The ocean around the Canary Islands is home to a great diversity of animals. The conjunction of several factors, both biological and geological, have made this island a unique place in the world, currently home to 38 marine mammals out of the 80 catalogued throughout the world.

The sea world contains multiple wonders that any tourist would like to know and the Whale Watching Tenerife offers the perfect plan to embark on a fascinating aquatic journey full of unforgettable moments. Beyond adventure, contacting with the wonders of the sea develops creativity, encourages meditation and enriches cognitive functions, as added values. For these reasons, this place annually attracts thousands of adventure-loving visitors, as well as students of marine science.

The Canary Islands give the ideal conditions for a great diversity of
marine species to thrive in its surrounding seas. At least 500
varieties of fish, 5 species of marine reptiles and 80 of sea mammals
can be found there.

The characteristics and conditions of the sea around these beautiful islands make the perfect environment for a great wealth of fauna and flora. That’s one of the reasons Canary Islands are such a rich and idyllic natural place.

Located transversely to the Canary cold stream, these islands receive
the waters coming from the Gulf and flowing southwest from northern
latitudes.

That is the reason why the water temperature is lower than it would
be expected for that tropical latitude. Streams are separated from each
other by channels of great depth and relatively short distance.

Diving is one of the most attractive tourist activities in the Canary Islands. Nothing better than swimming into this sea full of life and taking a closer look at the most curious species in the ocean. Here you will learn a little more about turtles in Tenerife, how to observe them, and get acquainted about all what’s around that experience.

Sharks are a superorder of cartilaginous fish that live in all the oceans in the world, and although most of them are predators, some species only eat plankton. Scientists have determined that there are currently 360 different species, classified in 8 orders.

Among the largest mammal species worldwide, whales are also the ones
that can live the longest. Many studies have been carried out by
researchers and have determined that, while some have a life expectancy between 80 and 90 years, some specimens can live up to 100 and more.

Their longevity depends on many factors. Studies have been very
difficult to carry out, however, with some data and estimates, marine
biologists have been able to determine whale lifespan with a pretty good
degree of accuracy, for each species in particular.

The word plankton was first used in 1887 by German scientist Victor Hensen. With it, he referred to a group of plant and animal organisms, mostly microscopic, present in salty or fresh waters that move driven by currents.

These diverse organisms populate the oceans around the world but tend
to be more abundant in the colder seas, i.e: distant from the equator.

Their role is essential in the marine food chain and they are usually classified into two categories: phytoplankton or plankton from vegetable origin and zooplankton or animal plankton.

The dolphin is a quite fascinating marine species, and has been considered one of the smartest living animals. It is known for its sociable behavior and empathy, which demonstrates not only within its own species, but also with others.

Although intelligence is usually associated exclusively with humans, this animal exhibits behaviors that can be considered intelligent, something that has surprised scientists for the past decades.

Many people have heard about the cognitive abilities of this mammal,
but most of them are unaware of some characteristics and curiosities
regarding this cetacean.

Oceans comprise the largest extensions of water on Earth, besides
being the natural habitat of countless species. This makes them one of the most important environments for the preservation of life on Earth.

However, up to a third of marine biodiversity is being currently
threatened by the effects of overfishing, climate change and
acidification of the seas.

There are countless reasons to reinforce the preservation of life in the oceans. Some of the most relevant are presented below.