Puno Region dive sites

At 3,812 metres above sea level, Lake Titicaca presents unique altitude diving challenges. The reduced atmospheric pressure means decompression tables must be adjusted significantly, as standard recreational tables are designed for sea level. Divers need at least 48 hours to acclimatise to the altitude before diving, and many experience altitude sickness during the acclimatisation period. Nitrox is rarely available locally.

Archaeological expeditions have discovered submerged Inca and pre-Inca stone structures, terraces, and ritual objects in the shallow waters around the lake's islands. The most significant finds have been near Isla del Sol in Bolivia, where underwater ruins date back to the Tiwanaku civilisation. While most of these sites are accessed by scientific expeditions, some recreational dive operators offer guided dives to accessible archaeological features.

Telmatobius culeus, the Lake Titicaca giant frog, is an endangered species endemic to the lake. These remarkable amphibians can grow up to 50 centimetres long and have evolved extremely loose, baggy skin that increases their surface area for absorbing oxygen directly from the water. They are rarely seen by divers as they prefer deeper water, but they represent one of the most unique endemic species in any freshwater diving destination.