The Ray Bay of Los Cristianos
Los Tarajales beach, commonly known as Ray Bay, is a small rocky beach located in the town of Los Cristianos, in the south of the island of Tenerife. The name ‘Ray Bay’ was given to it due to the great quantity and variety of rays that can be seen all year round.
Despite being a little-known spot, Los Tarajales beach is home to a very rich and extensive marine life, making it an excellent area for recreational diving. The volcanic reef in the middle of the bay provides food and shelter for a large number of animal and plant species. Furthermore, due to the simplicity of the diving, the beach of Los Tarajales is an idyllic place for less experienced divers or beginners, willing to discover and observe the local marine life.
The maximum depth reached is usually around 8 metres, perfect for enjoying a pleasant, calm and comfortable dive. However, there is also the possibility of accessing what is known as “the canyon”, a spot a little deeper and further away from the beach, reserved for more experienced divers.
If diving is too much of an experience for you, or you are simply not interested, Los Tarajales beach also offers the possibility of snorkelling to enjoy the marine life. The volcanic reef presents shallower and easily accessible areas ideal for this activity without any concerns.
Among the ray species that can be observed at this spot are:
- Round fantail stingray (Taeniurops grabatus): the most common species of stingray in the Canary archipelago. These individuals of up to 2.5 metres long can be seen in the bay quite easily throughout the year. During the day they are usually found resting in the darkness of the small caves of the reef, being more active at night.
- Butterfly ray (Gymnura altavela): usually seen buried in the sandy areas of the beach. They are most easily seen during August and September as this is their breeding season.
- Bull ray (Pteromylaeus bovinus): This fish is named for the shape of its head. The bull ray is distinguished from other rays by their horizontal yellow lines on its back.
- Eagle ray (Myliobatis aquila): The most striking feature of this species is its head, which is very robust in comparison to its flattened body.
Among other species that can be seen, we can find octopuses, nudibranchs, cuttlefish and the well-known angel sharks, which also frequent the bay from the end of October to the end of February, during their reproductive stage.
In all, the beach of Los Tarajales can be considered as one of the best spots on the island for both diving and snorkelling.
