wreck

Log This Dive

LAUTARO

Lautaro is not just a dive site; it’s a history lesson submerged. The old banana boat, scuttled way back in 1928, sits upright in just 8 metres of water, almost shallow enough to touch from the surface. We love this site for its incredible accessibility and the sheer volume of history you can practically swim through. The wreck itself is surprisingly intact. You can fin right over the deck, peer into the holds where bananas once travelled, and trace the outline of its bygone journeys. What really sells Lautaro for us, though, is how the reef has completely reclaimed it. The metal structure is caked in coral, creating a maze of nooks and crannies for all sorts of residents. We’ve seen moray eels peeking from pipes, schools of snapper circling the mast, and plenty of colourful parrotfish grazing on the encrusted hull. It’s an easy dive, perfect for newer divers or those who just want a relaxed exploration without worrying about depth or currents. The shallow depth also means fantastic natural light, making the colours really pop. We’d suggest going in the morning; the visibility tends to be best then, before afternoon winds stir things up.