Colombia - October

[Iain-le-roi]

Hi... I will be diving in Colombia in October but just wondered what sites people reccomend around Santa Marta, Tayrona, and Cartagena?? Also what dive schools they would reccomend in those areas especially with regards to saftey and standard of equipment.

Thanks

Iain

 

[Maxposeidon]

Hello Lian,

like i am a owner of a dive shop i am not to post any recomendations.
Generally I can tell you the october usually starts the big rainy season in Santa Marta,
so normally vis can be very limited, Water temp, aroeund 28°, but at the moment you never know. August was with very strong rainfalls in, which never rained in the years before. Cartgena iin general has warmer waters and better vis.
You can check out dive shops on padis webside and check.
Hope this helps.

Max

 

[Savoir]

I would recommend that you shop around in Taganga. All of the dive centers are located pretty close. I went with Calipso since they were a better value. I found that Poseidon had the best equipment (only one with air quality certificate).

 

[dustin84]

Hello,
Last September I did my PADI Advanced Open Water with Andreas at Diving Planet in Cartegena, and my experience was positive. His English is very understandable (but not perfect). We did the class on Islas del Rosario, which, in my opinion was much nicer diving than the Taganga area. The reef was in beautiful shape out there, but of course it is more expensive, and watch out for the hotels trying to stick you with extra fees right before you leave, its a common scam out there. Get EVERYTHING in writing.
In Taganga I went with Calypso Dive Center for 2 fun dives, and I went with them because of price. I think me and a friend got 2 tanks plus all equipment for $45each USD. (at the time, 90,000 colombian). The price was the lowest, I think, because the equipment was kinda sketchy. But between my buddy and I, we had 1 working depth gauge (his) and 1 working air gauge (mine). We're both kinda laid back, so it wasnt really an issue, and we kept to 15'-20' for the latter half of the dive for security. Obviously Id recommend checking your rental equipment the morning of the dive, before it gets taken down to the water.

Also, its about this time of year when the coral does its reproduction. I was able to do the night dive to see that at Islas del Rosario, with Diving Planet, its a great dive, check into it when you arrive, maybe you get lucky like I did!

 

[jnowak100]

I returned from a week in Taganga Colombia today. My daughter, Ellie, is my dive buddy. We were diving with Poseidon Dive Center Home. Absolutely awesome. Highly professional staff, large covered boat, quality equipment, great dives, drift, night, deep, lots of flora and fauna, good viz. A beautiful location. Very inexpensive accommodations and excellent simple restaurants in the town. Not the hype of all-inclusive resorts, but a much more authentic experience. Highly recommend. I am a PADI Master Scuba Diver and Ellie just did her Rescue Diver course with Poseidon.