🇨🇴Snorkeling, Freediving, and Scuba in Colombia

Caribbean Sea

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North Pacific Ocean

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Tropical East Pacific

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Tropical Northwestern Atlantic

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Panama Bight

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Southern Caribbean

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Southwestern Caribbean

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Arrecife Norte

Arrecife Norte is situated at the northern section of the reef platform surrounding Isla Fuerte. The dive begins at a depth of 8 meters and features a vertical wall that extends down to 15 meters. Beyond this point, the depth gradually descends among coral mounds, reaching a maximum of 24 meters. The site is well-preserved, showcasing a diverse array of reef fish, with occasional sightings of larger species such as Sabalos, Cod, nurse sharks, and sting rays.

9.4049, -76.1919

Bajo Alicia

Bajo Alicia features a small reef ridge with depths ranging from 11 to 60 feet (5 to 18 meters), primarily composed of branching elkhorn corals. The site is characterized by its stable conditions throughout the year, making it suitable for divers of all experience levels. Notably, Bajo Alicia has a significant variety of coral species in excellent condition, contributing to its ecological importance. Divers can observe the annual expansion of coral in this area.

9.3962, -76.1688

Bajo de los Pargos

Bajo de los Pargos is situated on the western edge of the island shelf, featuring depths ranging from 15 meters to 24 meters. The dive site begins in a sandy area interspersed with coral patches, gradually sloping down to a cliff where divers can observe jacks and snappers that come from the open sea. The presence of shy snappers, which eventually reveal themselves, contributes to the site's name. This site is suitable for divers of all experience levels.

9.3930, -76.2113

Bajo Mariajo

Bajo Mariajo is a dive site with depths ranging from 5 to 11 meters (15 to 36 feet). It features a small coral structure located just a couple of minutes from the shore in a coastal area that is generally calm, making it suitable for skill development dives, including buoyancy training and Open Water certification courses. The site is also favorable for night dives, where divers can observe a diverse range of invertebrates, including basket stars.

9.3817, -76.1706

Barco Hundido / Blue Diamond Wreck

Barco Hundido, also known as the Blue Diamond Wreck, is a sunken cargo ship located at a depth of 12 meters (40 feet). The wreck is accessible for scuba divers, freedivers, and snorkelers, with marine life primarily consisting of small fish surrounding it. The site is suitable for all skill levels, though it features a small wreck, so expectations should be managed.

12.5359, -81.7348

Blue Wall (Blue Hole)

Blue Wall is an outer reef slope featuring a canyon that divers can swim through. The site is home to grey reef sharks, nurse sharks, large parrotfish, lobsters, and moray eels, with depths ranging from 8 to over 50 meters, typically reaching around 40 meters for most dives.

12.4974, -81.7156

Burbujas

Burbujas is located approximately 10 kilometers northeast of Isla Fuerte, featuring depths ranging from 18 to 30 meters (60 to 100 feet). This site is characterized by an underwater mud volcano that rises from a depth of 120 meters, culminating in a small crater at 18 meters. The area is rich in biodiversity, hosting numerous coral species, with notable black corals and barrel sponges that resemble large train stacks.

9.4017, -76.2633

Canal del Inglés

Canal del Inglés offers a dive experience that begins at a depth of 7 meters and extends down to 21 meters. Divers will navigate through channels lined with stellate coral (Montastrea) and encounter calcareous sand floors. The dive progresses from the reef crest to the slope, where large coral formations are present, alongside black corals and various sponges. While exploring, divers may also spot nurse sharks resting beneath the corals.

9.4023, -76.1670

Canto del Bajito

Canto del Bajito features a wall dive characterized by medium visibility. The wall is adorned with various corals and sponges, with notable cup corals, locally referred to as cupons, found at the base of the cliff, some reaching heights over 2 meters. Divers can observe a variety of marine life, including large puffer fish, cubera snapper, and grouper. Additionally, small reef fish, lobsters, and urchins can be seen in the area.

9.7979, -75.6761

Complejo Aquatico Medellin

Complejo Aquatico Medellin serves as the largest facility in Colombia dedicated to aquatic and underwater activities. It functions as a comprehensive training center catering to individuals of all ages, including children, youth, and adults, across various aquatic disciplines. The site is frequently utilized for national and international competitions, showcasing its extensive infrastructure. Entry to the site is via shore access, making it convenient for participants to engage in their activities directly from land.

6.2545, -75.5906

El Bajo

El Bajo is located approximately 25 minutes from the port of Bahia Solano. The dive site features four main rounded rocks with depths ranging from 8 to 10 meters, while three larger rocks reach depths between 12 and 18 meters, marking the maximum depth of the site. The area is rich in marine life, hosting both resident and visiting species, including whale sharks, humpback whales, and various nudibranchs. This site is accessible by boat.

