Country

Diving in Colombia

6 dive destinations in Colombia, up to 1,210 km apart. Water temperature across them runs 17–30 °C. All 6 are in season in Jul–Aug. 22 named dive sites have their own pages.

Malpelo · photo Jdmacarenoq

Destinations: 6
Dive sites: 22
Water: 17–30°C
Most in season: Jul–Aug

RegionsEastern Pacific Caribbean

Where are the dive destinations in Colombia?

Numbers match the table below. Land outline: Natural Earth (public domain).

How do they compare?

Conditions at each dive destination in Colombia
#	Destination	Best months	Water	Visibility	Depth	Level	Access	Sites
1	Providencia & San AndrésThe western hemisphere's third-largest barrier reef, 700 km from anywhere	Dec–Apr	26–29°C	20–40 m	5–35 m	Beginner	Day boat	2
2	Santa Marta & TayronaCold upwelling makes Colombia's Caribbean coast unexpectedly productive	Jun–Sep	20–29°C	5–25 m	5–30 m	Beginner	Shore, Day boat	2
3	Bahía SolanoHumpback song fills every dive from July through October	Jul–Oct	26–29°C	5–20 m	10–30 m	Intermediatesites from intermediate to advanced	Day boat	5
4	Nuquí & the Gulf of TribugáRock formations south of Nuquí draw groupers, jacks and several shark species	Mar–Aug	25–30°C	—	5–30 m	Intermediatesites from intermediate to advanced	Day boat	3
5	MalpeloHammerhead schools of 200-plus circle La Nevera's cold-water cleaning station	May–Dec	17–28°C	10–30 m	15–30 m	Advancedsites from intermediate to advanced	Liveaboard	7
6	Gorgona IslandHundreds of whitetip reef sharks pile up in the shallows at El Remolino	Jul–Sep	25–29°C	5–20 m	10–30 m	Intermediatesites from intermediate to advanced	Day boat	3

When is the best time to dive Colombia?

The most destinations are rated good or prime at the same time in Jul–Aug: 6 of 6. Each row is one destination's own season rating.

Season rating by month for each dive destination in Colombia
Destination	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
1Providencia & San Andrés	Prime	Prime	Prime	Prime	Good	Good	Good	Good	Fair	Fair	Good	Prime
2Santa Marta & Tayrona	Fair	Fair	Fair	Good	Good	Prime	Prime	Prime	Prime	Good	Good	Fair
3Bahía Solano	Good	Good	Good	Fair	Fair	Good	Prime	Prime	Prime	Prime	Fair	Fair
4Nuquí & the Gulf of Tribugá	Good	Good	Prime	Prime	Prime	Prime	Prime	Prime	Good	Good	Good	Good
5Malpelo	Good	Good	Good	Good	Prime	Prime	Prime	Prime	Prime	Prime	Prime	Prime
6Gorgona Island	Good	Good	Prime	Prime	Good	Fair	Prime	Prime	Prime	Good	Fair	Fair
Good or prime	5	5	5	5	5	5	6	6	5	5	4	3

Which destinations combine into one trip?

Destinations that fit within 200 km of each other end to end and share at least one month rated good or prime. Distances are straight lines between destinations, not travel routes.

60 km end to end

In season together: Jan–Mar and Jun–Oct