El Venado - Lima & Palomino Islands
Justin’s Caves is a cracker of a dive, especially if you’re into exploring nooks and crannies. We love how the huge granite boulders stack up, creating a maze of swim-throughs, some tight enough to make you feel like a kid again. Dropping down, you’ll find yourself in a world of kelp, its golden fronds swaying with the surge, and the light filtering through makes for some amazing photography. Keep an eye out for the resident seals zipping past, their playful curiosity often leading to close encounters. Our favourite part has to be the surprising bursts of colour – vivid sea fans clinging to the rock walls, and starfish dotted across the sandy patches. You're never quite sure what’s around the next bend, whether it’s a school of shimmering fusiliers or a grumpy-looking reef fish tucked into a crevice. This site is fantastic for divers who appreciate interesting topography and don’t mind a bit of a current. Visibility can be a bit of a lottery, but even on an average day, the sheer structure of the place makes it a standout.
- Location
- Lima & Palomino Islands, Peru, South America
- Coordinates
- -12.489300, -76.798700
- Type
- cave
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
- AMORUSO SECONDO - 5m (wreck)
- Baja Huaman (reef)
- Baja Huaman
- Baja Loca (reef)
- Baja Loca
- Carbón (wall)
- Cerro Partido (reef)
- CHILE - 7m (wreck)
- CHIMBOTE (POSSIBLY) - 10m (wreck)
- DONA AMELIA - 15m (wreck)
- El Chuncho (reef)
- El Dado (reef)
- Gallinazo
- Grano de Oro (reef)
- ISLA SAN GALLAN 5 - 3m (wreck)
Nearest Dive Centres to El Venado
- Globotierra Azul
- KangaruPeru
- Lufes A Diver's
- Naylamp Diving - ["PADI"]
- Pacific Divers - ["PADI"]
- RESKIU S.A.C. - SSI
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 El Venado
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