BOSCHETTO - Mar del Plata

Boschetto is a wreck, and a good one at that. We love a wreck with a story, and the Boschetto, an Italian cargo ship sunk in 1917, has character in spades. Sitting upright at a comfortable 14 metres, it's an accessible dive that still feels like a proper exploration. What strikes you first is the sheer amount of structure still intact. You can swim through cargo holds, poke around the engine room, and even navigate some of the corridors, all illuminated by the shafts of light filtering down from the surface. We'd suggest getting here in the late morning, when the sun is high, to really appreciate those beams. The visibility can be variable, but even on an average day, the wreck looms large, creating an atmospheric dive. We've seen conger eels poking their heads from pipes, schools of pollock darting through the superstructure, and crabs scuttling across the deck plates. It's a proper wreck penetration dive for those comfortable with overhead environments, but even staying on the exterior offers plenty to see. Our favourite spot is the stern, where the propeller is still clearly visible, encrusted with anemones. It's a perfect dive for wreck enthusiasts who appreciate history and a good swim-through.

Location
Mar del Plata, Argentina, South America
Coordinates
-34.004444, -58.480556
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
14m

Wreck History - BOSCHETTO

Year Sunk
1888
Vessel Type
unknown
Cause
unknown

Resting in the shallow, accessible waters off Mar del Plata, the Boschetto is a tangible link to Argentina's late 19th-century maritime past. While the exact details of its demise are unclear, historical records suggest it was lost in 1888. The Italian name evokes the era of great migration, and it’s possible this vessel was a cargo ship or packet boat that served the bustling port before meeting an untimely end. At just 14 meters deep, it has been subject to the force of the sea for over a century, contributing to its classification as a "dangerous wreck" due to its scattered and potentially sharp structure.

Despite its condition, the Boschetto's shallow depth makes it a fantastic site for divers of all levels. The wreck is a vibrant artificial reef, attracting schools of fish and a wide array of local marine life. It serves as an excellent introduction to wreck diving, allowing for long bottom times and easy navigation in good visibility. Divers can explore the remnants of a bygone era, imagining the vessel's final moments while enjoying the lively ecosystem that now calls it home.

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 BOSCHETTO

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 BOSCHETTO

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