Safety · Destination Guide
Cartagena and the Rosario Islands
Historic Cartagena, protected Rosario reefs and island days within one trip.
Safety · Destination Guide
Historic Cartagena, protected Rosario reefs and island days within one trip.
Choose an authorized vessel and operator, monitor DIMAR decisions, register for permitted park activities and show proof of the required visitor accident-assistance policy. Marine conservation is integral to each trip: never touch coral or turtles, use permitted moorings, avoid single-use plastics and take waste home. Island emergency transport can be weather-dependent. Advance planning matters more than confident marketing language.
Confirm certification, recent diving experience, medical fitness, dive computer, planned maximum depth, guide-to-diver ratio, current, emergency oxygen, boat communications and site authorization before diving. The park's 2007 resolution distinguishes scuba from snorkeling zones and gives the park authority power to close sites. Never assume a historic site list remains open or safe. Keep buddy contact and a conservative gas reserve. Do not intentionally enter wrecks, caves or overhead areas on a standard recreational trip. DAN advises at least 18 hours before flying after repetitive no-decompression dives (at least 12 after one single no-stop dive); more time is prudent and different dive profiles require a longer interval.
For injury or suspected decompression sickness, activate local emergency response first and arrange medical assessment and surface oxygen via trained responders; then call DAN for consultation. The park reported in June 2026 first-aid points and emergency ambulance boats in the wider protected area, including Isla Grande, but those reports are not a dispatch-time guarantee. The Colombian Navy reported opening a Cartagena Naval Hospital hyperbaric center in 2019; current chamber status, eligibility, acceptance of civilian patients and travel time are unconfirmed, so ask the operator for a verified destination-specific evacuation plan. Keep dive-insurance policy contacts available offline.
Wind, swell and restricted departures
DIMAR/Capitania decisions outrank tour confirmations; February 2026 restrictions are a real example. Never pressure a captain to depart.
Separate park visitor insurance
Since March 2026 the park has required approved accident-assistance insurance for visitors, separate from admission and any personal dive cover.
Coral-contact and unauthorized-site risk
Park rules prohibit harming coral, unapproved sites and damaging anchoring. Site lists from 2007 must be confirmed against current zoning.
Boat, current and swim hazards
Wear life jackets aboard, reject overcrowding, and match snorkel or dive sites to actual swimming and training ability. Choose a trip with rescue provisions.
Under park advice do not stand on or touch coral, remove shells or wildlife, anchor on coral or seagrass, bring single-use plastics into protected areas, leave litter, or disturb animals. Boat captains must respect authorized navigation routes, permitted moorings and quiet zones. Some areas are sensitive to visitor pressure and anchor damage, as the municipality noted in September 2026. Buy community-led services in Orika where possible, but confirm local consent and site rules; avoid touching or feeding turtles, rays or fish. Coral restoration activities require permission and qualified oversight.
Do Not Do This
Avoid entering when wind, swell and restricted departures. Confirm local briefings before committing.
| Contact | Role | Phone | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colombia emergency services | General emergency dispatch, Cartagena | 123 | Emergency service; call promptly for life-threatening incidents |
| Colombian Coast Guard / Armada Nacional | Emergency at sea and maritime rescue | 146 | Maritime emergency contact; call when needed |
| Divers Alert Network | Dive-medicine emergency consultation and coordination after local EMS activation | +1 919 684 9111 | 24 hours a day, every day |