South America’s repertoire of magical and weird dive websites set the stage for a number of the finest diving on this planet — and that’s not an exaggeration.

With the coral-rich waters of the Caribbean Sea within the north, the out-of-this-world dive websites of the Pacific Ocean within the west, and the something-for-everyone diving within the Atlantic Ocean within the east, diving in South America is as diverse as it’s thrilling.

No matter your expertise stage and finances, you possibly can anticipate wonderful visibility, large and small marine life, and gorgeous wrecks. Underwater photographers, dive junkies, and adventurous vacationers are all positive to get pleasure from diving right here.

With out additional ado, beneath are the 5 finest diving locations in South America.

1. Galápagos Islands, Ecuador

The Galápagos Islands had been made for lovers of marine life. Right here you’ll discover each accessible and distant dive websites, protected areas and robust currents – one thing for each stage of diver.

As probably the greatest diving locations in South America, diving within the Galápagos will not be solely exceptionally lovely but in addition a uncommon deal with. A UNESCO World Heritage web site situated nearly 600 miles (1,000km) away from mainland Ecuador, the Galápagos Islands have a distinctive ecosystem discovered nowhere else on this planet, as documented by Charles Darwin in his research of evolution.

The hottest dive spots are Darwin Island and Wolf Island, which have one of many world’s largest populations of sharks, rays, turtles, and whale sharks. You adon’t need to miss Roca Redonda both, the place there’s an underwater volcano dwelling to extra sharks and sea lions.

Due to the Galápagos’ delicate biodiversity, the world is a extremely popular vacation spot for scuba divers and common vacationers alike. Most individuals who go to the islands decide to discover them on a liveaboard. To safe your spot, plan your dive journey properly upfront.

2. Colombia

Colombia is the one nation in Latin America that has coastlines on each the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, giving divers entry to the perfect of each worlds.

On the Caribbean facet, you’ll discover the third largest barrier reef on this planet. Diving highlights embody Santa Marta, San Andrés and Providencia, the place the calm, shallow waters are good for rookies. For the extra skilled divers, there are additionally drift dives and wrecks.

On the Pacific facet, you’ll discover hammerheads, manta rays, whale sharks, and different pelagics. For the perfect dive experiences, head to Malpelo Island. Accessible solely by way of liveaboard, this marine protected space has epic drift and deep dives which are solely appropriate for knowledgeable Superior Open Water Divers.

3. Venezuela

Admittedly, the diving scene in Venezuela has flown beneath the radar for years, however Venezuela has the longest shoreline on the Caribbean Sea of any nation in South America. As such, it has lots of of islands, cays, and marine parks with clear waters, wholesome coral formations, and an enormous number of marine species. You’ll be able to see tropical fish, nurse sharks, sea turtles, and even manta rays.

One of the best place to dive in Venezuela is Los Roques Nationwide Park. Recognized for its picture-perfect dive websites, this archipelago is well thought-about probably the greatest diving locations in South America. With one thing for everybody, Venezuela flaunts shallow reefs, steep coral partitions, and large underwater mountains.

4. Brazil

Brazil’s intensive shoreline on the Atlantic Ocean means there’s an enormous number of dive websites to discover. As a mirrored image of Brazil’s wealthy ecosystem, each dive web site has completely different visibility ranges, water temperatures, and underwater points of interest.

The must-see dive vacation spot in Brazil is Fernando de Noronha. It’s thought-about a diver’s paradise not solely in South America however worldwide. With completely different dive websites for divers of all expertise ranges, this volcanic archipelago boasts near-perfect visibility, vibrant reefs, and colourful marine life, together with spinner dolphins and sea turtles.

For wreck diving, Recife is the place to go to. It has over 100 wrecks and is subsequently a window into Brazil’s historic and cultural tapestry. The wrecks date from the sixteenth century via to WWII. There are additionally some newer synthetic reefs.

5. Chile

For the adventurous diver, Chile’s Pacific shoreline is dotted with a few of South America’s finest dive websites. Water temperatures vary between 57°-70°F (14°-21°C), so that you’ll want a drysuit to dive in Chile.

The most important draw right here is Easter Island (aka Rapa Nui), the place wonderful visibility means that you can benefit from the distant island’s pristine coral reefs and volcanic rock formations in all their primal magnificence. One other high diving spot is Quintay, the place there are shallow wrecks and wall dives.

Even shore dives from the mainland in Chile present an unbelievable show of marine life, together with kelp forests, sea lions, sea urchins, and starfish. And excessive up within the Andes Mountains, you’ll discover high-altitude lake diving, too.

Able to Dive in South America?

If South America’s divers dive websites are calling to you, plan and set up your dive journey utilizing PADI Journey, the place you possibly can simply discover and e book your journey. There are lots of of liveaboards, dive resorts and dive facilities ready to indicate you the wonders of the underwater world throughout this continent.

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