Ciudad de Asunción - Mar del Plata

The Ciudad de Asunción is one of our favourite Mar del Plata dives, mostly because it’s so approachable. At only 8 metres, it’s a comfortable depth for pretty much everyone, and the wreck itself is a great introduction to exploring inside a sunken vessel. She’s a motor vessel, which went down in 1963 after hitting the wreck of the Marironga J. Cairi. That impact holed her, then she caught fire – a proper maritime drama. When you drop down, you’ll find the wreck largely intact, though time and the Atlantic have certainly left their mark. Penetration is relatively easy here; we’ve navigated through the engine room and cargo holds, feeling that cool, slightly silty air shift around us. Schools of silversides often shimmer through the open sections, catching the light. We usually spot king crabs clambering over the bow and stern, and the occasional octopus tucked into a shadowy nook. It’s not a huge wreck, so you can really take your time, soak in the history, and still have plenty of bottom time left.

Location
Mar del Plata, Argentina, South America
Coordinates
-34.764908, -57.465750
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
8m

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 Ciudad de Asunción

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 Ciudad de Asunción

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