DON PANCHO - Mancora & North Coast

Don Pancho, off Peru’s northern coast, isn’t your typical Caribbean postcard wreck. This isn't a pristine ship sitting upright for Instagram, but it’s still one of our favourite dives in the area. What we found was a fishing vessel, sunk back in ‘75 near Paita, now broken up and spread across the sandy bottom at 27 metres. It feels more like an archaeological site than a single, coherent wreck. The real draw here is the way the ocean has completely reclaimed it. Metal plates lie scattered, creating nooks and crannies where we’ve spotted giant morays peering out, their heads swaying. Schools of grunts and snappers hang thick around the larger sections, often so dense you have to fin through them. The visibility can be variable, sometimes a bit murky, but that just adds to the atmospheric gloom of the wreck. Look closely among the debris for nudibranchs, especially around the remaining structure of the stern. It's a dive for those who enjoy exploration, picking apart the story of a wreck that's long past its prime. Not for new divers, but experienced wreck enthusiasts will appreciate the hunt for marine life within the scattered remains.

Location: Mancora & North Coast, Peru, South America
Coordinates: -5.000000, -81.166664
Type: wreck
Maximum Depth: 27m

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)

Nearest Dive Centres to DON PANCHO

Chelonia Dive Center - ["PADI"]
Spondylus DC Mancora - ["PADI"]

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 Species

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
Lumptail searobin (Prionotus stephanophrys) - Reef Fish
Roughbar Frogfish (Fowlerichthys avalonis) - Reef Fish
Daisy midshipman (Porichthys margaritatus) - Reef Fish
Puffer (Sphoeroides annulatus) - Reef Fish
Atlantic Spanish Mackerel (Scomberomorus maculatus) - Reef Fish
Springer (Mugil cephalus) - Reef Fish
Shortjaw Leatherjack (Oligoplites refulgens) - Reef Fish
Burrito Grunt (Anisotremus interruptus) - Reef Fish
Bonefish (Albula vulpes) - Reef Fish
Jack (Caranx hippos) - Reef Fish

Recommended Packing List for DON PANCHO

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