Shark Hunting in Chile

[AndyMurch]

Hi,
I am heading to Chile to dive for a magazine article in November. If possible, I would like to photograph tiburon pinta roja (redspotted catshark). Does anyone know where this shark is commonly seen?
Thanks!

 

[Nami]

Hi Andy,

I have seen them in Zapallar, Los Molles and Las Tacas (most of these areas are around the central coast of Chile). I think they are also found near Quintay and Valparaiso. If interested I can give you the contact names of dive operators at all these places and you can ask them directly where pintarrojas have been seen more recently

 

[drbill]

If you are diving in the kelp forests there, I hope you will post some pix or video. Some day I hope to do my own filming in Chile to document the similarities and differences between their kelp forests and ours here in SoCal.

 

[AndyMurch]

Hi Nami,
Thank you for the information! When you say that you have seen them in these places, how often is that? Would you see one or two on every dive or maybe once every five dives? Or less?
The names and locations of dive shops would certainly be helpful!
Thanks,
Andy

Hi Andy,

I have seen them in Zapallar, Los Molles and Las Tacas (most of these areas are around the central coast of Chile). I think they are also found near Quintay and Valparaiso. If interested I can give you the contact names of dive operators at all these places and you can ask them directly where pintarrojas have been seen more recently

 

[randini]

The pinta rojas are pretty common if you know the habitat in which to look for them. When I've gone looking for them, I've always found a few in all three of my regular spots in El Quisco, Punta de tralca and Las Cruces (fifth region, about 45 minutes south of Valparaiso). If you were to spend an entire dive looking for them I'd bet you could easily find half a dozen or more. They are nocturnal and spend daytime hiding in the nooks and crannies of rocky reefs and in boulder fields. Night dives are technically illegal here.

Although I haven't dove the sites that Nami mentions, I am very familiar with most of the areas and would be willing to bet that they are also common there.