LAS VILLAS - Santa Marta & Tayrona
Las Villas isn't deep, we're talking a breezy 4 metres, but don’t let that fool you. This isn’t a quick splash-and-dash; it's a genuine wreck dive. She went down in '85, a Cuban carrier, and now she’s a proper playground. We love how much of her is still intact, stretched out there at 101 metres. You can swim right through the cargo holds, poke around the superstructure, and even peer into the bridge area. It feels like you’re exploring a sunken ghost ship, not just a pile of rubble. Our favourite part is the way the light filters down into the holds, illuminating the schools of snapper and grunts that hang out inside. Look closely and you’ll spot moray eels tucked into every crevice, plus the occasional barracuda patrolling the deck. The ship's massive size means you can spend a whole dive just exploring one section. It’s ideal for newer wreck divers or anyone who appreciates a relaxed, clear-water exploration with a bit of history thrown in. The currents are usually mild here, making it a very comfortable dive.
- Location
- Santa Marta & Tayrona, Colombia, South America
- Coordinates
- 10.738889, -75.345560
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 4m
Nearby Dive Sites in Santa Marta & Tayrona
- Arrecife coralino
- Bahia Aguacate
- Canto del Bajito (wreck)
- Canto del Mero (cave)
- Caribaru
- CIUDAD DE ITAGUI - 12m (wreck)
- DARIEN - 9m (wreck)
- DONA LOLITA (POSSIBLY) - 2m (wreck)
- EL AGUILA - 1m (wreck)
- El Gran Cañón (reef)
- El Jardín
- El Laberinto (reef)
- Formaciones coralinas
- Grieta Isla Narza
- Imelda
Nearest Dive Centres to LAS VILLAS
- Buzos de Baru - ["PADI"]
- Cartagena Divers - ["PADI"]
- Centro de Buceo Rincon del Mar
- Coveñas Diving Co - ["PADI"]
- Diving Planet - ["PADI"]
- Isla Fuerte Ecolodge & Diving Center – Narval - NAUI
Marine Life in Santa Marta & Tayrona
Home to 533 recorded species including 416 reef fish, 38 hard corals, 17 sharks & rays, 13 other, 9 crabs & lobsters, 7 whales & dolphins.
Notable Species
- Blue Crab (Callinectes sapidus) - Crabs & Lobsters
- Mojarra (Eugerres plumieri) - Reef Fish
- Zabaleta Anchovy (Anchovia clupeoides) - Reef Fish
- Ronco (Micropogonias furnieri) - Reef Fish
- Blueback Mullet (Mugil liza) - Reef Fish
- Tarpon (Megalops atlanticus) - Reef Fish
- Jack (Caranx hippos) - Reef Fish
- Swordspine Snook (Centropomus ensiferus) - Reef Fish
- Caitipa Mojarra (Diapterus rhombeus) - Reef Fish
- Ground Croaker (Bairdiella ronchus) - Reef Fish
- Common Snook (Centropomus undecimalis) - Reef Fish
- black mangrove (Avicennia germinans) - Seagrass & Algae
- white mangrove (Laguncularia racemosa) - Seagrass & Algae
- Silverfish (Trichiurus lepturus) - Reef Fish
- Mulet (Mugil curema) - Reef Fish
- Thin leaf lettuce coral (Agaricia tenuifolia) - Hard Corals
- Atlantic Thread Herring (Opisthonema oglinum) - Reef Fish
- Dark Green Parrotfish (Sparisoma viride) - Reef Fish
- Gutong (Scarus iseri) - Reef Fish
- Mustard hill coral (Porites astreoides) - Hard Corals