Punta Machalilla
Protected Area
Cantagallo - 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) - Punta Machalilla offers some of Isla de la Plata's richest diving. Water ranges 25-28°C, warmest February, March, April.
Punta Machalilla, off Isla de la Plata, offers a solid dive for those exploring Ecuador's coast. You'll often find a good mix of pelagics cruising through, along with the usual reef inhabitants. It’s a site that generally suits experienced divers comfortable with varying conditions, as currents can pick up. Expect a decent South American dive, not a showstopper, but always interesting.
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Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Punta Machalilla
Punta Machalilla Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for Punta Machalilla, sourced from Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU) - nearest station: Open-Meteo marine grid (-1.94, -80.79) (26km away)
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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