LAZARELLA - Mancora & North Coast

Lazarella is our pick for a shallow wreck dive up on Peru’s north coast, a fishing boat that ran aground back in 1983. It’s sitting upright in about eight meters, just off the beach, making it ideal for a relaxed dive, especially if you’re looking to extend your bottom time or get back in the water after a break. We love how the structure has become a home. You can still make out the wheelhouse, the bow, and the stern, though time and the ocean have started to blur the edges. Small schools of grunts and snappers hang out in the shadows, and you’ll spot a surprising number of scorpionfish camouflaged against the hull, so keep those eyes peeled. Look closely, and you might see the subtle shift of a frogfish’s sway on the decks. The visibility here can vary, but on a good day, with a bit of sunlight filtering through the swells, it’s a peaceful, somewhat eerie experience. It’s certainly not a deep, dramatic wreck, but it’s full of character and life, a real pleasure for photography or just a gentle exploration.

Location: Mancora & North Coast, Peru, South America
Coordinates: -5.066667, -81.133330
Type: wreck
Maximum Depth: 8m

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 LAZARELLA

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 LAZARELLA

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