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Dive Review of Concession de Parque Gorgona in
Colombia/Isla Gorgona

Concession de Parque Gorgona: "Diving Isla Gorgona Nat marine park off the Colombian Pacific coast", Sep, 2018,

by Andrew Falconer , WA, AU (Top Contributor Top Contributor 51 reports with 29 Helpful votes). Report 10508 has 2 Helpful votes.

No photos available at this time

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 3 stars Food 3 stars
Service and Attitude 3 stars Environmental Sensitivity 4 stars
Dive Operation 3 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 4 stars
Beginners 3 stars
Advanced 4 stars
Comments I did this diving, as part of a wider trip to Colombia. I had no prior knowledge about diving in Colombia, but after doing a google search, Isla Gorgona seemed a good option. Not overrun and not too expensive.
To go there you have to book and pay the Concesión in advance. I booked for five nights, which included 8 dives with equipment, transfers, accommodation and meals and cost me $AUD1500 all up. You can only go to and from the island on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
The island is covered in jungle and used to be a prison from 1959 to 1984, where Colombia’s worst were held, and considered escape proof due to the snakes on the land and the sharks in the sea and the distance to the mainland (35km). In fact there was only one recorded successful escape.
It is now a national terrain and marine park, and this is reflected in the numbers of large pelagic fish (barracudas and giant trevallys) to be seen. The jungle is also taking back the prison.
During the 8 dives, all double boat dives, we dived around the rocks at the north and two pinnacles mid way up the Pacific side of the island. There was current on some of these.
The dives were generally well conducted, although I was the only diver (apart from the dive master) with a computer, and getting back on the boat was a mission, as there was no ladder.
At this time of the year, there are lots of humpback whales about, and you could hear but not see them on almost every dive. From the boat before and after you could see them when they break the surface.

Websites Concession de Parque Gorgona   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 501-1000 dives
Where else diving Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vanuatu, South Africa, Iceland, Scotland, Norway, Cuba, Maldives, Chuuk, Galapagos, Phillipines, Sri Lanka
Closest Airport Gaupi Getting There From Cali there is one Satena flight per day to Gaupi, where you will be met at the airport for transfer to a fast boat to the island

Dive Conditions

Weather rainy Seas
Water Temp 25-27°C / 77-81°F Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 10-15 M / 33-49 Ft

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions 45 min dive time, max depth 30m
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? no

What I Saw

Sharks 1 or 2 Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles 1 or 2 Whales > 2
Corals 2 stars Tropical Fish 3 stars
Small Critters 2 stars Large Fish 4 stars
Large Pelagics 4 stars

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter N/A Boat Facilities N/A
Overall rating for UWP's N/A Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments [None]
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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