Barbarian Diving

Barbarian Diving is situated in Los Cristianos, on the south coast of Tenerife. This location provides a convenient base with calm seas and relatively quick access to the island's diverse volcanic reefs and underwater structures.

The centre operates as an official SSI Dive Resort, catering to a wide range of experience levels. Whether you are looking to take your first breaths underwater or are a seasoned professional seeking to complete your Divemaster qualification, the focus remains on safety, precision, and a relaxed atmosphere.

The centre is led by a German team, including Head Instructor Kathleen Knecht, who is noted for her patience with nervous divers, and Sergio Cruz, a Head Instructor with a deep interest in local marine biology. Instruction is available in English, German, and Spanish.

Safety is a core priority, with the centre acting as a DAN Europe insurance partner. They maintain a strict diver-to-guide ratio of no more than four divers per instructor, allowing for the personal attention necessary to refine buoyancy or master new skills.

Environmental stewardship is integrated into their daily operations. The team follows a strict no-touch policy to protect the reef and actively participates in local beach clean-ups to maintain the health of the Tenerife coastline.

As an SSI Dive School, Barbarian Diving offers a comprehensive curriculum. Beginners can start with Try Scuba Diving or the Scuba Diver course, progressing through to the Open Water Diver and Advanced Open Water Diver certifications.

For those looking to specialise, the catalogue includes Deep Diver, Wreck Diving, Night Diving, Navigation, and Perfect Buoyancy courses. They also provide the React Right (First Aid and O2) course to enhance safety knowledge.

Professional divers can work towards their Divemaster qualification through the centre. Technical and skill-based training, such as Nitrox and Scooter DPV, is also available to expand your diving repertoire.

The centre provides a full range of high-quality, regularly serviced equipment for hire. This includes everything required for a complete dive rig, ensuring you can arrive without the need to transport your own heavy kit.

Nitrox is available for use, and the centre is equipped with O2 safety protocols on-site. For those looking to advance their skills, they also offer instruction on Scooter DPV (diver propulsion vehicles).

The volcanic reefs and rocky formations are home to a variety of larger species. You can regularly encounter angelsharks, stingrays, and eagle rays patrolling the sandy patches, alongside schools of barracuda, amberjack, and snapper.

In the deeper sections and around the wrecks, look for groupers, moray eels, and various species of rays. Turtles, including green turtles and loggerhead turtles, are also frequent visitors to the seagrass and reef areas.

For those interested in macro life, the crevices and corals host a diverse community. You may find seahorses, octopus, cuttlefish, and nudibranchs, as well as frogfish and various crabs hiding in the rocks.

Smaller residents like damselfish, sardines, and bream provide constant movement around the pinnacles and swim-throughs, while trumpetfish and various species of crabs add detail to the reef landscape.

Diving in Tenerife is possible year-round. The area is known for its reliable conditions, though some sites like Punta Prieta and Las Eras can experience moderate to strong currents that require more experience to navigate.

Visibility at many sites, such as Las Eras, can reach between 20 and 30 metres. The local topography includes everything from shallow sandy bottoms to steep vertical walls and complex cave systems.