ANIBAL ALBERTO - Mar del Plata

The Anibal Alberto sits shallow, only 3m deep, which makes it perfect for a relaxed dive, even if you’re just starting out. We love it for its accessibility and the sheer amount of life that calls this old dredger home. She’s classified as a dangerous wreck, mostly because she’s broken up quite a bit over the years, but that’s precisely what makes her so interesting to explore. What you get here is a proper wreck dive without the depth or deco stress. You’ll find schools of silversides swirling through the superstructure, and if you look closely, plenty of nudibranchs clinging to the metal. Octopus often hide in the darker crevices, and the kelp growing on parts of the wreck sways gently with the surge. It’s a fantastic spot for photographers looking to practice wreck shots in good light, or anyone who just wants to spend an hour poking around a piece of history. We’d suggest going at high tide; the visibility often improves then.

Location
Mar del Plata, Argentina, South America
Coordinates
-34.473330, -57.812150
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
3m

Wreck History - ANIBAL ALBERTO

Year Sunk
1993
Vessel Type
dredger
Cause
storm

The ANIBAL ALBERTO was a hard-working dredger, tasked with maintaining the channels of Argentina's busy Mar del Plata port. Its career came to an abrupt end on October 27, 1993, when a violent 'suestada' storm battered the coast. Anchored just outside the port, the vessel was overwhelmed by the ferocious winds and waves, sinking and settling on the seabed. Today, it is one of the most accessible wrecks imaginable, lying in just 3 meters of water. This extreme shallow depth makes it a unique site, perfect for trainee divers, snorkelers, and photographers looking for a long dive with ample natural light. While its official 'dangerous wreck' classification warns surface traffic of its presence, for divers it offers a fascinating and easy exploration of a vessel defeated by the power of the sea.

Best Time to Dive in Mar del Plata

The warmest water temperatures in Mar del Plata occur in January, averaging 26.7°C. The coolest conditions are in July at 11.0°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 26.7°C
  • February: 25.8°C
  • March: 24.1°C
  • April: 20.3°C
  • May: 16.3°C
  • June: 13.0°C
  • July: 11.0°C
  • August: 12.2°C
  • September: 14.8°C
  • October: 18.2°C
  • November: 22.3°C
  • December: 24.8°C

Nearby Dive Sites in Mar del Plata

Nearest Dive Centres to ANIBAL ALBERTO

Marine Life in Mar del Plata

Home to 33 recorded species including 19 reef fish, 7 sharks & rays, 3 whales & dolphins, 2 other, 1 crabs & lobsters, 1 sea snails & nudibranchs.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for ANIBAL ALBERTO

Based on average water temperature of 19.1°C, currents 3 cm/s.

  • Wetsuit (3-5mm) - comfortable for 19°C water
  • 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