Take to the Atlantic, track whales and dolphins, and contribute to real conservation research in one of Tenerife’s most important marine habitats!

Perhaps better known for its beaches, winter sun and volcano-side resorts, Tenerife is also home to an unbelievable marine environment. Off the island’s western coast, deep Atlantic waters support resident pods of short-finned pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins, while sperm whales, beaked whales, spotted dolphins and other cetaceans regularly pass through. There’s a lot more happening beneath the waves than meets the eye.

Yet these animals share their waters with one of Europe’s busiest tourist destinations, making it increasingly important to understand how human activity affects the marine ecosystem. Whales and dolphins sit relatively high in the marine food web, making them useful indicator species. Changes in their distribution, behaviour or populations can reveal what is happening further down the food chain, providing valuable insight into the health of the wider ecosystem.

The Whale & Dolphin Conservation in Tenerife project began in 2021 and has since contributed research data to wider conservation networks, including RedPROMAR, the Canary Islands Government’s marine-life monitoring network. More than 2,200 cetacean sightings have been recorded so far, representing over 16,600 individual animals, including more than 680 individual short-finned pilot whales.

As a volunteer, you’ll be right in the middle of this research, jetting out on regular boat surveys. You’ll search for cetaceans, track their populations and behaviour, use photo-identification to recognise individual animals, record underwater sounds and monitor vessels moving through the Teno-Rasca Marine Reserve. Alongside the research, you’ll have Tenerife as your base, with weekends free to explore its volcanic landscapes, beaches and everything in between!

Activities

Cetacean Surveys You'll board a research boat and head out for a morning scanning the waters of the Teno-Rasca Marine Reserve for dolphins, pilot whales and other cetaceans. You’ll help record their behaviour, group size, location, and movements, while tracking the conditions around them. Every sighting adds another piece to the puzzle, helping researchers understand these animals and how they’re sharing their waters with an ever-growing number of boats.

Acoustic Monitoring During some boat surveys, you’ll take the research below the surface using hydrophones to record the sounds of dolphins and whales. These underwater recordings reveal another side of cetacean behaviour, helping the team study how they communicate, interact and stay connected within their social groups. You'll essentially be taking snippets of their underwater voice notes!

Biodiversity Surveys Cetaceans aren’t the only wildlife you’ll be monitoring. You’ll also take part in bird and rock-pool surveys, helping to reveal more about Tenerife’s coastal biodiversity and the species that depend on these habitats. These surveys give you the chance to discover some of the island’s smaller and often overlooked wildlife while contributing valuable data to the project’s wider conservation work.

Photo Identification Out on the water, you’ll learn how researchers identify and photograph individual cetaceans by their natural markings, scars and distinctive dorsal fins. Back on land, you’ll work through photos from your surveys, matching individuals and recording new sightings to help build the project’s growing catalogue of whales and dolphins, with a strong focus on pilot whales!

Vessel Monitoring Back on shore, you’ll conduct land-based surveys around the marine reserve. You’ll monitor the vessels using these waters, recording their numbers, types, speeds, distances from cetaceans, and whale-watching activity. This offers a different perspective on the reserve, helping the team understand how human activity affects resident whales and dolphins and where better marine management could make a difference.

Coastal Clean-Ups You'll get your hands dirty during regular beach and environmental clean-ups, helping remove litter from Tenerife's coastline and reduce human impacts on the marine environment. You'll record the waste collected during these activities, contributing to broader marine litter monitoring.

Itinerary

Day 1 - The Adventure Begins: Upon arrival at Tenerife South Airport, you’ll be met by a project representative and transferred to your accommodation, roughly a 25-minute drive away. You'll settle in, meet the team and fellow volunteers, and get an introduction to the project and the work you'll do during your stay.

Day 2-13 - Project Days: You'll spend your weekdays taking part in a mix of the activities listed. Three boat surveys are planned each week, depending on suitable weather and sea conditions. You'll also receive training in cetacean identification, data collection and photo-identification throughout your stay. Your weekends are free for you to explore Tenerife, from the volcanic landscapes around Mount Teide to the island's beaches, villages and coastal trails!

Day 14 - Final Day: Sadly, today is your final day. Take a moment to watch the waves roll in one last time before saying your goodbyes. Then you’ll be transferred to the airport for your return flight or onward travel plans.

