Manto de Ela - Santa Marta & Tayrona

Pelicanos, also known as Elephant Rock, is one of our favourite spots off Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast, and not just for the goofy name. We’ve found the diving here consistently interesting, a real contrast to some of the more hit-or-miss sites. It’s essentially a large rock formation, dropping to around 19 meters, with plenty of nooks and crannies to explore. What we really love is how the current, usually mild here, pushes the schools of fish around. You'll often find yourself swimming through shimmering clouds of longfin silversides, or huge aggregations of grunts that part for you then reform as you pass. Keep an eye out for the smaller stuff too, like the yellow blennies peering out of their holes, or the Speckled-tail flounder doing its best impression of the seabed. We’ve also had some great encounters with mottled soapfish here, their patterns really standing out against the coral. Visibility averages around 10 meters, so it’s not always gin-clear, but it’s more than enough to appreciate the density of life. This site is great for divers who enjoy hovering and observing, perfect for open water certification and above.

Location

Santa Marta & Tayrona, Colombia, South America

Coordinates

9.814800, -75.741000

Type

reef

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