Santa Marta is a coastal city in the north of Colombia on the Caribbean Sea. It has great diving sites in places such as Gaira Bay, Santa Marta Bay, Taganga Bay, and the Tayrona National Natural Park. Among its benefits we have the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, the highest mountainous massif in the world at sea level. This makes its arms and foothills penetrate the Caribbean Sea, forging the famous Tayrona National Natural Park with unique ecosystems both inside and outside the sea.
The Tayrona National Natural Park stands out with renowned diving spots such as Granate or Isla de la Aguja, located off the coast of the park. Tayrona is home to impressive coral reefs and unparalleled marine life: typical fish from the Caribbean Sea, turtles and much more.
Tayrona is a National Natural Park of Colombia, and it is important to respect its delicate ecosystem. It is suggested not to touch the corals, not to disturb the marine animals, not to remove shells from the sea, and to collect debris found in or out of the water.
It is possible to dive in Santa Marta and the Tayrona National Natural Park throughout the year. The rain season can go from May to November, which can slightly affect visibility, without interfering in successful underwater activities. Twice a year the Tayrona Park is closed to the public for 15 days at a time. We recommend learning about park closures before your trip. In case your trip coincides with the Park closures, you can enjoy other beautiful diving spots in Santa Marta and surrounding areas.
From December to April, it is considered dry season, and the water temperature can drop to 21°C (69.8°F). On average the water temperature is 27°C to 29°C
Due to its geographical position, Santa Marta has climatic periods that create stationary upwelling events. This has led to the formation of the largest coral heads in the world, since the reef is loosely divided into ecological zones, differentiated from each other by the dominant species according to oceanographic conditions. This means that during a tour of a dive site you go through different areas.
Fly to the Simon Bolivar International Airport in Santa Marta. From there you can go to your trusted PADI dive center in places like Historical Downtown Santa Marta, El Rodadero and Taganga.
You will take a short boat trip to the Tayrona National Natural Park.
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