The municipalities in Tenerife that receive more swimmers are reinforcing surveillance and lifeguard resources this summer to address a problem that particularly affects the islands. Some even extend operations throughout the year, especially in autumn and winter, as this is when the peak tourist season occurs. Canary Islands are one of the regions with the highest number of drowning deaths in the country. Its coastline is very extensive – 1,583 kilometres – but municipalities are increasingly investing money to enhance safety and reduce these tragic figures.
A total of 71 people died last year from drowning in the archipelago, almost double the number of victims from traffic accidents (34). According to the statistical study conducted by the Association for the Prevention of Drownings Canary Islands 1.500 Kilometers of Coastline, Tenerife tops the ranking of deaths by island with 24. Its entire coast and island pools account for 16.8% of all deaths in the whole of Spain. So far this year, there have been 88 accidents in aquatic spaces in the archipelago, resulting in 31 deaths. In the case of Tenerife, it is the second island with the highest number of drownings in 2024, behind Gran Canaria, with eight swimmers drowning between January and June. Approximately 83% of these deaths occurred in open spaces, while 17% occurred in pools at tourist resorts and natural sites.
Sebastián Quintana is the president of Canary Islands 1.500 Kilometers of Coastline. This organisation works to raise awareness about this issue and carry out educational work to educate administrations and citizens about the need to take preventive measures. This is partly due to the high number of bathing spots, up to 700, and the large number of tourists drawn by the good weather and beaches – 16 million last year – who are unaware of the characteristics of bathing areas and their risks. Visitors account for the highest accident figures: seven out of ten drownings in the Canary Islands are tourists.
Efforts to Reduce Coastal Drownings Intensified in Tenerife / Irene Mederos
Quintana highlights three key points to prevent these water accidents. Firstly, it is important to respect signs, such as flags, and the instructions of lifeguards. Secondly, he emphasises the importance of not bathing on beaches without surveillance or during times when lifeguards are not on duty. Finally, in the event of being caught in a current that carries the swimmer out to sea, one should not swim against the current. “The swimmer may enter a state of panic and lose the strength to stay afloat,” he reminds.
Sebastián Quintana compares drowning to “a silent death”. “But it must stop being silenced,” he believes. Therefore, he asserts that strengthening security services on beaches and pools is essential, as well as promoting a “culture of prevention” among the population to achieve safer bathing spots. “The population must have knowledge of basic rules, which must be respected, and common sense when bathing,” Quintana adds. In fact, Canary Islands 1.500 Kilometers of Coastline disseminates educational videos that are shared in 13 countries.
This organisation also emphasises the tragic consequences of not respecting signage. An example is in the south of Tenerife. This is the case of Charco del Tancón, in the municipality of Santiago del Teide, where bathing is prohibited. Signs throughout the area indicate this. However, there have been up to five deaths since 2017 of people who did not respect these signs. Even today, despite the significant impact of these reckless incidents, there are people who ignore the ban and jump into the blowhole, with the great danger of being sucked in by the water and thrown into the depths of these submerged volcanic caves.
Efforts to Reduce Coastal Drownings Intensified in Tenerife / Irene Mederos
For all these reasons, most Tenerife municipalities with more swimming areas have doubled their lifeguard resources this year, incorporating inflatable boats or drones and extending coverage hours to ensure a safer summer in the water. Additionally, the municipalities emphasise the importance of having suitable equipment throughout the year so that people with reduced mobility can also access the beaches safely. These are the operations for this summer in the municipalities with the most beaches and pools in Tenerife.
Santa Cruz de Tenerife
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The capital is introducing an aquatic drone to the operation this year, which will be available until 2025 thanks to an agreement with the Red Cross. The service includes surveillance, medical assistance, marking and sea support at the main sites along the Santa Cruz coastline: the docks of San Andrés and Añaza, as well as the beaches of Las Teresitas, Las Gaviotas, Playa Chica, Roque de Las Bodegas, Almáciga, and Benijo. Since last year, the beaches or bathing areas of El Bosque and Acapulco Beach in Valleseco have been included. Additionally, this year the new bathing area of Los Charcos in Valleseco has been incorporated. During the high season, from June 1st to September 30th, the service hours are from 9:00 to 20:00.
