INDEPENDENCE - Los Roques Archipelago
The Independence wreck, off the coast of Los Roques, really stands out for us. It’s not just a sunken hull; it’s a time capsule. This motor vessel went down in 1974, coming to rest upright in about 40 metres. We love how the decades have softened its industrial edges, turning bulkheads and decks into canvases for sponges and corals. Swimming along the deck, you’ll spot schools of glassy sweepers shimmering in the shadowed cargo holds. Look closer, and you might see an octopus camouflaged against the rust-red plating, or a green moray peeking from a porthole. It’s a dive for those who appreciate history intertwined with nature’s reclamation. Because of the depth, we’d suggest this one for advanced divers comfortable with decompression limits. If you time your dive right, typically mid-morning before any strong currents pick up, the visibility can be excellent, letting you take in the scale of this old ship.
- Location
- Los Roques Archipelago, Venezuela, South America
- Coordinates
- 10.991667, -65.475000
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 40m
Marine Protected Area: Dependencias Federales: Isla La Tortuga, Las Tortuguillas, Cayo Herradura, los Palanquines, y su Espacio Acuático Asociado
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 - 9m (wreck)
- CUMANA (POSSIBLY) - 8m (wreck)
- Dos Mosquises - 5-18m (reef)
- Farallon
- Gran Roque West
- Ichao el Tunal
- La Ensenada - 5-15m (reef)
- La Guasa
- La Pecha
- La Penia - 5-20m (reef)
Nearest Dive Centres to INDEPENDENCE
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 INDEPENDENCE
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