| DIVE SITES SANTA CATALINA (ISLAS CEBACO, OCTAVIA, PELONAS, CATIVO) |
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Presently (June 2004) we have explored around 12 dive sites in this area. All of them are in easy reach from Santa
Catalina in about 15 to 30 minutes. Many of the sites offer calm and easy diving - therefore we are doing also our
beginner courses here, some of them offer spectacular diving for experienced divers. But all of them are full of marine
life.
Some of the sites are close to the mainland and therefore from time to time more affected by rain and swell than others.
Rating:
* * * * * world class (red = difficult, only for experienced divers)
* * * * excellent (blue = medium, sometimes experience required)
* * * very good (green = easy, easy relaxed diving, also beginners)
* * good
* fair
Punta Pargo: rating * * * * * depth 30m/100ft +
5 km off the mainland, we discovered a formation of submerged rocks. They are covered with soft coral and inhabited by
literally thousands of fish. We usually anchor on top of the outmost rock which is home of hundreds of big snappers and
huge groupers. From there we are diving to other rocks, passing multitudes of moray eels, chubs, grunts, angel-,
butterfly-, surgeon- and puffer fish. Some of the rocks are frequented by schooling pelagics and if you are lucky you can
meet here whalesharks, manta- and eagle rays, pilot whales and even Orcas.
Bajo Cagao: rating * * * * depth 20m/70ft
Just off the SW tip of isla Cebaco towards the open sea is this excellent site. We are normally descending in the blue
water a distance away from the rock Bajo Cagao, where we are greeted by swarms of surgeons. Then we follow a
submerged rock formation with the current to the main rock. During the dive you can excpect to meet lots of moray eels,
schools of snappers, grunts, chubs, butterfly- and angel fish as well as schools of barracudas and jacks. Due to the
consistent current sweeping this rock, it is a good place to meet maybe mantas, turtles or hammerhead sharks.
Visit our logbook- and photosite for more information
Catalina in about 15 to 30 minutes. Many of the sites offer calm and easy diving - therefore we are doing also our
beginner courses here, some of them offer spectacular diving for experienced divers. But all of them are full of marine
life.
Some of the sites are close to the mainland and therefore from time to time more affected by rain and swell than others.
Rating:
* * * * * world class (red = difficult, only for experienced divers)
* * * * excellent (blue = medium, sometimes experience required)
* * * very good (green = easy, easy relaxed diving, also beginners)
* * good
* fair
Punta Pargo: rating * * * * * depth 30m/100ft +
5 km off the mainland, we discovered a formation of submerged rocks. They are covered with soft coral and inhabited by
literally thousands of fish. We usually anchor on top of the outmost rock which is home of hundreds of big snappers and
huge groupers. From there we are diving to other rocks, passing multitudes of moray eels, chubs, grunts, angel-,
butterfly-, surgeon- and puffer fish. Some of the rocks are frequented by schooling pelagics and if you are lucky you can
meet here whalesharks, manta- and eagle rays, pilot whales and even Orcas.
Bajo Cagao: rating * * * * depth 20m/70ft
Just off the SW tip of isla Cebaco towards the open sea is this excellent site. We are normally descending in the blue
water a distance away from the rock Bajo Cagao, where we are greeted by swarms of surgeons. Then we follow a
submerged rock formation with the current to the main rock. During the dive you can excpect to meet lots of moray eels,
schools of snappers, grunts, chubs, butterfly- and angel fish as well as schools of barracudas and jacks. Due to the
consistent current sweeping this rock, it is a good place to meet maybe mantas, turtles or hammerhead sharks.
Visit our logbook- and photosite for more information