AURIENTE - Mar del Plata

The Auriente. We love this wreck, not for its deep-sea drama or vibrant coral, but for its sheer accessibility and the story it tells. It’s barely two meters deep, right off the coast of Mar del Plata, which means it’s perfect for a long snorkel or a very shallow dive when the conditions are just right. We’ve spent hours here, letting the small swell push us gently over the remains of the cargo ship, feeling the texture of barnacles under our fingertips. What you'll see is less about big pelagics and more about the small, resilient life that colonizes metal in temperate waters. Schools of silversides shimmer through the deck structures, and the occasional spider crab scuttles past a rusted porthole. It’s a photographer’s dream on a sunny day, with the light playing off the broken hull, creating shifting patterns in the sand. Our best advice? Go on a calm morning, maybe an hour after sunrise, before the beach gets busy and the water gets stirred up. It’s a unique experience, a quick dip into history and marine life that you won’t find just anywhere.

Location
Mar del Plata, Argentina, South America
Coordinates
-34.550000, -58.375000
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
2m

Wreck History - AURIENTE

Vessel Type
unknown
Cause
grounding

The Auriente rests in the extreme shallows off Mar del Plata, Argentina, a testament to the unforgiving nature of the coastline. At a depth of only 2 meters, it was almost certainly a victim of grounding, driven ashore by a storm or a navigational miscalculation. Its position makes it accessible not just to scuba divers, but to snorkelers and freedivers as well, offering a rare opportunity for anyone to explore a shipwreck. Constant exposure to powerful wave action and surge has likely broken the vessel apart completely. Divers should heed its 'Dangerous wreck' classification and be mindful of sharp, twisted metal and the strong water movement, but on a calm day, the Auriente provides a fascinating look at how the sea reclaims a vessel.

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 AURIENTE

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 AURIENTE

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