Dorado - Mar del Plata

The *Dorado* wreck, just outside Mar del Plata, is one of those sites you visit not for pristine reefs, but for a solid, honest wreck dive. It’s sitting upright at a comfortable 6 metres, making it perfect for a relaxed dive, maybe even a night dive if you’re keen. We love how accessible it is, especially for newer wreck enthusiasts or divers just looking for a straightforward, engaging experience. What you'll find here is a motor vessel, now a skeletal home for critters. Shoals of tiny fish, often silversides or juvenile hake, dart through the superstructure, reflecting your torch beam. We’ve spotted conger eels peeking from crevices, their heads swaying slightly as you pass. The deck is encrusted with anemones, a patchy carpet of orange and white, and you’ll see crabs scuttling amongst them if you look closely. It’s not a massive wreck, but the penetration opportunities are easy to navigate, with plenty of ambient light filtering in. We’d suggest going at high tide for the best visibility, which can vary, but even on an average day, the *Dorado* offers a genuinely enjoyable exploration of a sunken piece of history. It’s our favourite wreck in the immediate Mar del Plata area for its simplicity and the sheer volume of small life it attracts.

Location
Mar del Plata, Argentina, South America
Coordinates
-34.797817, -57.862280
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
6m

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 Dorado

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 Dorado

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