Diving in Lima & Palomino Islands
Why dive here
Lima & Palomino Islands offers some of Peru's richest diving, with 40+ marine species recorded in the area - including blue whales, hammerhead sharks, humpback whales, sea turtles and sperm whales. Water sits around 23°C.
Diving near Lima? Yeah, you heard right. It's not your typical tropical getaway, and that’s precisely why we love it. The Palomino Islands are a short boat ride from Callao, and the main draw is undeniably the colossal sea lion colony. Imagine descending into the cool Humboldt Current waters, the visibility often a decent 10-15 metres, and then encountering hundreds, sometimes thousands, of playful sea lions. They’re curious, they nip at your fins, and they zoom past with surprising speed. This isn’t about colourful corals; it's about the sheer energy of these animals and the unique kelp forests they inhabit. We've seen Atlantic yellow-nosed albatross circling above, diving for anchovies, while below, schools of bumper and jack swirl through the kelp. Keep an eye out for jewel morays tucked into rocky crevices. The currents can be moderate, nothing too wild, but enough to make it feel like an ocean dive. We’d suggest going in the morning; the sea lions seem more active, and the light penetration through the kelp is something else. It's a raw, exciting experience, far from the polished reefs, and our pick for something truly different in South America.
Lima & Palomino Islands Dive Site Map
Dive sites and dive centres in Lima & Palomino Islands
Lima & Palomino Islands Dive Sites
29 dive sites in Lima & Palomino Islands
AMORUSO SECONDO
The Amoruso Secondo isn't deep, but don't let that fool you. This 43-meter fishing trawler, run aground and burned in 1969, sits in just 5 meters of water. It’s perfect for a long, relaxed exploration, especially for those who enjoy poking around rusty metal without worrying about narcosis. We love how the shallow depth means fantastic natural light, making the colours of the encrusting life really pop. The wreck itself is well broken up, but you can still make out the bow and stern sections, with ribs and plating scattered across the sandy bottom. Expect to see plenty of comber fish darting through the wreckage, and if you look closely, you'll spot several kinds of crabs scuttling amongst the growth. The main draw for us, though, is the sheer number of sea lions that often hang around the area. They're curious, playful, and completely unbothered by divers, often zipping past close enough to hear them bark. Our favourite time to dive it is mid-morning, just after the first tourist boats have cleared out, leaving us with the wreck and its resident pinnipeds in relative peace. It's a proper adventure for divers who appreciate history and wildlife in equal measure.
Baja Huaman
Baja Huaman, off Pucusana, is a proper kick. We love a site that makes you work for it, and this one certainly does. The boat ride out, especially if the Pacific is feeling feisty, gets the adrenaline going. The current description says "quick entry and descent", and they aren't kidding. This is one for advanced divers who appreciate a bit of surge and aren’t afraid to get straight down. Once you’re settled, usually between 10 to 22 metres, it’s a whole different world from the surface chop. The visibility averages around 5 metres, so you’re always diving in that slightly green, plankton-rich water, which just adds to the atmosphere. We're not talking Caribbean colours here, but what you lose in distance, you gain in the density of life right in front of your mask. The rocky sections are draped in various algae, like shaggy underwater carpets, and they’re absolute magnets for the smaller stuff. We’ve spent ages just watching the Pacific speckled crabs scuttling over the rocks, their colours muted but still fascinating in that light. Keep an eye out for Pacific cornetfish, too, just hanging in the water column, almost invisible until you’re right on them. Our favourite moment has to be finning slowly along the rock formation that divides the sand from the rock, just watching the bumper fish schools dart in and out of the shadows. It’s raw, it’s real, and it feels genuinely wild.
Baja Huaman
Coral Awegasm. The name is a bit much, we know, but it’s actually pretty fitting. This spot, just an eight-minute boat ride from Taveuni, delivers on its promise of seriously impressive coral. Dropping in, you're immediately surrounded by a riot of hard corals – we’re talking huge plates, intricate branching structures, and some seriously vibrant colours. It’s a shallower site, maxing out at 17 metres, which means the light penetration is fantastic, making everything pop even more. We particularly love drifting along the fringing reef, letting the gentle current guide us past walls and into small caverns. Keep your eyes peeled for nudibranchs; they’re everywhere here, perfect for macro enthusiasts. Look for the tiny, almost transparent zebra eviotes darting between coral branches. Visibility averages around 15 metres, which is decent enough to appreciate the scale of the reef. We’d say it’s a brilliant site for newer divers getting comfortable with reef navigation, but also a winner for experienced photographers wanting to slow down and capture some incredible wide-angle reef shots or intricate macro details.
