Agua Caliente - Lake Atitlan

Agua Caliente is one of those dives that sticks with you not for big pelagics, but for its sheer oddity. It’s essentially an underwater hot spring vent, pumping out warm water from the lakebed. We typically descend to about 10-12 metres and feel the temperature shift dramatically. You’ll spot the ubiquitous Mozambique mouth-breeder, often hovering right in the warmer currents. Visibility hovers around 4 metres on a good day, so it’s a close-up encounter, a place for divers who appreciate the quirky side of underwater exploration rather than wide-open vistas.

Location
Lake Atitlan, Guatemala, Central America
Coordinates
14.735800, -91.220100

Best Time to Dive in Lake Atitlan

The warmest water temperatures in Lake Atitlan occur in January, averaging 28.4°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 28.4°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 28.4°C (air: 17.9°C)
  • February: 28.4°C (air: 18.3°C)
  • March: 28.4°C (air: 18.7°C)
  • April: 28.4°C (air: 19.2°C)
  • May: 28.4°C (air: 19.4°C)
  • June: 28.4°C (air: 18.7°C)
  • July: 28.4°C (air: 19.3°C)
  • August: 28.4°C (air: 19.2°C)
  • September: 28.4°C (air: 18.9°C)
  • October: 28.4°C (air: 18.8°C)
  • November: 28.4°C (air: 18.3°C)
  • December: 28.4°C (air: 17.8°C)

Nearby Dive Sites in Lake Atitlan

Nearest Dive Centres to Agua Caliente

Marine Life in Lake Atitlan

Home to 2 recorded species including 1 other, 1 reef fish.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for Agua Caliente

Based on average water temperature of 28.4°C.

  • Shorty or Rashguard - warm 28°C water needs minimal exposure protection
  • Mask - essential for every dive
  • Fins
  • BCD - buoyancy compensator
  • Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
  • Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
  • Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
  • Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
  • Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories