Chelonia Dive Center - Mancora & North Coast
The team at Chelonia Dive Center are some of the most genuinely enthusiastic divers we’ve met on the North Coast. They’ve got PADI courses covered from Open Water right through to Divemaster, and we always feel like we’re in good hands with their instructors. What really sets Chelonia apart, though, is their absolute passion for finding the big stuff, particularly the sea turtles that give them their name. We love that Chelonia consistently delivers on sightings of green sea turtles – not just a fleeting glimpse, but often spending an entire dive just observing them graze. Our favourite dives with them usually involve a trip out to Ñuro, where the combination of relatively shallow depths and abundant food brings in the gentle giants. You’ll often see schools of jacks swimming alongside, and the occasional manta ray gliding through if you’re lucky. We’d suggest going early in the morning for the calmest surface conditions and generally better visibility before any afternoon chop picks up. It’s a relaxed, friendly vibe, perfect for those who appreciate patient wildlife encounters over rushing through sites.
- Location
- Mancora & North Coast, Peru, South America
- Coordinates
- -4.175905, -81.127660
- Phone
- +51 981 710 415
- [email protected]
- Website
- http://www.cheloniadc.com
- Certification Agencies
- ["PADI"]
- Courses
- PADI 5 Star Dive Center [padi:26932]
- Address
- Matecon Los Proceres #189, Los Organos, Piura, No State, Peru
Dive Sites Near Chelonia Dive Center
Chelonia Dive Center provides access to 12 dive sites in Mancora & North Coast.
- 3-4X3 - 20m (wreck)
- ARRASTRERA DORINE - 50m (wreck)
- AUDAZ - 27m (wreck)
- BEATITA DE HUMAY - 10m (wreck)
- DON JAVO (POSSIBLY) - 45m (wreck)
- DON PANCHO - 27m (wreck)
- El Ñuro - 3-12m
- FOKA - 5m (wreck)
- GOLONDRINA - 24m (wreck)
- LAZARELLA - 8m (wreck)
- Los Organos Bank - 10-30m (pinnacle)
- SIRENELLA - 7m (wreck)
Other Dive Centres in Mancora & North Coast
- Spondylus DC Mancora - ["PADI"]
Best Time to Dive in Mancora & North Coast
The warmest water temperatures in Mancora & North Coast occur in January, averaging 23.9°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 23.9°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 23.9°C (air: 25.7°C)
- February: 23.9°C (air: 26.8°C)
- March: 23.9°C (air: 26.9°C)
- April: 23.9°C (air: 26.2°C)
- May: 23.9°C (air: 24.7°C)
- June: 23.9°C (air: 23.2°C)
- July: 23.9°C (air: 22.4°C)
- August: 23.9°C (air: 21.9°C)
- September: 23.9°C (air: 21.8°C)
- October: 23.9°C (air: 22.3°C)
- November: 23.9°C (air: 21.8°C)
- December: 23.9°C (air: 24.0°C)
Marine Life in Mancora & North Coast
Home to 77 recorded species including 70 reef fish, 3 whales & dolphins, 3 sharks & rays, 1 sea snails & nudibranchs.
Notable Marine Life
- Mulet (Mugil curema) - Reef Fish
- Pompano (Trachinotus paitensis) - Reef Fish
- Flat Needlefish (Ablennes hians) - Reef Fish
- Rounded batfish (Zalieutes elater) - Reef Fish
- Atlantic Bumper (Chloroscombrus chrysurus) - Reef Fish
- Thread herring (Opisthonema libertate) - Reef Fish
- Common yellowtail croaker (Umbrina xanti) - Reef Fish
- Sergeant-major (Abudefduf saxatilis) - Reef Fish
- Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Blue bobo (Polydactylus approximans) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Mancora & North Coast
Based on average water temperature of 23.9°C.
- Wetsuit (3-5mm) - comfortable for 24°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