DON GAYETANO CAMERA - Mar del Plata

Don Gayetano Camera is a site we’ll always make time for when we're in Mar del Plata. It’s a shallow wreck, just 4 meters deep, but don't let that fool you into thinking it's simple. This old steamship is a fascinating tangle of metal, a real character with a history you can almost feel as you fin past the rusted plates. We love exploring the bow, where the structure is still quite defined, and imagining what it was like before it became a home for so many creatures. The wreck is now completely colonised. You’ll find kelp swaying on the deck, and every crevice seems to harbour something. We've often seen spider crabs scuttling amongst the beams, and schools of small fish, usually silversides, dart in and out of the darker spaces. It’s a photographer's dream, especially on a sunny day when the light penetrates right to the bottom, illuminating the reds and oranges of the rust against the green of the kelp. Because it’s so shallow, it's perfect for extended bottom times and a more relaxed pace. Our favourite time to dive it is early morning, before any boat traffic picks up, when the water tends to be calmest. It’s a site that really makes you slow down and appreciate the intricate beauty of a wreck reclaiming its own.

Location
Mar del Plata, Argentina, South America
Coordinates
-34.200000, -58.126390
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
4m

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 GAYETANO CAMERA

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 GAYETANO CAMERA

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