Cerro Partido - Lima & Palomino Islands

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.

Location: Lima & Palomino Islands, Peru, South America
Coordinates: -12.442600, -76.783900
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)

Nearest Dive Centres to Cerro Partido

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

Springer (Mugil cephalus) - Reef Fish
Cabinza Grunt (Isacia conceptionis) - Reef Fish
Pacific sardine (Sardinops sagax) - Reef Fish
Punctuated snake-eel (Ophichthus remiger) - Reef Fish
Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus) - Whales & Dolphins
Jack Mackerel (Trachurus murphyi) - Reef Fish
Pompano (Trachinotus paitensis) - Reef Fish
Allison's Tuna (Thunnus albacares) - Reef Fish
Atlantic chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus) - Reef Fish
Mojarra (Eucinostomus currani) - Reef Fish
American Elephantfish (Callorhinchus callorynchus)
Jack (Selene peruviana) - Reef Fish
Savigny's Brittle Star (Ophiactis savignyi)
Common Snook (Centropomus undecimalis) - Reef Fish
Red Scorpionfish (Pontinus furcirhinus) - Reef Fish
Smooth hammerhead (Sphyrna zygaena) - Sharks & Rays
Finescale Triggerfish (Balistes polylepis) - Reef Fish
Short-beaked Common Dolphin (Delphinus delphis) - Whales & Dolphins
Scad (Trachurus picturatus) - Reef Fish
Californian Needlefish (Strongylura exilis) - Reef Fish

Recommended Packing List for Cerro Partido

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