Durations & Prices

To secure a place on this project, a deposit of £195 is required at the time of booking. The remaining balance is due 60 days before your start date.

Flexible Payment Options: If you select a start date more than 3 months in advance, we offer convenient payment plans, allowing you to pay off your balance in instalments.

Tip: Although it is possible to join this project for 6 nights, activities are dependent on weather and sea conditions; therefore, we recommend joining for 13 nights or more if possible.

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Accommodation

Volunteer Accommodation

You’ll stay in a relaxed hostel just a 15-minute walk from the beach, with local shops, cafés and other essentials only 5–10 minutes away. Your 4-6 person dormitory will be reserved for volunteers only, giving you a ready-made base to settle into project life, while you'll share the kitchen and bathrooms with other hostel guests. The project staff also stay in the hostel, so you’ll always have the project team close by for advice, questions, or anything you need during your stay.

Meals & Beverages

Meals are provided from Sunday dinner through to Friday lunch, with dietary requirements accommodated. Breakfast is self-service, with a selection of ingredients available in the kitchen for volunteers to prepare their own meal before heading out for the day. Lunch and dinner are shared responsibilities, with volunteers taking turns preparing meals using the project’s recipes and meal plans.

At weekends, you’ll have the freedom to explore Tenerife at your own pace. Discover the island’s local restaurants and cafés, or prepare a meal at the hostel using the communal food provided.

Project Details

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO VOLUNTEER?

This project runs year-round, so there’s no single best season to join. Tenerife has a warm climate and plenty of sunshine year-round, although rainfall varies slightly by season.

December to February: Winter is mild and mostly sunny, with highs of 20°C to 22°C and lows around 14°C to 15°C. December is one of the wetter months, with occasional short showers and cooler evenings.

March to May: Spring brings warmer temperatures, around 22°C to 24°C during the day and 15°C at night. Rainfall decreases considerably, and you can expect around eight hours of sunshine a day, often with gentle sea breezes.

June to August: Summer is hot and dry, with clear skies and very little rainfall. Daytime temperatures typically reach 26°C to 29°C, with overnight lows around 20°C. August is usually the warmest month, and occasional calima winds can bring hot, dusty air from the Sahara.

September to November: Autumn remains warm and pleasant, with highs of 24°C to 27°C and lows around 18°C. September and October are particularly popular for swimming, when the sea can remain around 24°C. Rainfall begins to increase slightly towards the end of November.

The marine environment changes throughout the year, too, so the species encountered during surveys will always depend on natural conditions. Short-finned pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins are among the resident species the team studies, while the waters around Tenerife are also visited by Atlantic spotted dolphins, rough-toothed dolphins, striped dolphins, sperm whales, Bryde’s whales and other cetaceans.

GETTING THERE

You’ll need to arrive at Tenerife South Airport (TFS) between 8am and 3pm on your project start date. A project representative will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your accommodation, which is approximately a 25-minute drive away.

VISA REQUIREMENTS

UK, EU, US, Canadian and Australian citizens do not need a visa in advance for stays of up to 90 days. If you’re travelling from another country, please check the latest entry requirements with your local Spanish embassy or consulate before travelling.

REQUIREMENTS TO JOIN

To join this project, you'll need to provide a criminal background check. In the UK, this is known as a DBS check and costs £21.50. You can apply for a copy of your criminal record through the UK Government website.

For international participants, we recommend obtaining a criminal background check through your local police station or an official government authority.

If you have any past unspent convictions, please inform us before booking, as we may need additional information.

Medical Requirements

There are no specific medical requirements to take part; however, all volunteers must complete a medical form before joining. If you have a medical condition, have recently had surgery, or have sustained an injury that could affect your ability to participate safely, please contact us before booking so we can confirm the project is suitable for you.

FITNESS & SKILLS

No previous experience or specialist skills are required. You’ll be trained in the research methods you’ll use during the project, so what matters most is a willingness to learn, work as part of a team and get involved.

As some activities take place on research boats, being comfortable on the water is an advantage.

VACCINATIONS

No specific vaccinations are required to join this project. However, we recommend speaking to your GP, doctor or a travel clinic before travelling to check whether any routine or travel vaccinations are recommended for you.