Dive sites in Colombia
Browse by region, city or dive type to find suitable locations for your experience level.
Regions
All dive sites
Capurgana
Capurgana · Choco Department · Colombia
A roadless Caribbean village on Colombia's border with Panama where untouched coral reefs thrive in the warm, clear waters of the Gulf of Uraba, reachable only by boat or small aircraft.
Gorgona Island
Guapi · Colombian Pacific · Colombia
A former prison island turned national park in Colombia's Pacific, where vibrant coral reefs host whitetip sharks, turtles, and seasonal humpback whale encounters.
Malpelo Island
Buenaventura · Colombian Pacific · Colombia
A remote UNESCO-listed volcanic pinnacle in the eastern Pacific, renowned for massive schools of hammerhead sharks and rare smalltooth sand tiger sharks.
Islas del Rosario
Cartagena · Corales del Rosario National Park · Colombia
A 23-island Caribbean archipelago just off Cartagena, housing Colombia's most accessible coral reefs with over 28 dive sites in a protected national park.
Tayrona National Park
Santa Marta · Magdalena · Colombia
Colombia's most biodiverse marine park where the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta plunges into the Caribbean, sheltering coral reefs, sea turtles, and reef sharks among granite boulders and tropical jungle backdrop.
Taganga Granate Bay
Santa Marta · Magdalena Department · Colombia
A sheltered bay east of Taganga village where volcanic boulders create a maze of swim-throughs harbouring seahorses, frogfish, and dense coral growth in Colombia's most affordable diving region.
Providencia Island
Santa Isabel · San Andres and Providencia Archipelago · Colombia
A remote Colombian Caribbean island surrounded by the world's third-largest barrier reef, offering pristine wall dives, untouched coral gardens, and the legendary sea of seven colours.
Blue Wall (Pared Azul)
San Andrés · San Andrés Archipelago · Colombia
A dramatic vertical wall on San Andrés Island's western coast dropping from the world's third-largest barrier reef into deep Caribbean blue, renowned for its spectacular sponge diversity and eagle ray encounters.
Playa Grande
Santa Marta · Taganga, Santa Marta · Colombia
A colourful Caribbean reef near the fishing village of Taganga, perfect for beginners and open-water students with calm waters and abundant tropical fish.
Dive centers in Colombia
Diving Planet
Cartagena · Bolívar · Colombia
PADI 5-Star center in Cartagena offering diving at the Rosario Islands with coral reefs and Caribbean marine life.
Poseidon Dive Center
San Andrés · San Andrés · Colombia
PADI center on San Andrés island offering diving in the UNESCO Seaflower Biosphere Reserve with 30m+ visibility.
Karib Divers
Santa Marta · Magdalena · Colombia
PADI center in Santa Marta offering diving in Tayrona National Park with Colombia's most biodiverse Caribbean reefs.
Cartagena Divers Centro De Buceo PADI 5 Estrellas
Manga · Bolivar · Colombia
Diving Planet Cartagena - Centro de Buceo
Cl. 39 #8-24 PISO 2 · Bolivar · Colombia
BUZOS DE BARU PADI 5 STAR DIVE RESORT
Cra. 1 #2 87 Local 9 · Bolivar · Colombia
Caribe Colombiano Diving
Manga · Bolivar · Colombia
Paraiso Dive Cartagena
Bolivar · Bolivar · Colombia
Diving & Adventure Cartagena
Manga · Bolivar · Colombia
Scuba Cartagena Centro de buceo
Orika · Bolivar · Colombia
SepioDive
Manga · Bolivar · Colombia
Scubatai Club de Buceo
Bolivar · Bolivar · Colombia
Banda Dive Shop
Local 9 · San Andres · Colombia
Scuba San Andres
San Andrés · San Andres · Colombia
Diving Funs SAS
San Andrés · San Andres · Colombia
Dive center Sea Pride
Av Circunvalar #Km 11 Metro 800 · San Andres · Colombia
HANS DIVE SHOP
San Andrés · San Andres · Colombia
Felo Divers - Buceo en San Andres
N 10 7 · San Andres · Colombia
Clearwater dive center
5 · San Andres · Colombia
Eliecerdive
San Andrés · San Andres · Colombia
OCEAN HOUSE
San Andrés · San Andres · Colombia
Diving in Colombia
Dive sites in Colombia include reef, open-water, wall locations across Choco Department, Colombian Pacific, Corales del Rosario National Park, Magdalena, Magdalena Department, San Andres and Providencia Archipelago, San Andrés Archipelago, Taganga, Santa Marta. Each location includes depth, conditions and environment type to help you plan safely.
Use the region and city navigation above to narrow your search, or explore individual site pages for detailed conditions, entry type, skill requirements and nearby alternatives.
FAQ
How do I get to Capurgana for diving?
Capurgana has no road access and can only be reached by boat from Turbo or Necocli on the Gulf of Uraba coast, or by small aircraft from Medellin. The boat from Necocli takes approximately two hours and runs daily in the morning. Flights are available from Medellin on small prop planes but schedules are irregular and weather-dependent. Once in Capurgana, everything is walkable in the small village. There are a handful of basic but comfortable hotels, and the one dive operator typically runs morning two-tank trips to nearby reef sites.
What is the diving infrastructure like in Capurgana?
Diving infrastructure in Capurgana is basic compared to established Caribbean destinations. There is typically one dive operator with well-maintained equipment and bilingual guides. Tanks, weights, and standard rental gear are available, but divers with specific equipment preferences should bring their own. Nitrox is not available. The dive boats are pangas that reach the reef sites within 10 to 20 minutes. Dive sites are uncrowded and you will likely be the only boat at any given location. This stripped-down approach is part of the charm for divers seeking authenticity over resort amenities.
Is Capurgana safe to visit?
Capurgana has become increasingly safe and popular with Colombian and international travellers in recent years. The village is small, peaceful, and welcoming, with a community that depends on tourism. The region was historically affected by Colombia's internal conflict, but security has improved dramatically since the 2016 peace agreement. The main considerations are logistical rather than safety-related: limited ATMs mean bringing sufficient cash, medical facilities are basic, and transport schedules can be disrupted by weather. The diving community is small and tight-knit, and guides know the waters intimately.
What is the history of Gorgona Island?
Gorgona Island served as a high-security prison from 1960 to 1984, earning it the nickname Colombia's Alcatraz. The prison was closed and the island was declared a National Natural Park in 1985. Decades without fishing or development have allowed the reefs and marine life to recover spectacularly, making it one of Colombia's best-preserved marine ecosystems.
When is the best time to dive at Gorgona Island?
The best diving conditions run from May to October, when visibility improves and water temperatures are warmest. This period also coincides with humpback whale season from June to October, when mothers and calves from Antarctica migrate to these warm waters to breed. The park sometimes closes during the wettest months, so check access before planning a trip.