MUNGODES - Mar del Plata

MUNGODES isn’t your typical South American dive. Forget the Caribbean sunshine; this is a wreck dive with serious character, right off Mar del Plata. The Mungodes was a fishing trawler that met its end during a storm in 1969, and at a mere 4 metres deep, it’s a site that’s accessible to just about anyone comfortable in the water. We love it because it’s a proper piece of history, just sitting there for you to explore. You’ll find the wreck spread across the sandy bottom, the bow and stern still largely intact but the midsection more broken up. As you fin along, you’ll spot huge schools of silversides darting in and out of the metal framework. Our favourite bits are the engine room – a jumble of rusted machinery – and the prop shaft, which often has several large blennies peering out from crevices. It’s a shallow dive, so you get plenty of bottom time, and the light penetration is incredible, illuminating the thick carpets of sea anemones and sponges that now coat the hull. Visibility here can be a bit variable, sometimes a crisp 10 metres, sometimes a silty 3, so we’d suggest aiming for a calm day after a few days of settled weather. It’s a fantastic spot for photographers looking for an atmospheric wreck and the unique marine life that calls it home.

Location
Mar del Plata, Argentina, South America
Coordinates
-34.492218, -58.011665
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 MUNGODES

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 MUNGODES

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