The capital beach of Las Teresitas is one of the most visited in Tenerife. It has the most human resources. It has 11 lifeguards, two emergency medical technicians and a nurse, as well as four Local Police officers. It also has two lifeguard posts, a rubber boat, a jet ski, an ambulance, and equipment for bathing for people with reduced mobility.
La Laguna
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The municipality of La Laguna has a staff of ten people who provide daily protection at the beaches of Punta del Hidalgo, Bajamar, Jóver, and La Barranquera. During the summer, the highest influx of visitors to the coast of La Laguna encourages the extension of lifeguard hours. While the service ends at 6:00 PM the rest of the year, it now ends at 8:00 PM in summer. In La Barranquera and Jóver, the lifeguard service is daily during these months, while the rest of the year it is only on weekends.
Adeje
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In the southern municipality, special security devices were already put in place in May and will be deployed until September. During these times, the bathing areas of La Caleta and El Puertito, especially popular with locals in summer, are monitored as they do not have lifeguards at other times of the year. The special device consists of 25 experts specialized in beach safety and lifeguarding, with the potential addition of civil protection personnel when needed. All beaches designated as urban, from Troya to La Enramada, will have at least two lifeguards at many of them. Meanwhile, the busiest beaches will have up to four lifeguards, such as Torviscas, Fañabé, or Playa del Duque.
Additionally, during these months, the Adeje Municipal Police especially reinforce their services and pay attention to bathing areas and beaches, in constant communication with the lifeguards. Adeje, a tourist hotspot on the island, has a total of 24 beaches and bathing areas. Some of them have special accessibility features that require year-round monitoring. In beaches without a permanent lifeguard, there is a maritime zodiac service with specialized personnel that conducts surveillance rounds.
Arona
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The municipality of Arona, another tourist hub in Tenerife, is introducing the OneUp this year. It is a smart and reusable mini float that automatically inflates upon contact with water in less than two seconds. This resource aims to reduce response time for coastal guards. The beaches in Arona with lifeguard services are Playa Honda, El Camisón, Los Cristianos, Las Vistas, La Arenita, and Las Galletas. The staff consists of a service chief and 22 lifeguards performing rescue operations by boat, at tower posts, on the beach, with special chairs for people with reduced mobility, and providing assistance to them.
Granadilla de Abona
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The safety operation on the Granadilla de Abona coastline has doubled its staff this year and extended its summer hours until September 30th in El Médano and Playa Grande de Los Abrigos. The municipality has 21 people in the lifeguard and rescue service, with 12 being lifeguards. In terms of equipment, they have a jet ski, two 4×4 vehicles, an aquatic drone, and a rescue boat. The service is provided daily throughout the year at El Médano, Leocadio Machado, La Tejita, El Chinchorro, and La Jaquita beaches, and on weekends at Playa Grande and Los Abrigos. The hours are from 9:00 to 20:00 at El Médano Beach and from 10:30 to 19:30 at the other beaches.
El Rosario
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The safety team in El Rosario, which oversees the bathing areas of Tabaiba, Radazul, and La Nea beach, has 11 lifeguards from June 15th to October 15th, from 10:30 to 19:30 daily. In addition, the service includes a jet ski, an ambulance, and support from Civil Protection volunteers who will intensify patrols and traffic control. Lastly, the Local Police, in coordination with the Civil Guard, will increase their presence in these areas. Cruz Roja, the Volunteer Civil Protection Group, and the UTE Northeast Community also participate in reinforcement tasks such as cleaning.
Candelaria
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During the summer season, from June 15th to September 15th, the service hours in Candelaria are from 11:00 to 19:00 every day. It includes surveillance, lifeguarding, rescue, first aid, and assistance to people with disabilities. The operations are available year-round at Punta Larga and dique beaches, and during the summer and Easter, Las Caletillas, Olegario beach, and Candelaria beach are added. Punta Larga beach has four lifeguards compared to two at Olegario, Candelaria, and Caletillas beaches. The municipality also has a rescue jet ski for interventions far from the coast and an emergency vehicle for reinforcing any intervention if needed.
Cruz Roja’s lifeguard team deploys a special security and surveillance service this summer at Las Teresitas. One of the photos shows the rubber boat available at the capital beach.
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