Paracas National Reserve dive sites

Yes. The Islas Ballestas host large colonies of South American sea lions that are remarkably curious and playful around divers. Young sea lions in particular will approach closely, spinning and tumbling in the water. Encounters are most frequent near the rocky shores where the colonies haul out. The experience is thrilling but requires calm nerves as the sea lions can be quite boisterous.

The Humboldt Current brings cold, nutrient-rich water from the deep Pacific, and temperatures at Islas Ballestas typically range from 14 to 20 degrees Celsius. A 7mm wetsuit or semi-dry suit is essential, and many experienced cold-water divers opt for dry suits. The cold water is precisely what makes this site so productive biologically, fuelling dense kelp forests and attracting abundant marine life.

The dry season from May to September offers the calmest seas and best visibility, which can reach 15-20 metres on good days. This period also coincides with the most active sea lion season. Visibility can drop to under 8 metres during the wetter months due to plankton blooms and runoff. Water is coldest in September but conditions are most reliable overall from June to August.