Scuba

What It Feels Like

Gorgona and neighboring Gorgonilla protect a rare meeting of humid rainforest, rocky underwater relief and coral reef habitat in the Colombian Pacific. Authorized-vessel divers can encounter whitetip reef sharks, turtles, large reef fish and seasonal pelagic visitors. Current access is expedition-led, not walk-in resort diving: the park names Ferox and SeaWolf as authorized dive vessels. Reported sites include La Tiburonera, El Planchon, Plaza de Toros and Las Montanitas. Strong currents, changing visibility and deeper exposures make the operator's site-by-site assessment essential. Park activity and vessel list; Gorgona site reference.

Signature Sites

Start Here

El Remanso
Named among the former concession dive locations.

Advanced

La Tiburonera
A well-known rocky shark site; an older site guide describes whitetip reef shark resting spaces and a variable-current, advanced profile near 25 m.
El Planchon
A named historic wreck/slope site; the older guide describes roughly 10 m to 20 m dives, with references to shallow familiarization and nocturnal operations.
Las Montanitas
Offshore rocky relief with strong reported currents and some deeper profiles.

Planning Playbook

Operator Checklist

Obtain a specific written dive itinerary and confirmation of the permitted vessel, park admission and diver minimums before arranging domestic air travel.
The park lists day visits only on land. Multi-night accommodation, when booked, is on the expedition boat, not in Gorgona's former lodge.
Ask whether Nitrox, tanks, regulators, exposure suits, SMB/PLB, oxygen, insurance and night dives are included. Certified-only night dives are advertised, but each trip must confirm the approved site and conditions.
Keep an appropriate no-fly interval after repetitive dives and establish the operator's evacuation and decompression emergency plan. Current park access; vessel equipment examples; DAN no-fly guidance.

Conditions Fallback

The park lists day visits only on land. Multi-night accommodation, when booked, is on the expedition boat, not in Gorgona's former lodge.
Keep an appropriate no-fly interval after repetitive dives and establish the operator's evacuation and decompression emergency plan. Current park access; vessel equipment examples; DAN no-fly guidance.

Avoid

Do not rely on the former concession's claim of a resident PADI instructor, permanent rental center or fixed motorboat departure times.

Scuba In 30 Seconds

Best Window: Dec-Mar for historically reported deeper-water visibility; Jul-Sep for the humpback-season expedition atmosphere
Typical Level: Advanced Open Water and prior boat/ocean-current experience for typical multi-dive expeditions; particular easy sites may suit Open Water divers only if an authorized operator accepts them - Historic published site examples range from 10 m at El Planchon to roughly 39 m at Plaza de Toros; use personal certification limits, not the deepest site maximum as a goal.
Start Here: La Tiburonera, El Planchon, Las Montanitas
Risk To Watch: No tourist accommodation on the island

Bring List

Bring

SMB
Personal locator beacon if provided or required
Exposure suit suitable for variable thermoclines; operator reports 5mm to 7mm suits
Dry bag and seasickness prevention
Reef-safe sun protection

Optional

Dive computer and certification card
Check DIN/INT adapters and cylinder options