Baja Loca
Coral Basket is one of those sites we always recommend to newer divers in the Gili Islands. It’s shallow, topping out at 19 metres, and generally has forgiving currents. You'll spend most of your time exploring a mini-wall that’s absolutely packed with smaller reef creatures, then drift over some nice coral ridges in the sandy areas. We love it for the sheer density of colour, even in the shallows. Pink anemonefish often peek out from their homes, and we’ve spotted plenty of blue-spotted stingrays tucked into the sand flats. Keep an eye out for dusky sharks cruising by, especially in the early morning. The coral here, particularly the staghorn varieties, is impressively healthy and really lights up when the sun hits it right. It’s a site that proves you don’t need extreme depths or roaring currents to have a genuinely memorable dive; sometimes, it’s all about taking your time and appreciating the small stuff.
Baja Loca
Baja Loca is where things get really interesting around the Palomino Islands, a site we'd suggest for divers with a bit more experience under their belts. You're dropping down onto a rocky reef that transitions into sand, hitting depths around 22 metres, often with a decent surge kicking things around. We've seen Pacific speckled crabs here, almost perfectly camouflaged against the rocks, and it's a good spot to catch Pacific cornetfish hovering motionless. Our favourite part has to be the sheer numbers of anchovies, moving in shimmering, pulsing clouds that occasionally get chased by bigger fish – a real sensory overload. It's a proper dive, not a gentle drift, so be prepared for some work. This spot truly comes alive when the currents are running, bringing in those schools of bumper and even the occasional barred pipefish tucked away in the crevices.
Carbón
Five Mile Bay is one of those easy-access spots that’s just, well, easy. You’ve got decent parking, toilets, and a grassy area to spread out your gear, all making for a fuss-free start. The entry is a gentle wade across 50 metres of sand before the slope drops away, bottoming out around 10 metres for most recreational divers. Visibility averages 12 metres, often a bit clearer over the sandy flats, though you can stir up some silt at the deeper edges. We’ve spotted little black cormorants often, even a rainbow trout once, which was a surprise, plus the usual assortment of small reef dwellers. It’s a good choice for newer divers or anyone looking for a relaxed bimble, especially on a calm easterly day when the chop stays away.
Cerro Partido
Gingers Backside, tucked into the north side of Ginger Island, is one of those spots we find ourselves returning to again and again for a chill second dive. The water here is usually flat and calm, making for a super relaxed entry and a nice, easy surface interval if you’re doing multiple dives. We love drifting along the reef, which starts shallow and slopes gently down to a sandy bottom at around 18 metres. It's a really healthy reef; the colours of the massive starlet corals catch the light in such a satisfying way. Keep an eye out for the smaller stuff – we’ve had some fantastic encounters with Greenband Gobies tucked into the coral, and the Pearl Blennies are always a treat to watch bobbing in and out of their holes. Look into the sand patches, too; we’ve spotted Saddle Stargazers burying themselves, with just their eyes poking out. You might also spot larger reef sharks cruising the deeper edges, and turtles are often munching on seagrass in the shallows. It’s a site that really suits divers who enjoy taking their time, searching for macro life, and just soaking in the calm reef atmosphere.
CHILE
The Chile wreck lies at a shallow 7 metres, making it an accessible dive for many. It's the remains of a steamship, broken up over time but still retaining enough structure to make for an interesting exploration. We usually find it fairly silty inside, so buoyancy control is key if you want to poke around without kicking up a cloud. Expect to see plenty of crabs scuttling over the plates and a good number of silversides darting through the openings. It’s a solid pick for a second dive, especially if the viz isn't stellar elsewhere, offering a different kind of underwater landscape.
CHIMBOTE (POSSIBLY)
Chimbote, off the Palomino Islands, is an intriguing dive, particularly because it’s a landing craft. Most wrecks around here are fishing vessels, so this one offers something a bit different. She sits upright in about 10 metres of water, her hull still largely intact. We love how accessible it is; even newer divers can explore the deck and the surprisingly open cargo hold without feeling overwhelmed. Inside, you’ll find a bustling ecosystem of crabs scuttling across the bulkheads and the occasional octopus peeking from a dark corner. Schools of hake often swirl above the superstructure, creating a beautiful, silvery canopy. Our favourite is exploring the bow ramp, which lies slightly open, offering a dramatic entry point into the hold itself. Visibility can be a bit variable, but on a good day, the natural light filtering through the open deck sections is quite something. We’d suggest going in the late morning when the sun is high for the best light penetration. It’s a super relaxed dive, perfect for a long bottom time just soaking it all in.
