Diving in Ushuaia

[WetPup]

So I've just booked myself a trip to Antarctica at the end of the year. Won't be diving there, but should be an epic trip nonetheless!

I do however have pretty much an entire day in Ushuaia to myself before the cruise departs. And I was wondering if anybody here has dived there? If so, could someone provide any recommendations for who to contact about it? I've never had to dive in a dry suit before, so someone who can cope with a newbie in that regard would be nice (even if they just tell me that I'm wasting my time even considering doing this without drysuit experience). It'd be an experience I'd love to have if I can!

 

[g2]

I've been to Ushuaia but haven't dove there. The weather can be awful, windy, and rainy, and the water is very cold. Perhaps you'll get there on a perfect day (but I wouldn't count on it).

I would not recommend trying to learn drysuit diving in those conditions. Can you get drysuit experience before heading there? Maybe take a quick trip to Tasmania for some classes? It's not difficult, it just takes practice to control your buoyancy.

Have fun in Antarctica! You're about to have the trip of a lifetime.

 

[WetPup]

Hmm. Thanks for the advice. Maybe I'll give it a miss then. Tasmania isn't really a "quick" trip from where I live and nobody locally offers any drysuit diving.

I'll find something else to occupy my time that day. And save the diving for somewhere warmer I'm a bit of a wuss, I like the tropics.

 

[Arturo]

Wetpup:

Who did you book with for your trip to Antartica? Could you provide me with some info concerning your trip? I´m always been interested in doing a trip like that.

 

[WetPup]

I'm booked with Quark Expeditions on the Antarctic Explorer itinerary. I'd originally intended to go on the itinerary via the Falklands and South Georgia, however that required me to take over 3.5 weeks rec leave from work by the time I included flight schedules etc...And my leave request for that was denied. So I'm doing the shorter cruise. Such is life. This will be my 7th continent, so I'm pretty stoked about it. The trip I'm doing departs Ushuaia, crosses the Drake Passage and then spends 5 days cruising around the Antarctic Peninsula/South Shetlands doing landings, visiting research stations and running around in zodiacs before heading back up to Ushuaia.

Some people say this is a once in a lifetime trip because of the cost...But to be honest, I spent more money going to Africa last year. It's not cheap by any means, but certainly not something that would be cost prohibitive to do more than once. For me it was a toss up between this and going diving for a couple of weeks over Christmas/New Year. I figure I can do the dive trip next year *shrug*.

At this stage I don't know how much more info I can really provide. I'm going in mid-November, so still trying to figure things out myself!

 

[Arturo]

Thanks for sharing the information. Have a good trip to Antartica.

 

[scubadiveilat]

If haven't been in Ushuaia as of Yet! Contact this dive center in Argentina.

¡Bienvenido a Ushuaia Divers!

I don't know them personally but if your interested in Dry suit diving it's worth a try. If your there dive the place it's an incredible experience.

Have fun and enjoy!!!

 

[emoreira]

If you are not going to dive in Usuahia, there are plenty of things to do there. You can pick up an excursion to Lapataia, some 20 km from Usuahia and by the Chilean border. You can go there by bus and return by boat, visiting the lighthouse and the sea lions island.
There is also a Museum in the city, an old prision.
There is also an old train "the end of the world train" which also goes to Lapataia.
Excursiones Ushuaia - Lago Fagnano - Aventura 4x4 - Pesca deportiva | Excursiones en Ushuaia