CHAVIN

Best months: Dec–Feb

Protected Area

Punta de Manabique

Why dive here

With 447+ marine species recorded in the area - including barracuda, eagle rays, nurse sharks, orcas and seahorses - CHAVIN offers some of Caribbean Coast's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 27-31°C, warmest June, August, September.

Best timeDec–Feb

WetsuitA 3mm shorty or thin full wetsuit

Marine lifeBarracuda, Eagle Rays, Nurse Sharks, Orcas and Seahorses · 447+ species recorded

Water27-31°C · warmest June, August, September

CharacterWreck dive · max 9m

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

We’ve always been a bit torn on the Caribbean side of Guatemala. It’s got a different rhythm, sure, but then you drop onto the Chavin and everything makes sense. This isn’t some pristine, picture-postcard reef; it’s a proper wreck dive, dark and moody, sitting flat at 9 metres. The Chavin, a 78-meter motor vessel, went down in 1974. Forty-odd years later, she’s a home for everything that swims by. The hull is still surprisingly intact, a massive steel shadow on the sandy bottom. You can peer into the deeper sections, though penetration isn't advised given her 'dangerous wreck' classification – a nice reminder to stick to what’s safe. Our favourite part is the bow, especially on a sunny day when the light penetrates just enough to illuminate the school of horse-eye jacks often circling there. They're surprisingly bold. We’d suggest going early in the morning. The visibility tends to be better before the afternoon chop, and you get that quiet, almost eerie feeling of having the wreck to yourself. It’s a fantastic site for newer wreck divers, or anyone who just loves the historical aspect. You won’t find riotous colours, but you will find atmosphere, scale, and a healthy dose of Caribbean grit.