DONA AMELIA
Diving the *Dona Amelia* is a real treat off Lima, especially if you’re into local history. This old fishing trawler, built in '69, went down in a thick fog back in '89, coming back to Chancay with its catch. You can still imagine the chaos, even thirty-odd years later. We love how much of the wreck is still intact at 15m; the hull is a solid structure, not just scattered debris. It’s an easy dive, mostly because it’s shallow. We’ve found the best light in the mornings, cutting through the typical Lima haze and really bringing out the rust colours. Inside the wheelhouse, you'll see a thick carpet of anemones and some decent-sized crabs scuttling about. Look for schools of Peruvian silversides flashing through the superstructure. Our favourite part? The stern, where the propeller is still mostly there, acting like a little apartment block for blennies and small scorpionfish. It’s a site that tells a story, perfect for wreck enthusiasts who appreciate the atmosphere over big pelagics.
El Chuncho
Joeys’ Maze in the Bay of Islands is one of those sites that just feels… playful. We love drifting through the tight canyons and channels that give it its name, feeling the gentle surge nudge us along. It’s a proper maze, too; we’ve definitely taken a few wrong turns over the years, which is half the fun. It’s not a deep dive, maxing out around 16m, but there’s so much to explore. The kelp is thick here, creating shadowy hideouts for olive rockfish and black cod. Keep an eye out for Big-belly seahorses clinging to the stalks; they’re surprisingly camouflaged. Our favourite trick is to spot the patches of clean white sand between the coral and kelp, usually a good indicator of where a southern eagle ray might be resting. Visibility averages around 8m, which feels just right for the intimate scale of the maze. We’d suggest going at slack tide to really take your time poking into every nook and cranny. It’s perfect for open water divers looking for something a bit more adventurous than a simple drift, but still very manageable.
El Dado
Jones Bay isn't about dramatic drop-offs or technicolour corals. It’s about getting to know the quieter side of the Hauraki Gulf, perfect for those days when the weather's a bit frisky or you just want an easy, unhurried dip. We love it as a place to really slow down and appreciate the small stuff. The maximum depth of 7 metres makes it incredibly accessible, and the sandy bottom is a treasure hunt for keen eyes. You’ll often spot stingrays gliding past, their shapes barely disturbing the sand, or eagle rays elegantly flapping their wings. Look for octopus tucked into crevices, their skin rippling with camouflage, and nudibranchs, tiny jewels against the rock. The reef structure itself provides a nice bit of shelter, and you’ll find schools of snapper and kingfish hanging around, especially if there's a gentle current. Visibility averages around 5 metres, which, for New Zealand, means you’re often seeing things pretty clearly – a comfortable, gentle blue rather than a murky green. It’s our pick for a relaxed afternoon dive, or for anyone building confidence in the water.
Lima & Palomino Islands Dive Centres
7 dive shops and operators in Lima & Palomino Islands
Ocean Wildlife in Lima & Palomino Islands
40 species recorded in Lima & Palomino Islands
Lima & Palomino Islands Daylight & Sunrise/Sunset
Sunrise and sunset times for Lima & Palomino Islands, calculated from coordinates
Today - Monday 24 August
Sunrise
06:18
Sunset
18:05
Daylight
11h 48m
Golden Hour
17:37
First light (dawn) at 05:56 · Last light (dusk) at 18:27
Monthly Averages
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 05:55 | 18:41 | 12h 46m |
| Feb | 06:08 | 18:38 | 12h 30m |
| Mar | 06:13 | 18:24 | 12h 11m |
| Apr | 06:14 | 18:04 | 11h 50m |
| May | 06:18 | 17:52 | 11h 34m |
| JunShortest | 06:27 | 17:52 | 11h 25m |
| Jul | 06:30 | 17:58 | 11h 28m |
| AugNow | 06:23 | 18:04 | 11h 42m |
| Sep | 06:04 | 18:05 | 12h 1m |
| Oct | 05:44 | 18:05 | 12h 21m |
| Nov | 05:33 | 18:13 | 12h 40m |
| DecLongest | 05:39 | 18:29 | 12h 50m |
Times are approximate local times based on longitude. Actual times may vary slightly depending on the exact timezone observed in Lima & Palomino Islands.
Where to Stay near Lima & Palomino Islands
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Marine Protected Areas near Lima & Palomino Islands
2 protected areas near Lima & Palomino Islands - please respect local regulations when diving
Sistema de Islas, Islotes y Puntas Guaneras
Ancón
Getting to Lima & Palomino Islands
Lima
Pisco
Pucallpa
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