Baja Huaman - Lima & Palomino Islands

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.

Location
Lima & Palomino Islands, Peru, South America
Coordinates
-12.471900, -76.801300

Marine Protected Area: Sistema de Islas, Islotes y Puntas Guaneras

Best Time to Dive in Lima & Palomino Islands

The warmest water temperatures in Lima & Palomino Islands occur in January, averaging 22.5°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 22.5°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 22.5°C (air: 19.9°C)
  • February: 22.5°C (air: 20.7°C)
  • March: 22.5°C (air: 20.8°C)
  • April: 22.5°C (air: 19.6°C)
  • May: 22.5°C (air: 17.7°C)
  • June: 22.5°C (air: 16.8°C)
  • July: 22.5°C (air: 16.1°C)
  • August: 22.5°C (air: 15.7°C)
  • September: 22.5°C (air: 15.4°C)
  • October: 22.5°C (air: 15.6°C)
  • November: 22.5°C (air: 16.8°C)
  • December: 22.5°C (air: 18.0°C)

Nearby Dive Sites in Lima & Palomino Islands

Nearest Dive Centres to Baja Huaman

Marine Life in Lima & Palomino Islands

Home to 40 recorded species including 28 reef fish, 3 whales & dolphins, 3 other, 3 sharks & rays, 1 clams & mussels, 1 sea snails & nudibranchs.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for Baja Huaman

Based on average water temperature of 22.5°C.

  • Wetsuit (3-5mm) - comfortable for 23°C water
  • 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