I've seen a few people ask about diving in Colombia. Im in Santa Marta right now and dove the other day with Aquantis Dive Center in Taganga, which is about a 10-15minute ride by cab away from Santa Marta. The dive shop, along with about 3 other dive shops are all on the very first road, calle 18, when you drive into town.
The staff there were all very friendly and helpful and all spoke very good english. Cost of a 2 tank dive was $62usd and that included all gear and everything else. The gear they have is all pretty new and actually in really good shape. Better shape than some of the gear i've rented in the US. They also rent out proper fins with boots and not the full foot kind which is really nice. Also at the dive shop is free water, coffee and tea. After your dives the also have showers and supply you with a towel.
Their dive boats, much like all the other dive boats in the area are only little 12 person boats with no cover so you will get sprayed and soaked if the water is choppy. They have all the standard safety equipment on them, oxygen, radio, life jackets and so on. Also the boats have no ladders or platforms. To enter the water you backroll in. To exit the water you hand up your weight belt and gear and then climb in. During surface interval they will take you to a beach and have prepared sandwiches, drinks and fruit for you.
When i went diving it was only 5 costumers on the boat myself included. 1 was doing her ow, 1 was doing his aow and then 3 of us on a fun dive so i was buddied up with our dive master. He gave probably one of the most thorough pre dive briefs i've ever had before entering the water. Once in the water, maybe it was just the time of year or day, the visibility was only about 8-10m and water temps were in the low 70s. All the dive sites are in the Tayrona park area and i basically like to say there isnt much to see, but when you do see something its the best of that something you've seen. There isnt much coral but some of the coral down there is just massive. There is a lot of fish life and i saw a lot of eels, angels of all kind, crab, puffers. There are sea horses in the area to but i didnt see any.
Is it worth coming to Colombia just to dive? No. Is it worth doing if you are in the area? Definitely.
The staff there were all very friendly and helpful and all spoke very good english. Cost of a 2 tank dive was $62usd and that included all gear and everything else. The gear they have is all pretty new and actually in really good shape. Better shape than some of the gear i've rented in the US. They also rent out proper fins with boots and not the full foot kind which is really nice. Also at the dive shop is free water, coffee and tea. After your dives the also have showers and supply you with a towel.
Their dive boats, much like all the other dive boats in the area are only little 12 person boats with no cover so you will get sprayed and soaked if the water is choppy. They have all the standard safety equipment on them, oxygen, radio, life jackets and so on. Also the boats have no ladders or platforms. To enter the water you backroll in. To exit the water you hand up your weight belt and gear and then climb in. During surface interval they will take you to a beach and have prepared sandwiches, drinks and fruit for you.
When i went diving it was only 5 costumers on the boat myself included. 1 was doing her ow, 1 was doing his aow and then 3 of us on a fun dive so i was buddied up with our dive master. He gave probably one of the most thorough pre dive briefs i've ever had before entering the water. Once in the water, maybe it was just the time of year or day, the visibility was only about 8-10m and water temps were in the low 70s. All the dive sites are in the Tayrona park area and i basically like to say there isnt much to see, but when you do see something its the best of that something you've seen. There isnt much coral but some of the coral down there is just massive. There is a lot of fish life and i saw a lot of eels, angels of all kind, crab, puffers. There are sea horses in the area to but i didnt see any.
Is it worth coming to Colombia just to dive? No. Is it worth doing if you are in the area? Definitely.
