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Dive Review of Scuba Duba in
General Travel/Other Locations/Puerto Madryn, Argentina

Scuba Duba: "Great diving with sealions in Argentina", Jan, 2016,

by Steve Forster, CO, US ( 1 report). Report 9065.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations N/A Food N/A
Service and Attitude 4 stars Environmental Sensitivity 5 stars
Dive Operation 4 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling 4 stars
Value for $$ 4 stars
Beginners 3 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments Wonderful, one-tank dive as part of a Cape Horn cruise. All arranged privately by email (thanks to Caroline at the store) and easily found by a short taxi ride from the cruise port.

Some translation issues, so I recommend getting Spanish language help when booking to avoid sitting in a light chop while a first-tank training dive was conducted. We could have stayed on-shore and been picked up for the sea lion dive, but it got lost in translation.

Very small skiffs, but they are the norm, so do not take anything large or bulky, or anything you can't get wet. You need only your c-card, a credit card, a small amount of local currency (or dollars) and your own mask, whether you have a prescription or not. That is needed to ensure you can better see all the fast-paced action with the sea lions.

All equipment was supplied, along with a wide range of wet suits, fins, BCDs, etc., with changing done inside the store across from the beach, where we left our dry clothes.
Embarkation is through surf, with a roll entry and use of a small, sketchy ladder to re-board.

The dive briefings in English were better than expected, and the crew was experienced and welcoming. My wife had developed a nasty cold the day before, so she snorkeled and reported a great time watching the dozens of sea lions ambush us divers and play in the columns of exhaust bubbles. She says she might have had a better time than me at 20-ft with a lot of silted vis. However, when that first sea lion arrived and peered into my mask from only inches away, the whole trip became worthwhile.

We ate lunch at a local place recommended by the dive store, and walked the whole way back to the cruise ship (Norwegian Sun) feeling pretty good about the sea lion adventure.

How was the value — we have no idea because we did not nickel and dime the experience, considering how much we paid for the 14-day cruise! Would we do it again? Absolutely if ever in that area.

Websites Scuba Duba   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience Over 1000 dives
Where else diving World-wide, military and civilian.
Closest Airport N/A Getting There Cruise ship transiting Cape Horn.

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny Seas choppy
Water Temp 70-80°F / 21-27°C Wetsuit Thickness 5
Water Visibility 10-12 Ft/ 3-4 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions No restriction because of the 20-ft bottom, but care had to be taken to stay outside the sea lion protected area, monitored from the cliff top by the authorities. Back on-board with 500 psi (easy).
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

Sharks None Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles None Whales None
Corals N/A Tropical Fish N/A
Small Critters N/A Large Fish N/A
Large Pelagics N/A

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

Subject Matter 5 stars Boat Facilities 2 stars
Overall rating for UWP's N/A Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments If you wish to photograph sea lions close-up, it is a dive worth making if you are ever on the Argentinian Patagonian coast. Make sure you take spare photo equipment, batteries, etc,. since UWP support is minimal. Boats are small and open, crowded with only six divers and crew. No frills diving, but unbelievable interaction above and below the surface with dozens of super-friendly sea lions.
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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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