GOLONDRINA - Mancora & North Coast
The Golondrina, a fishing vessel that went down just off Paita in 1990, gives us a real sense of history here. We love how it’s settled upright at 24 metres, almost as if it’s still sailing the seabed. You can see the stern, bow, and wheelhouse, all fairly intact, and the current has done a good job of stripping away the superstructure, making it easy to see inside. Our favourite part is the engine room, which is still accessible if you’re a confident wreck diver and the conditions are calm. We’d suggest going in the morning; the light penetration through the open deck is beautiful then, illuminating the schools of glassfish that shimmer inside the hull. Keep an eye out for resident scorpionfish camouflaged on the deck, and we've often seen octopus tucked into the crevices. The Golondrina is a fantastic site for photographers, especially those looking for atmospheric wreck shots with that classic South American feel.
- Location
- Mancora & North Coast, Peru, South America
- Coordinates
- -5.050000, -81.116670
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 24m
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)
Nearby 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)
- LAZARELLA - 8m (wreck)
- Los Organos Bank - 10-30m (pinnacle)
- SIRENELLA - 7m (wreck)
Nearest Dive Centres to GOLONDRINA
- 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 GOLONDRINA
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