🇵🇪Peru

Site and Boat Readiness

• Book with a properly credentialed operator that can name the exact site, briefing language, guide qualifications, limits, oxygen supply, communication method, surface support, rescue plan and current vessel permission.
• Reassess visibility, current, swell, surges, kelp, water quality and marine traffic on the day. A port closure or prohibited area is not negotiable.
• In the north, avoid unauthorized fishing-pier entries, unapproved reserve-sector outings and close wildlife approaches. In Pucusana, keep out of harbor traffic and kelp entanglement hazards. In Paracas, require written clarity on underwater permissions.
• Introductory scuba requires qualified instructor supervision. Freediving requires an independent trained safety buddy and rescue setup; never train alone or hyperventilate.

After Diving

DAN gives minimum preflight surface intervals of 12 hours after a single no-decompression dive and 18 hours after repetitive or multiple-day no-decompression dives. Longer intervals are more conservative, and dives requiring decompression need substantially longer planning. Rapid road ascent into the Andes also deserves medical and dive-computer guidance. With possible decompression illness, stop diving, call local medical services, administer oxygen only with suitable training and equipment, seek urgent medical evaluation and do not fly.

Coastal clinics and hospitals vary greatly in emergency, evacuation and recompression capability. Do not rely on a named local hyperbaric chamber without current proof of operational readiness, staffed acceptance, pressure capability and transport arrangements. Peru publishes 105 for police, 116 for firefighters/rescue and 106 for SAMU medical emergency service where available; SAMU dispatch coverage varies by region and needs local confirmation, particularly around Paracas/Ica. For diving medicine, involve DAN after local emergency services and the receiving hospital have been contacted. Give the emergency dispatcher the exact boat coordinates, harbor, coastline reference, patient symptoms and callback number. Carry the operator's written evacuation plan and insurance details.

The Mar Tropical de Grau National Reserve was established by Supreme Decree 003-2024-MINAM and comprises separate sectors including Isla Foca, Cabo Blanco-El Nuro, Punta Sal reefs and Banco Mancora. Paracas National Reserve and the Ballestas sector of the island/islet/guano-headland reserve have different management and visitor rules. Follow SERNANP-permitted routes, observe from authorized boats and never assume a sightseeing ticket is a scuba or snorkeling authorization.

Peru's cetacean rules require at least 100 m separation from large whales, or 300 m during feeding/social activity, and prohibit approaching mothers with calves. The 2026 MINCETUR turtle-observation guidance supports non-contact viewing; never bait, handle or chase turtles. Protect kelp and rocks from anchoring damage, remove fishing line where safely possible with trained guides, do not collect wildlife, and leave no waste. Report stranded or distressed marine animals to competent local authorities rather than touching them.