Outings and excursions · Las Grutas / San Antonio Oeste
Diving in Las Grutas
Text: Miriam Coronel · Photos: Cota Cero Buceo
In Las Grutas, one of the most beautiful beaches in Argentina, diving is based as one of the most demanded activities by those who start and experts.
Lovers of underwater life find in The Grottoes an insurmountable walk to discover the secrets that hide under the sea, not only for experienced divers but also for a general public. The hulls of sunken ships become incredible underwater attractions for all the biodiversity that is generated inside.
Underwater park
The waters of Las Grutas and the tide cycle favor diving in the interior of the San Matías Gulf at any time of the year. Recreational diving grows on the artificial reef created on the shores of the spa where fishing boats are located at the bottom of the sea as part of the underwater landscape.
The underwater park has been built around mythical sunken ships, such as Don Félix, and others that plan to be anchored as happened with Mariana Rojamar and Chiarpesca. The park presents different levels of difficulty, although for more experienced divers there are also special excursions. These boats were once part of the region's fishing activity and today add an attraction to Las Grutas, considered one of the best South American beaches.
Underwater baptisms are performed at the height of the third descent, on a rock formation platform ideal for diving and attempting the first advances in this activity a few meters deep, a practice supervised by instructors. The marine species begin to accompany the divers and the visual spectacle is etched into the memory forever. It is common to encounter shoals of sargos and bream. Other species observed are salmon, lemon fish, hedgehogs, octopuses, crabs, starfish, dolphins, toninas. Those who do not yet feel safe or have not dived can never start in confined or pool waters, in a controlled environment, and then move to the sea.
In the hours of low sea, a system of shallow wells is formed in the intertidal area, ideal for snorkeling. There you can see octopuses, sargos, soles, dums, cornalitos and different species of invertebrates.
The usual diving sites are the Naufragio Don Félix, the Submarine Park, Orengo Beach, Mejillones Island, with good visibility conditions and abundant marine fauna.
The demand for trips related to diving grows in Argentina and Las Grutas lives a historical time in the sustainable and controlled development of underwater parks that generate potential spaces to respond to this particular public.
