Diving in Colombia: 68 Sites from Shark Walls to Beginner Reefs

Colombia doesn't get the dive tourism of its neighbours, but its 68 published sites span everything from shallow beginner patches to advanced walls where blacktip reef sharks cruise. The diving runs year-round, which means no single window to chase—just pick your site level and go.

Best dive sites in Colombia

• Salomon – Advanced site with 20 m visibility; one of the clearest conditions in the country, suited to experienced divers comfortable with open-water exposure.
• Bajo del Monstruo – Advanced. The name hints at the scale; expect serious topography and the kind of current that keeps novices away.
• Los Gemelos – Another advanced site, good for divers who want structure and the chance of larger pelagic encounters.
• Bajo del Cholo / Bajo del Anda / El Freezer – A trio of advanced sites for divers who want to push depth and current; El Freezer earns its name.
• Palacio de la Cherna / West View – Intermediate sites with enough complexity to stay interesting across multiple dives.
• Zona de Buceo 1 / Bajo del Hospital / Las Piedras de Carlitos – The beginner-friendly end of the list; shallower, calmer, and a practical starting point for open-water divers.
• La Piramide / Padi / Elsy Bar – Mixed-character sites that round out the catalogue for divers working through the full range.

When is the best time to dive in Colombia?

The aggregate across all 68 sites points to year-round diving with no hard closed season. Water temperature data is not yet fully recorded for the full site list, so check conditions locally before booking liveaboard or day-trip logistics, particularly around sites exposed to seasonal swells.

Is Colombia good for beginner divers?

Yes, with caveats. Sites like Zona de Buceo 1, Bajo del Hospital, and Las Piedras de Carlitos are explicitly rated for beginners. The advanced sites—which make up a significant share of the 68—involve current and depth that genuinely require experience. Stick to the graded sites and Colombia works well for newer divers.

What you'll see

The two headline species recorded across Colombian dive sites are great barracuda and blacktip reef sharks. Barracuda appear in loose aggregations around structure; blacktips tend to show at the more exposed advanced sites. The reef life filling the gaps hasn't been fully catalogued in the published data, but the site variety—walls, bommies, shallow patches—suggests a broad range of reef fish and invertebrates across depths.

FAQ

How many dive sites does Colombia have? OpenWaterAtlas currently lists 68 published dive sites across the country.

Do I need advanced certification to dive in Colombia? Not to dive at all—several sites are beginner-rated—but a meaningful portion of the 68 sites are marked advanced and require appropriate certification and experience.

Can I see sharks diving in Colombia? Blacktip reef sharks are recorded at Colombian sites, most likely at the exposed advanced locations rather than the sheltered beginner patches.

Is there a best season to book a dive trip to Colombia? Diving is possible year-round. Local operators are the best source for current-by-current seasonal advice at specific sites.

Colombia dive map