Selecting the most effective dive websites in Chile is a bit like selecting the world’s finest desserts. With so many various diving environments, it’s difficult to decide on that are “the most effective.”
The Chilean shoreline is greater than 4270 km/2650 miles lengthy. To place it in perspective, Chile is:
- The peak of the US and Canada mixed
- So long as Australia and New Zealand stacked end-to-end
- The gap from Norway to Morocco
We’ll begin our tour of the most effective dive areas in Chile within the north and work our method south, with a break to speak about diving Easter Island and the Juan Fernández Archipelago.
Iquique
Iquique is called the “Metropolis of Everlasting Spring” resulting from its virtually tropical microclimate. Water temperatures vary from a low of about 16°C/61.5°F in August to a excessive of round 23°C/72°F in February.
Playa Blanca, a picturesque white-sand seashore south of the town, is a well-liked dive web site. Rocky formations are dwelling to mussel beds, crustaceans and colourful sea flora. Different widespread dive websites embrace Punta Gruesa and Tres Islas, with a peaceful northern aspect for freshmen and a kelp forest on the southern aspect for extra adventurous divers.
Antofagasta, Atacama
Antofagasta is a small city in Northern Chile that’s a part of the Atacama area. From Antofagasta, you possibly can e book diving within the Reserva Marina Chañaral de Aceituno. Sea lions are frequent year-round, and whales are current November by Could. You might also see dolphins and orcas topside. A few of the finest dive websites within the space embrace the Maria Elizabeth shipwreck, Anemone Wall and Bahía Inglesa (English Bay).
Coquimbo Area
Scuba diving in Chile’s Coquimbo area, together with La Serena, Las Tacas, and Guanaqueros, presents a number of the finest diving on the mainland. The water is a bit cooler than the north, and there isn’t the biodiversity discovered within the extra distant areas, but it surely’s a lot simpler to get to.
La Serena is a brief flight from Santiago. As soon as there, you possibly can drive or take a taxi to Las Tacas (11 km/7 mi) or Guanaqueros (35 km/21 mi).
Las Tacas is thought for dramatic underwater topography, together with tunnels and partitions, clear water and considerable marine life. Divers can anticipate to see colleges of castañetas, several types of crustaceans, some groupers, colourful sponges, nudibranchs and anemones. Pleasant sea lions hang around close to the rocks and dolphins are typically seen topside.
Guanaqueros presents calm, sandy-bottomed bays and is good for freshmen.
Water temperatures within the Coquimbo vary from 14°C to 18°C (57°F to 64°F). Some divers could also be comfy in a 7mm wetsuit with a hood, others might want a dry go well with.
Pichidangui is a part of the Coquimbo area however nearer to Los Molles, so we’ll speak about these areas collectively.
Scuba Diving Close to Santiago: Quintay, Los Molles & Pichidangui
Pichidangui, although a part of Coquimbo, is definitely nearer to Santiago. The laid-back city is 198 km/123 miles northwest of the Chilean capital. There are a number of dive websites, however locals suggest El Penitente.
Simply 13 km/8 miles south of Pichidangui and 187 kilometers/116 miles northwest of Santiago is Los Molles. This seashore city is thought for colourful marine life and a sea lion colony at La Lobera. Tres Islas and Piedra del Bilagay are advisable for brand new divers.
Quintay, situated roughly 121 kilometers/79 miles west of Santiago, can be wealthy in biodiversity. Advisable dive websites embrace El Falucho, a sunken whaling ship and La Lobera de Curaumilla, dwelling to a sea lion colony. Los Jardines is called for a sheltered kelp forest.
In case your time is proscribed, Quintay could also be the best choice. Dives are much less prone to be cancelled resulting from climate.
Water temperatures on this space vary from 12°C to 16°C/54°F to 61°F. Dry fits are strongly advisable.
Archipelago Juan Fernández
The Juan Fernández Archipelago, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve off the coast of Chile, has an thrilling array of underwater life — 62% of species are discovered nowhere else on Earth. Anticipate to see Juan Fernández fur seals, sea turtles, golden lobsters and plenty of colourful reef fish. There’s additionally an opportunity to see Magellanic penguins and dolphins.
Standard dive websites embrace:
- Cumberland Bay
- Isla Alejandro Selkirk
- Santa Clara Island
Attending to Juan Fernández Archipelago requires a flight from Santiago to Valparaíso, adopted by a two-hour flight to the archipelago, which incorporates Robinson Crusoe Island. The UNESCO designation means entry is proscribed, so that you’ll have to e book your dives earlier than you arrive in Chile.
Visibility peaks from November to April. Throughout this time, water temperatures vary between 18 and 23°C/64 and 73°F. The warmest water temps are December by March.
Diving within the Juan Fernández Archipelago might be difficult. It is strongly recommended for knowledgeable divers solely.
Rapa Nui (Easter Island)
Easter Island, often known as Rapa Nui and Isla de Pascua, is among the most distant islands on the earth. The dry local weather and lack of runoff create astonishing visibility; 60 meters/200 ft is taken into account common.
The underwater panorama contains dramatic lava formations, caves, cliffs and a 7.6-meter/25-foot moai statue. Most dive websites are a brief boat trip from the principle harbor.
Notable dive websites embrace:
- The Cathedral, a surprising lava tube
- The Moai Web site
- Acantilado
- The Nice Wall
- The Misplaced Arch
Easter Island doesn’t have numerous coral, however there’s an abundance of marine life, together with greater than 100 endemic critters, such because the Easter Island butterflyfish. Divers can anticipate to see inexperienced sea turtles, moray eels and a wide range of macro life.
Did we point out Easter Island is distant? From Santiago, it’s a five-hour flight to Rapa Nui.
Water temps are 18-24°C/66-72°F. A 7mm wetsuit with a hood is strongly advisable. Should you get chilly simply, put on a drysuit.
There are a number of PADI Dive Outlets on Easter Island, however the closest decompression chamber is again on the mainland. We hope you’re all the time doing buddy checks and diving throughout the limits of your coaching and expertise, but it surely’s particularly necessary in distant areas.
Punta Arenas
Many cruise ships certain for the Antarctic depart from Punta Arenas. It’s know as “the gateway to Antarctica.”
For sure, the water is chilly. However it’s a tremendous dive spot for adventurous divers. The Strait of Magellan is dwelling to greater than 100 shipwrecks, and the Cape Horn present attracts whales and dolphins, together with the bizarre Commerson’s Dolphins.
The perfect time to dive in Punta Arenas is from December to March, when daytime are longest. A dry go well with is a should. Water temperatures common round 2°C/35.6°F and by no means get above 7°C/45°F.
The San Isidro Lighthouse is among the high dive websites within the space. If you wish to expertise wreck diving in southern Chile, contact a dive store prematurely. Particular permits could also be required.
Diving in Chile is an journey. Get in contact with a PADI Dive Store to plan your dives on this extremely lovely nation.
