Magnecita - Los Roques Archipelago
Magnecita is a cracking little dive in Los Roques, a proper contrast to the typical reef dives here. We love a good wreck, and this one, a cargo ship that went down decades ago, has settled nicely at about 18 metres. What you get is a really approachable wreck, she's broken in a few places, but the hull is largely intact, creating these fantastic swim-throughs where you can poke your head into old cargo holds. The ship itself has become a living reef. Giant barrel sponges cling to the superstructure, and we've seen schools of snapper holding tight to the decks. Look closely and you'll spot morays peeking from the nooks and crannies. It's not a deep dive, making it perfect for those who want a long bottom time to really explore the nooks and crannies without rushing. We'd suggest aiming for a morning dive before the wind picks up, when the light really streams through the hull, catching the silvery scales of the barracuda that often patrol the area. It’s a definite standout for wreck enthusiasts, a good change of pace.
- Location
- Los Roques Archipelago, Venezuela, South America
- Coordinates
- 10.990238, -63.800030
- Type
- wreck
Marine Protected Area: Laguna Blanca o del Morro
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
- INDEPENDENCE - 40m (wreck)
- La Ensenada - 5-15m (reef)
- La Guasa
- La Pecha
Nearest Dive Centres to Magnecita
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 Magnecita
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