Gavilán - Mar del Plata
The Gavilán, just off Mar del Plata, is a standout for us, a real shallow-water charmer. This isn't your deep, challenging wreck dive. It’s barely 3 metres, which means light pours in, giving the whole site a luminous quality, even on a cloudy day. We love how accessible it is, perfect for extended bottom times and just soaking in the atmosphere. The barge went down in '78 and it’s now thoroughly encrusted, more of a living reef than a steel hulk. You’ll find nudibranchs crawling over every surface, and we’ve spotted schools of silversides darting in and out of the hold, reflecting the sunlight like scattered coins. Look closely among the rust and you'll often see small octopus tucked into crevices, their eyes watching you with mild curiosity. It’s an ideal spot for macro photographers, or anyone who enjoys a relaxed exploration of a wreck that’s truly been reclaimed by the ocean. Our best tip: go on a calm day, the visibility really sings.
- Location
- Mar del Plata, Argentina, South America
- Coordinates
- -34.697640, -57.493656
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 3m
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
- 192 - B - 4m (wreck)
- 201 - A - M.O.P. - 8m (wreck)
- 245 C - 7m (wreck)
- 252-C - 5m (wreck)
- 256 B - 3m (wreck)
- 325 C - 6m (wreck)
- ABucear - Centro de Buceo
- ABucear - Scuba Diving Center
- ADMIRAL GRAF SPEE - 8m (wreck)
- A.H.V.R NO.4 - 3m (wreck)
- ALBA - 5m (wreck)
- ALDOSIVI - 2m (wreck)
- Aldykir II - 1m (wreck)
- Alejandro Marcos B - 7m (wreck)
- ALFA II - 1m (wreck)
Nearest Dive Centres to Gavilán
- ABucear - Centro de Buceo
- ACUATIKOS
- Alfa Buceo - ["PADI"]
- AM DIVE
- Amphibio
- Aquabaires Buceo - ["PADI"]
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
- South Atlantic Elephant-seal (Mirounga leonina) - Whales & Dolphins
- Bluewing Searobin (Prionotus punctatus) - Reef Fish
- Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Porgy (Pagrus pagrus) - Reef Fish
- American Elephantfish (Callorhinchus callorynchus)
- Bangamary (Macrodon ancylodon) - Reef Fish
- Elf (Pomatomus saltatrix) - Reef Fish
- Silverside (Odontesthes incisa) - Reef Fish
- Filetail Fanskate (Sympterygia lima) - Sharks & Rays
- Atlantic Lookdown (Selene vomer) - Reef Fish
- Blueback Mullet (Mugil liza) - Reef Fish
- Smallnose Fanskate (Sympterygia bonapartii) - Sharks & Rays
- Kingfish (Menticirrhus americanus) - Reef Fish
- American Harvestfish (Peprilus paru) - Reef Fish
- Ronco (Micropogonias furnieri) - Reef Fish
- Chilean Angel Shark (Squatina armata) - Sharks & Rays
- South-American Silver Porgy (Diplodus argenteus) - Reef Fish
- Apron Ray (Discopyge tschudii) - Sharks & Rays
- Eyespot skate (Atlantoraja cyclophora) - Sharks & Rays
- Moray (Muraena helena) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Gavilán
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