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CHATA A T F NO 1026A

The CHATA A T F NO 1026A, or just "The Chata" as everyone calls it, is one of our favourite dives in Mar del Plata. It’s a shallow wreck, sitting at just nine metres, making it incredibly accessible and a fantastic second dive. What we love about The Chata isn’t its size, but its character. It’s a low-profile wreck, mostly the hull, but it's completely encrusted with mussels and anemones, which just glow in the light. Visibility can vary, but on a good day, with a bit of sunlight filtering down, the way the light plays on the rust and the mussel beds is genuinely captivating. You’ll find small Patagonian blennies darting in and out of every crevice, and the odd king crab scuttling across the deck plates. Keep an eye out for the small schools of juvenile fish that congregate around the remaining structure; they're often so thick you have to swim through them. We always suggest trying to hit this one around mid-morning after any boat traffic has settled a bit; it can really make a difference to the calm. It’s a superb dive for newer wreck divers or photographers looking for macro subjects without the pressure of depth.