PRINCE ARAC - Isla de la Plata
The Prince Arac, an old tanker, went down in '86 after a tank explosion. It’s a shallow wreck, sitting at just nine metres off Isla de la Plata, which means plenty of bottom time and great light penetration. We love how accessible it is; even newer divers can poke around without feeling overwhelmed. You can still make out the superstructure, and the sheer scale of an 86-metre ship in such shallow water is always impressive. The wreck itself is a magnet for the local reef fish, particularly the grunts and snappers that school thick around the fallen metal. Look closely at the hull and you’ll find nudibranchs crawling over the encrusting corals. Our favourite part has to be the feeling of the sunbeams cutting through the water, dappling the deck. It's not a site for big pelagics, but for a relaxed dive exploring a piece of history that’s become an artificial reef, it's pretty special. We’d suggest going in the morning before any wind picks up, when the visibility tends to be at its best.
- Location
- Isla de la Plata, Ecuador, South America
- Coordinates
- -2.966667, -79.987170
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 9m
Marine Protected Area: Manglares El Morro
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 PRINCE ARAC
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 PRINCE ARAC
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