Theoretically it
is possible to scuba dive and snorkel around most of the
long coastline
and the more than 70 islands
that Venezuela has in the Caribbean Sea. This south american
country boasts outstanding and abundant sites teeming
with underwater flora and fauna and the plus of being
still fairly unknown to the mainstream diving world in
spite of its clear waters and excellent temperatures.
Los
Roques Archipelago National Park is Venezuela's diving
and snorkeling mecca. Los
Roques SCUBA diving combines a stay either at a guesthouse
or a sailboat with up to three daily immersions to submerged
caves and vertical walls full of sponges, manta rays and
sharks, or head north to isolated Las
Aves, where it is possible to dive to shipwrecks dating
back to colonial times. Sign for an submarine photography
session in Morrocoy
National Park and take back home those incredible
shots of multicolored fish, starfish, sea urchins, anemones
and corals. From Choroni,
visit La Cienaga's coral lagoon. Higuerote, just 2 hours
by car from Caracas,
is the starting point for day tours or longer trips to
Farallon and La
Tortuga. Also close to Caracas, Chichiriviche de la
Costa is a good introductory place of admirable undersea
banks and, if lucky enough, catch a glimpse of a sperm
or humpback whale. Mochima
National Park is very good for snorkeling and diving
in its quartz-walled caves and walls with christmas trees,
feather duster worms, arrow crabs, angelfish, manta rays
and reef fish. From Margarita,
Venezuela's biggest island, several diving and snorkeling
options leave for smaller islands and archipelagos full
of corals, sea fans, barracudas, parrotfish, moray eels
and oysters plus some wrecks like Coche,
Cubagua,
La Tortuga, Farallon, La
Blanquilla, Los Hermanos, Los
Testigos and Los
Frailes.
Instruction from the most general to the
most advanced and equipment rental are available at most
sites and all operations are certified by at least one
international diving organization. Several additional
activities like birdwatching,
fishing,
cruising
and windsurfing
are on hand as well.
Contact
us to include diving in
a customized itinerary of travel to Venezuela.
