Mares Dive Center - Isla de la Plata
Mares Dive Center isn’t a dive *center* at all, it's one of Isla de la Plata's more interesting dive sites. Tucked away on the island's southern side, this spot offers a gentle drift along a rocky slope that levels out onto a sandy bottom. We like it because it often feels less "bus stop" than some of the other Isla de la Plata sites, even when there are a few boats around. What you'll typically find here are good numbers of reef fish – think big schools of silvergray grunts, their fins flashing, and plenty of scissortail chromis darting in and out of the crevices. We've seen some impressive orangeside triggerfish here, too, along with the comical puffed-up forms of various pufferfish. Keep an eye out for the glossy and sabertooth blennies peering from their little hideouts. It's a great spot for macro photography if the conditions are calm, and even if you're just cruising along, the sheer density of fish life makes for a relaxing, engaging dive. We think it’s a perfect second dive, especially after something a bit more exposed.
- Location
- Isla de la Plata, Ecuador, South America
- Coordinates
- -1.560040, -80.813630
Marine Protected Area: Machalilla
Best Time to Dive in Isla de la Plata
The warmest water temperatures in Isla de la Plata occur in February, averaging 27.3°C. The coolest conditions are in August at 24.8°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 26.4°C
- February: 27.3°C
- March: 27.2°C
- April: 26.4°C
- May: 26.7°C
- June: 26.4°C
- July: 25.3°C
- August: 24.8°C
- September: 24.8°C
- October: 25.3°C
- November: 25.1°C
- December: 25.3°C
Nearby Dive Sites in Isla de la Plata
- AZOREANA - 4m (wreck)
- BLACK SAND I - 11m (wreck)
- BON BINI - 10m (wreck)
- BP GUAZAR - 2m (wreck)
- DARWIN - 7m (wreck)
- Dive and Surf
- DON VICTOR - 3m (wreck)
- El Pelado
- El Pelado / Islote El Pelado
- Isla Salango
- Isla Salango
- Islas Los Ahorcados
- Islas Los Ahorcados
- JAMBELI - 9m (wreck)
- JUAN BAUTISTA - 4m (wreck)
Nearest Dive Centres to Mares Dive Center
Marine Life in Isla de la Plata
Home to 148 recorded species including 124 reef fish, 8 whales & dolphins, 5 other, 5 sharks & rays, 2 hard corals, 1 sea cucumbers.
Notable Species
- Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea)
- Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
- Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)
- Cowfish (Tursiops truncatus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Mexican hogfish (Bodianus diplotaenia) - Reef Fish
- Brown Sea Cucumber (Isostichopus fuscus) - Sea Cucumbers
- Barberfish (Johnrandallia nigrirostris) - Reef Fish
- Chameleon wrasse (Halichoeres dispilus) - Reef Fish
- Sea Bass (Epinephelus labriformis) - Reef Fish
- Cortez Rainbow Wrasse (Thalassoma lucasanum) - Reef Fish
- Threeband Butterflyfish (Chaetodon humeralis) - Reef Fish
- Acapulco damselfish (Stegastes acapulcoensis) - Reef Fish
- Short-beaked Common Dolphin (Delphinus delphis) - Whales & Dolphins
- Bumphead Parrotfish (Scarus perrico) - Reef Fish
- Spinster wrasse (Halichoeres nicholsi) - Reef Fish
- King Angelfish (Holacanthus passer) - Reef Fish
- Razor Surgeonfish (Prionurus laticlavius) - Reef Fish
- Large-banded Blenny (Ophioblennius steindachneri) - Reef Fish
- Black coral (Antipathes galapagensis) - Hard Corals
- Sabertooth Blenny (Plagiotremus azaleus) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Mares Dive Center
Based on average water temperature of 25.9°C, currents 4 cm/s.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 26°C water needs minimal exposure protection
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories