Off-Limits ‘Cave of Doom’ Nearly Sucks Tourist Into Deadly Blowhole in Canary Islands (Video)

The Canary Islands, a Spanish archipelago off the west coast of Africa, is a volcanic land rife with lunar landscapes, natural wonders, and wild ocean conditions.

Regarding the latter, it’s been a hotspot of late, with a number of fatalities involving tourists entering restricted ocean zones, being swept out to sea, and left for dead. Tragic, really. But it appears that even after the recent deaths, people don’t seem to learn.

In a new post from Canarias 1500 km de Costa, an “association for drowning and accident prevention,” they showed a tourist venturing into an off-limits zone, risking his life. See below for the scene.

The rock formation, known as El Tacón on the island of Tenerife, features a blow hole – a circular vortex in the rocks, which rises and falls with the incoming waves. The man can be seen getting very close, nearly swallowed by the incoming swells.

";El Tancón, when there is strong waves, is like throwing from the water tank: Everything it takes sucks it mortally'.' This is how our colleague, expert in drowning prevention,” Sebastian Quintana describes this volcanic tube, in the video caption.

In 2021, the Canaris 1500 km de Costa organization published a report, stating:

“The incidence of drownings, however, is far higher than many realize. In the Canary Islands, it is the leading cause of accidental death and doubles the number of victims of traffic accidents. For example, last year 43 people lost their lives in the islands’ waters, compared to 21 on the roads. The archipelago has also led the national drowning statistics for seven consecutive years.”

And it’s not the first time there’s been controversy – and deaths – surrounding this very location. Back in 2023, Spanish influencer Marina Rivera Saldaña was berated for swimming in the cave of El Tancón, another feature there, and documenting the dangerous swim. It's the same site where at least six people have died.

Per Trip Advisor, the location is filled with warnings for those who dare to cross the cordoned off area, and go for a dip in the cavern or explore the blowhole.

One commenter wrote:

“Very dangerous place. Entry and swimming are prohibited, but no one seems to care. I saw someone die there, and I've heard that several others have lost their lives. The beauty they claim it possesses doesn't make up for it. Very dangerous place, especially at high tide.”

Know your limits, listen to the lifeguards or warning signs, and always be safe when adventuring into the sea. Never underestimate the power of the ocean.