CUMANA - Los Roques Archipelago
Cumana, oh Cumana. This isn't a deep dive, sitting shallow at nine meters, but it’s one of our favourite Los Roques wrecks for a good reason. The old ferry, intentionally beached and later sunk in ‘85, has just enough history to give it character. You swim over the main deck and feel that slight drag from the current, looking down into what used to be passenger cabins, now dark openings that beckon you closer. We love exploring the wheelhouse, still largely intact. Sunlight filters through the gaps, illuminating schools of tiny silversides that flicker like scattered glitter. Keep an eye out for nurse sharks often napping under the deeper sections, and we always spot a few grumpy-looking moray eels peeking from the holes in the hull. Visibility here is usually excellent, making it a dream for photographers, especially when the sun is high and casting those long shadows across the metal. It’s a site that suits divers who appreciate a good story with their wreck, and aren't afraid to poke around a bit.
- Location
- Los Roques Archipelago, Venezuela, South America
- Coordinates
- 10.885278, -64.118060
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 9m
Marine Protected Area: Laguna de La Restinga
Best Time to Dive in Los Roques Archipelago
The warmest water temperatures in Los Roques Archipelago occur in January, averaging 27.5°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 27.5°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 27.5°C (air: 26.4°C)
- February: 27.5°C (air: 26.2°C)
- March: 27.5°C (air: 26.2°C)
- April: 27.5°C (air: 26.7°C)
- May: 27.5°C (air: 27.2°C)
- June: 27.5°C (air: 27.5°C)
- July: 27.5°C (air: 27.6°C)
- August: 27.5°C (air: 28.1°C)
- September: 27.5°C (air: 28.7°C)
- October: 27.5°C (air: 28.6°C)
- November: 27.5°C (air: 27.8°C)
- December: 27.5°C (air: 27.2°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Los Roques Archipelago
- Boca de Cote - 10-30m (drift)
- CARMINA - 20m (wreck)
- Cominoto el Hoyo - 10-25m (reef)
- Cominoto el Velero (wreck)
- Cubagua - 5-20m (reef)
- CUMANA (POSSIBLY) - 8m (wreck)
- Dos Mosquises - 5-18m (reef)
- Farallon
- Gran Roque West
- Ichao el Tunal
- INDEPENDENCE - 40m (wreck)
- La Ensenada - 5-15m (reef)
- La Guasa
- La Pecha
- La Penia - 5-20m (reef)
Nearest Dive Centres to CUMANA
Marine Life in Los Roques Archipelago
Home to 342 recorded species including 288 reef fish, 24 hard corals, 17 sharks & rays, 3 other, 3 seagrass & algae, 3 whales & dolphins.
Notable Species
- Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
- Elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) - Hard Corals
- Mustard hill coral (Porites astreoides) - Hard Corals
- Dark Green Parrotfish (Sparisoma viride) - Reef Fish
- Blue Doctor (Acanthurus coeruleus) - Reef Fish
- Sheephead (Microspathodon chrysurus) - Reef Fish
- French grunt (Haemulon flavolineatum) - Reef Fish
- Gutong (Scarus iseri) - Reef Fish
- Blueman (Scarus vetula) - Reef Fish
- Stripy (Katsuwonus pelamis) - Reef Fish
- Barber (Acanthurus bahianus) - Reef Fish
- Cola (Ocyurus chrysurus) - Reef Fish
- Sammy Johnson (Scarus taeniopterus) - Reef Fish
- Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)
- Gutong (Sparisoma aurofrenatum) - Reef Fish
- Butterfly (Chaetodon capistratus) - Reef Fish
- Schoolmaster (Lutjanus apodus) - Reef Fish
- Bluestriped Grunt (Haemulon sciurus) - Reef Fish
- Allison's Tuna (Thunnus albacares) - Reef Fish
- Fire coral (Millepora complanata) - Jellyfish
Recommended Packing List for CUMANA
Based on average water temperature of 27.5°C.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 28°C water needs minimal exposure protection
- 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