DON ALEJANDRO - Mar del Plata

Don Alejandro isn't your typical wreck dive, and we love it for being different. Forget deep blue; this is a shallow, almost surf-level experience just off Mar del Plata's coast. It’s an old fishing trawler, grounded years ago, and now it’s a skeleton of steel breaking the surface at low tide. We’d suggest timing your dive for flat conditions and a dropping tide, otherwise, you're just getting tumbled around in the surf. What you get here is a masterclass in adaptation. Below the waterline, the wreck’s ribs and deck sections are choked with mussels, sea anemones, and crabs. You’ll weave through rusted compartments, feeling the surge pull you gently, watching small shoals of silversides dart between beams. It’s not about big pelagics, but the sheer volume of invertebrate life clinging to every surface. Our favourite moments are finding the small, intricate nooks where nudibranchs hide, or watching a hermit crab scuttle over a rust-coloured plate. This dive is for those who appreciate history, the resilience of nature, and don’t mind a bit of a scramble to get to it. You’ll feel the history in the groaning steel and see life reclaim it with tenacious beauty.

Location
Mar del Plata, Argentina, South America
Coordinates
-34.531116, -58.403700
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
1m

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 DON ALEJANDRO

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 DON ALEJANDRO

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