Concession de Parque Gorgona: "Diving Isla Gorgona Nat marine park off the Colombian Pacific coast", Sep, 2018,by Andrew Falconer , WA, AU (![]() |
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No photos available at this time | |||
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best): |
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Accommodations | ![]() |
Food | ![]() |
Service and Attitude | ![]() |
Environmental Sensitivity | ![]() |
Dive Operation | ![]() |
Shore Diving | N/A |
Snorkeling | N/A | ||
Overall Rating |
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Value for $$ | ![]() |
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Beginners | ![]() |
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Advanced | ![]() |
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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. |
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Websites | Concession de Parque Gorgona | ||
Reporter and Travel |
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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 |
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Weather | rainy | Seas | |
Water Temp | 25-27°C / 77-81°F | Wetsuit Thickness | 3 |
Water Visibility | 10-15 M / 33-49 Ft | ||
Dive Policy |
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Dive own profile | yes | ||
Enforced diving restrictions | 45 min dive time, max depth 30m | ||
Liveaboard? | no | Nitrox Available? | no |
What I Saw |
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Sharks | 1 or 2 | Mantas | None |
Dolphins | None | Whale Sharks | None |
Turtles | 1 or 2 | Whales | > 2 |
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best): |
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Corals | ![]() |
Tropical Fish | ![]() |
Small Critters | ![]() |
Large Fish | ![]() |
Large Pelagics | ![]() |
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Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best): |
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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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