IMPORTANT
INFORMATION YOU SHOULD KNOW
*We
make two (2) dives daily. The depths and bottom
time are planned and established within the PADI
dive table limits (PADI Recreational Dive Planner),
and it depends on the knowledge of the divers.
Usually, the dive depths vary between 15 and 30
Mts.
*
Every diver must:
•
Have dive certification card and logbook, of any
registered agency recognized all around the world.
(PADI, NAUI, SSI, ACUC, DIVA, CMAS,
FEDAS, YMCA, DEWA ETC...)
• Sign the document of liability release
and own risk assumption.
• Be in a good health conditions, in order
to make recreational dive activities.
• Not be under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
*
When the dive excursions take place in the Machalilla
National Park coast, the distances between Puerto
Lopez and the different dive sites are relatively
small. The departure time from Puerto Lopez will
be at 09:00 am. (the navigation times vary between
15 to 40 minutes), and the time to return will
be at 14:00, after two dives. The more visited
dive sites are: Roca de los Ahorcados, Salango
Island, Rocas Ballenita, Punta Mala, Punta Piqueros,
Horno de Pan, Bajo los Frailes, Punta Machalilla,
La Viuda, Islote Sucre, Islote Pedernales, Bajo
de Cantagallo.
*
When the dive departure takes place to the La
Plata Island, the navigation time to Puerto Lopez
is about one hour 30 minutes to Bahía Drake
(National Park Office), but it depends on the
weather and sea conditions. If the sea conditions
are bad, then the navigation time will take from
2 to 2 hours 30 minutes.
The more visited sites are: Punta Escalera, Punta
Palo Santo, Punta el Faro, Punta Machete, Roca
Honda, El Acuario, Los Islotes.
*
Languages: Spanish, English and French.
*
The bottoms of the coast zone are essentially
made up of rock with massive Coral Reef Patches
and sand. Over the rock bottoms, we can find coral
fans (Gorgonians) with a variety of colors. La
Plata Island bottoms are, most of the time, made
up of rock combined with massive Coral Reef Patches
in good condition, coral fans (Gorgonians) and
sand areas. The fauna is very rich and interesting,
there are big groups of reef fishes like: angelfish,
butterfly fish, trumpet fish, flute fish, jacks,
sea basses, puffer fish, balloon fish, morays,
snappers, trigger fish, parrot fish, scorpion
fish, manta rays, guitar rays and white tip sharks.
We can also see some green marine turtles, different
species of sea stars, sea urchins, and sea cucumbers.
*
We have 30 Sherwood aluminum tanks with K valves
YOKE model, 80 cubic feet of capacity and 3000
PSI of charge pressure, Oceanic SP4 (First Stage)
with Alpha 8 regulators (Second Stage) and octopus,
PSI pressure gauge depth in feet, Oceanic OceanPro
BCD's, Bare Wetsuits of different sizes, masks,
snorkels, fins, and a BAUER Statinary Air Compressor.
*
Between June and October, the temperature of the
water is up to 14º and 22º Celsius due
to the influence of the Humboldt cold current.
The visibility changes between 5 and 20 Mts. There
is also better visibility due to the cold water.
*
The nearest Recompression Chamber is located at
the Ecuadorian Navy base in Guayaquil city. The
time estimated between Pto.Lopez and Guayaquil
is about 3 hours, by road. This is a Drager brand
Chamber and its capacity is about 6 people.
*
We have two boats approved and matriculated by
the Ecuadorian Navy. |
