Isla de la Plata, Ecuador
    Machalilla

    Islas Los Ahorcados

    Best months: Jan–May

    Protected Area

    Machalilla

    Why dive here

    With 145+ marine species recorded in the area - including blue whales, dolphins, humpback whales, manta rays and mobula rays (devil rays) - Islas Los Ahorcados offers some of Isla de la Plata's richest diving. Water ranges 25-28°C, warmest February, March, April.

    Best timeJan–May
    WetsuitA 3mm shorty or thin full wetsuit
    Marine lifeBlue Whales, Dolphins, Humpback Whales, Manta Rays and Mobula Rays (Devil Rays) · 145+ species recorded
    Water25-28°C · warmest February, March, April
    StandoutRich in charismatic marine life

    Islas Los Ahorcados, just off Isla de la Plata, is one of those places that genuinely surprises you. We've always found the visibility here to be better than expected, often pushing 15-20 meters on a good day, especially in the late morning. It’s a series of rocky islets that drop down, creating channels and small overhangs, giving you plenty to explore. What really gets us excited about Los Ahorcados is the sheer density of fish. We're talking about huge schools of barberfish and surgeonfish that just swirl around you, almost blocking out the sun at times. Keep an eye on the bottom for those rarer finds; we've spotted Pacific Fat Sleepers tucked into crevices and even a Chilean Angel Shark resting on the sand – a real treat. We also love looking for the Hawksbill Turtles here, often just cruising by. This site is a great pick for divers who appreciate a busy, lively reef and don't mind a little current to keep things interesting.

    Today06:0718:1512h 8m daylightGolden hour 17:48

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    Conditions

    Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Islas Los Ahorcados

    Islas Los Ahorcados Ocean Conditions

    Monthly averages for Islas Los Ahorcados, sourced from Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU) - nearest station: Open-Meteo marine grid (-1.94, -80.79) (26km away)

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    October Averages

    Sea Temperature

    25°C

    76°F · Range: 23.5–25.9°C

    Current Speed

    2.24 cm/s

    Direction: NE (63.4°)

    Chlorophyll-a

    0.733 mg/m³

    Moderate productivity

    Salinity

    33.26 PSU

    Based on 4 years of monitoring data · Data sources: Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU)

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