Diving Colombia

[raina79]

Hello,
Will be in Columbia for a little over a month, arriving in Cartagena next Saturday (May 30th). Want to get some diving in, possibly both in Taganga area and on the Pacific Coast. Have searched around the forum, but all posts are a bit outdated so thought IŽ´d ask for some more current advice!

Mostly would like to know if anyone can reccommend dive shops in Taganga, and possible a dive outfit to sail out to Isla Gargona. Needless to say, safety is numero uno for me (good boats, good equipment, good dive guides). But also a priority is trying to find an op that doesnŽ´t run cattle boats and pays attention to dive experience and groups people together accordingly.

Always open to recoŽ´s for hotels or hostals also - IŽ´m on a backpackers budget, btw!

Thanks in advance!

 

[Maus]

Hello,

for diving in Taganga i recomend you Poseidon Dive Center, they speak english as well and also have some nice rooms: poseidondivecenter.com , max@poseidondivecenter.com. I did 5 days of diving with them and they are great. If you bring your own Laptop you get WIFI for free or you can use one of the computers in the office, they have a pool and you can use the kitchen to cook.
Gorgona:
2 options:
1) Stay on the Islands and dive with the shop: Expensive because you have to book through Aviatur, no other way.
2) Go on a liver boat 3-4 day trip , usually over the weekend, there are 2 boats and both are crab, but diving can be great, usually time of the mantas now, check it out with Casco Antiguo, you should find them of the padi page.
Also there is a Dive Shop in Barranquilla who arranges trips down threre: Nauta
I hope I could help you
Maus

 

[tutifruti]

Hi Raina

My diving instructors in Bogotá, who are very professional and careful, are organizing a trip to Gorgona at the end of June if you're still around. Their website is Cruz del Mar - Escuela de Buceo - Bogota Colombia.
Maybe you can try to arrange something with them since the package includes airline tickets in Bogotá?

In Cartagena, I've heard a company called 'Tortugas' is very good, but the diving in Cartagena is not great compared to Taganga or the rest of Colombia. Whatever you do, stay away from these people: Buceo en Cartagena - BUZOS DE BARU. Have a look at this thread: http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/ne...-very-dangerous-experience-advice-please.html

About Taganga, I've also heard good things about Poseidon from my instructors. There's another op there which is supposed to be very good, I'll get their info from my brother who went diving with them last year.

If you get the chance, try to go to Providencia and dive with Felipe - it's amazing!

PM me if you like - I live in Colombia so maybe can offer advice re: hotels, transport etc.

 

[BogotaBill]

I see that your post is from November of 08. Are you still in Bogota? Just moved here and looking for up-to-date dive advice/references for Cartagena, San Andreas, and Santa Marta....plus others that I haven't heard of yet.

 

[tutifruti]

Hi Bill,

If you're living in Bogotá you won't find a better dive shop than Cruz del Mar Cruz del Mar - Escuela de Buceo - Bogota Colombia.

They organize diving trips over long weekends all over Colombia and are very good, very safe instructors. There's a trip to Providencia coming up at the beginning of December and a liveaboard trip to Malpelo in January.

IMO Cartagena is overrated - Places like Providencia and Gorgona are much, much better for diving. In Tayrona try Tayrona Dive Center - have heard lots of good things about them from family and friends. TAYRONA . TAGANGA . Santa Marta - Colombia

I'm still in Bogotá - PM me if you like.

 

[angusdiver]

Hello,
tutifrutti, the Tayrona website is in spanish!! Do you know if they speak english at least the DM? I would like to contact them.

And Maus, it seems to me that you are the owner of that dive shop, I read another post where you did also 6 dives with them!!! Sad my friend, you can advertise your shop using another strategy not pretending you are a happy satisfied customer.