
Exploring the Azure Waters of Tenerife / Francis Pérez
Eduardo has explored the waters of all five continents. Galapagos, Pacific Islands, Australia, the Philippines… These are some places he has visited with his camera. When choosing one of them, he undoubtedly favours the coast of our islands. “I especially love it pelagically. With not many nutrients, it’s very clear water with visibility of 50-60 meters, a situation not found elsewhere. Here, surprisingly, we can see blue sharks and mako sharks. I’ve had the opportunity to photograph them and swim alongside more than seven specimens, always taking necessary precautions. It’s a unique feeling. They came close, even brushing against me, but I wasn’t afraid because they were just curious to see a strange element in their environment. They were more interested in satisfying their hunger with other fish. To live this experience close to home is something unique.”
Exploring the Azure Waters of Tenerife / Eduardo Acevedo
Regarding the marine landscape found in the north of Tenerife, Eduardo Acevedo highlights some differences such as the volcanic and basaltic nature with more nutrients that limit visibility, very similar to the northern areas of other islands like La Gomera or El Hierro. “The water temperature here is also a few degrees lower and being more exposed to the trade winds and swell, they are more protected and less exploited than the South. In the North, there are incomparable landscapes, perhaps not as much life but with impressive volcanic formations. One example is La Rapadura, in Santa Úrsula, whose images have been published in National Geographic. There is also the volcanic cone in Garachico, which consists of a tunnel that you enter with a depth of 31 meters and exit around 7-8 meters.
El Guindaste, off the beach of El Socorro, in Los Realejos, is another incredible place. It is a submarine pinnacle that rises from a depth of 80 metres to reach 7 metres, teeming with life. We can see groupers, amberjacks, and other varieties that are not usually found.” Eduardo is optimistic about the state of our seabeds. “Although we don’t have any marine reserves, something that can be criticized, overall we have improved. There is more protection now and more public awareness about environmental conservation,” he opines.
Francis Pérez felt the need to share his experiences in the sea through photography after years of diving. For him, being in the sea is his main escape, “something that started as the best way to disconnect from my profession as an economist, turned into a way to fund my trips until I could make this my main activity”.
Exploring the Azure Waters of Tenerife / Francis Pérez
International Exposure
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Francis has also participated in numerous international competitions with successes that have positioned him as a benchmark in this field. As a staunch advocate for the marine environment, his striking images of the effects of humans on the marine environment serve to raise awareness about the need to preserve that other 70 percent of the planet. In this sense, he agrees with Eduardo in denouncing the lack of marine reserves in Tenerife as we can find in other islands. “This deficiency translates into a loss of biodiversity and species that are no longer found, a reflection of poor environmental policy”.
As an example, Francis mentions the decrease in sperm whale specimens in recent years and even moray eels, which “are hardly seen anymore”. Regarding the most representative area in the North, he also does not hesitate to point out La Rapadura as “the most impressive underwater volcanic landscape that exists, cataloguedDiscovering the Underwater Wonders of Tenerife The mesmerising underwater world of Tenerife / Eduardo Acevedo
Tenerife is home to one of the top one hundred dives in the world. The area was unveiled by Ramiro Martel in 1996 and consists of a basaltic lava flow created between 500,000 and one million years ago. Currently, there is a collaboration with the Santa Úrsula City Council aimed at showcasing this often overlooked treasure in the north of the island.
Embarking on this activity undoubtedly requires preparation and responsibility to avoid unnecessary risks. However, passion has sometimes gotten the better of Francis, such as the time in southern La Palma when chasing a hawksbill turtle: “We got carried away by emotion, straying far from the starting point in a gale that forced us to crawl along the seabed until we reached the beach while we were already being considered missing.” Another moment that he recalls with a certain level of distress was when he got caught with his tank on the ceiling of an underwater tube connecting two caves, needing assistance to get out. Nonetheless, he jokingly reminisces about swims in San Telmo (Puerto de la Cruz) where with his friends, he faced “the first risks” in contact with the sea.
In 2000, Francis set several goals to achieve. He became interested in visiting the coral reefs in the Red Sea, a location at risk due to global warming, as well as South Africa to observe sharks, the cenotes of Mexico, and even the macroalgae just a few meters off the coast of Chile. This journey has allowed him to discover the magnificence of these vast underwater forests where he currently resides. However, he still has several challenges to conquer: the Arctic and Antarctica. He hopes to visit the latter destination next year on an expedition with the Hesperides Research Centre. “These two views of the two poles attract me mainly due to the remoteness they represent, ultimately allowing us to discover the end of the world beyond known or unknown underwater places.” Eduardo and Francis once felt the call of the sea, thanks to individuals like them who reveal the most undiscovered corners, we are slightly more aware of the responsibility we have to preserve this rich biodiversity. Islanders are also ocean dwellers; it is our home, and as such, we must care for it.
These photos unveil the beauty of the depths of the waters of Tenerife, teeming with a variety of species. One of the most spectacular areas in the North is La Rapadura (in the centre).
