Baja Loca - Lima & Palomino Islands

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.

Location
Lima & Palomino Islands, Peru, South America
Coordinates
-12.466500, -76.791900
Type
reef

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 Loca

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 Loca

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