La Pastelería - Santa Marta & Tayrona

The Navigator Wreck is one of those sites we always try to fit in when we're diving the Somosomo Strait. It’s a 49-meter Chinese longliner, intentionally sunk, now resting upright on the sandy seabed at about 30 meters. What we love about it is the sheer accessibility – you can drop right into the wheelhouse, navigating through the controls, or peer into the holds with a torch, picking out the old wiring and pipes. It's a proper swim-through wreck, but without being intimidating. Visibility usually hovers around 15 metres, which is plenty for admiring the wreck’s full outline, or spotting the flash of a leopard hind as it darts between compartments. This wreck is quickly becoming a true artificial reef. New coral is starting to pop up on the decks, and the hull is now home to schools of blue and gold fusiliers, swirling around the structure. We’ve found cardinal soldierfish tucked into every dark corner, and the occasional bicolor angelfish picking at the nascent growth. It’s a site that suits divers who enjoy a bit of history alongside their marine life, a gentle exploration without strong currents.

Location

Santa Marta & Tayrona, Colombia, South America

Coordinates

9.803500, -75.713000

Type

wreck

Marine Protected Area: Los Corales del Rosario y de San Bernardo