El Condesito

El Condesito lies off Punta Rasca, the southern tip of Tenerife, on the island's sheltered leeward south coast. The bulk of Tenerife to the north blocks the dominant W-NW long-period Atlantic groundswell and the NE trade windsea, which is why this side of the island is the calm, dive-able coast. The exposed window is the open Atlantic to the south: the S-SSW-SW sector faces clear ocean and takes any southerly wind-sea or distant S/SW swell head-on, while a little W-swell energy refracts around the southwest tip. Being close to shore and shallow, the site feels southerly weather quickly — a S-SW blow or a southern swell will build surface chop and reinforce the currents over the point, making that the condition to watch before entering, especially on the rocky shore route.