6.2982, -77.4564

El Jardín

El Jardín is accessible from the shore and offers a diving experience suitable for all levels, including beginners. The dive site features a reef edge where divers can explore depths starting at 5 meters and extending to approximately 14 meters. The area is rich in marine life, showcasing a variety of fish, crustaceans, and mollusks. Divers can also observe both hard and soft corals, along with sponges. This site is particularly favorable for night dives due to its diverse ecosystem.

9.7953, -75.6625

El Planchón

El Planchón is a shore dive site featuring a 70-year-old wreck that lies at a depth of 10 meters (30 feet). The wreck measures 30 meters in length and extends 2 meters above the seabed, creating a habitat for various marine organisms. Its structure is heavily colonized, providing shelter for a diverse range of fish species, including barracudas, jacks, grunts, groupers, and even sea horses. The site offers a unique opportunity to explore the wreck's interior, which serves as a refuge for marine life.

9.3444, -76.1803

Esquina Norte

Esquina Norte features a reef platform that shifts direction at a narrow angle, marking the northernmost point of the reef. The depth ranges from 8 to 22 meters, where large coral formations create a channel-like structure. Divers can expect to encounter various marine species, including cubera snappers, rays, cobia, cod, and jacks. Notable coral types in the area include giant elkhorn corals and brain corals, particularly between 8 and 12 meters.

9.4086, -76.1950

La Corniza

La Corniza features a vertical wall that descends from 8 meters to 21 meters. The structure includes coral ledges and sandy bottoms composed of limestone. Nurse sharks are often observed in this area. The wall is home to black whip corals, where divers can spot small pencil shrimps. Additionally, stingrays are commonly seen resting on the sandy floor at the deeper depths of 21 meters.

9.4043, -76.1906

La Catedral

La Catedral is located at the northern tip of Malpelo Island. The site features a pinnacle that rises from a sandy bottom at 18 meters (60 feet) and has a tunnel passing through it, which is lined with corals and sponges. Divers can expect to see marine life such as tunas, grunts, snappers, eels, eagle rays, and whitetip reef sharks.

4.0133, -81.6065

Malpelo

Malpelo is an oceanic island situated in the Pacific Ocean, under the jurisdiction of the Republic of Colombia and the department of Valle del Cauca. This rocky archipelago is surrounded by deep waters, making it an ideal location for encounters with large marine species, including hammerhead sharks, manta rays, and silky sharks. Access to Malpelo is restricted and requires special permission, with diving typically conducted from liveaboard vessels.

4.0028, -81.6089

Palomo

Palomo is a dive site accessible from the shore, featuring sandy areas interspersed with surrounding reef structures. It is suitable for both certified divers and those in training, particularly in confined water settings. The site showcases a diverse array of marine life, including various corals, sponges, reef fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and rays.

9.7921, -75.6619

Piscina Olimpica U.N. Medellin

The Olympic Pool at the National University of Medellin serves as a facility for training and competition in aquatic and underwater disciplines. Situated at the El Volador headquarters of the university, it provides convenient access and ample parking for visitors. This site is primarily utilized for indoor diving activities and training purposes.

6.2644, -75.5773

SalaCuna

SalaCuna features coral formations that rise to within 8 meters of the surface, with depths extending to 22 meters. The site includes a cliff adorned with lettuce corals on one side, while the remainder of the area has a gentle slope. A diverse array of marine life can be observed here, including small fish, crustaceans, squid, as well as larger species such as puffer fish, groupers, and snappers, often seen in schools.

9.7982, -75.6754

Salidero 39L9

El Salidero is for advanced divers due to strong currents. Dive depths can vary, revealing diverse coral gardens and marine life. Water temperatures range from 21°C (70°F) in winter to 28°C (82°F) in summer, with the best visibility from December to April, reaching up to 30 meters (100 feet).

11.3104, -74.1932

Trampa Tortuga

Trampa Tortuga is a dive site at a depth of approximately 20 meters (66 feet) with medium currents and visibility exceeding 20 meters. Divers can expect to see various corals, sea fans, sponges, and marine life such as barracudas, groupers, and parrotfish while exploring canyons and small caves.

12.5393, -81.6826

West Point

West Point features a coral garden at depths of 12 to 20 meters (40-66 feet) with a drop-off extending beyond 45 meters (150 feet). Divers can observe various marine life, including reef fish, parrotfish, angelfish, barracudas, jacks, stingrays, moray eels, lobsters, and sea turtles. The site is suitable for all skill levels due to minimal current and excellent visibility of over 30 meters (100 feet).

12.4957, -81.7370