Reefwander

Lago Nahuel Huapi & Bariloche · Argentina · Wall · Freshwater

Isla de las Gallinas

A pine trunk carved with the figure of Neptune, sunk off the island

Isla de las Gallinas is an island two kilometres off the shore of Lago Nahuel Huapi near Bariloche, where a sandy shallow gives way to a carved rock wall. Divers come for the clear lake water and for a pine trunk carved with the figure of Neptune that rests on the bottom off the island.

Where it is and how deep

Depth profile of Isla de las Gallinas: typical dive to 30 m (to 100 ft) 18 m · Open Water30 m · Advanced40 m · Recreational limit30 mtypical dive
Depths on a shared scale to 40 m (130 ft); dashed lines mark common certification limits.

41.0958° S, 71.3834° WApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.

The dive

The dive starts over a shallow sandy beach beside the mooring, then drops along a carved rock wall that falls to about 30 m; the deepest part of the wall is left to the most experienced divers. A two-tonne pine trunk carved with the silhouette of Neptune lies at 15 m, and visibility around the island can reach about 22 m.

Marine life and season

The sources we used don't single out particular species here.

Month-by-month season rating for Isla de las Gallinas
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PrimePrimePrimePrimeGoodFairFairFairGoodGoodPrimePrime

Season follows Lago Nahuel Huapi & Bariloche: November to April is the best season; the seasonal schools close after Easter while the centre on Lago Moreno dives all year, and the winter lake is 2 to 4 °C.

Sources

  1. Buceo en Isla de las Gallinas — Welcome Argentina
  2. Buceo en agua dulce: lagos de la cordillera — Página/12
  3. Isla de las Gallinas — OpenStreetMap

Similar dives elsewhere

Wall

Kohlbauernaufsatz

Attersee · Austria

A rowing boat nicknamed the 'Titanic' sits at 32 m below the Unterach wall

to 32 mintermediate

Wall

Der Steilhang

Kreidesee Hemmoor · Germany

A near-vertical quarry wall falling to 35 m, then sloping on to 55 m

1–55 madvanced

Wall

Der Wald

Kreidesee Hemmoor · Germany

Drowned trees on the slope, best seen flying over the canopy at 25 m

25–55 madvanced

Wall

Meersburg Plätzle

Lake Constance · Germany

A stepped, broken wall with large pike close to the ferry lane

to 22 madvanced