Los Buzos - Santa Marta & Tayrona

Pagodas Garden, on Carriacou's south side, feels like you’re flying over a submerged mountain range. The current here can really pick up, making it a proper drift dive, so we'd suggest this one for those comfortable moving with the flow. You drop in and just let the water carry you along a sloping reef that seems to stretch forever, maxing out around 19m. We love the sheer abundance of fish here, especially the smaller, shyer stuff – keep an eye out for Black Morays peeking from crevices and the flash of Flamefish. The corals themselves are fantastic, especially the larger formations that give the site its name, looking like ancient, weathered pagodas. Visibility averages a comfortable 22m, making it easy to spot the bigger creatures too, like gliding eagle rays or nurse sharks resting on the sand patches. It’s a site that rewards observation as much as it does the thrill of the ride. We think it’s best enjoyed mid-morning, before any afternoon chop really builds.

Location

Santa Marta & Tayrona, Colombia, South America

Coordinates

9.818000, -75.743200

Type

drift

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