What is the best time to dive Gorgona Island?

The best months to dive Gorgona Island in Colombia are July, August, September, October. Water temperatures range from 24°C to 28°C during peak season.

How deep is Gorgona Island?

Gorgona Island reaches a maximum depth of 35 m, with visibility ranging from 8–20 m. The full depth range requires Advanced certification at minimum; some zones are technical diver territory.

What marine life can you see at Gorgona Island?

Gorgona Island is known for encounters with humpback whale, whale shark, hammerhead shark, manta ray, moray eel. The site features reef, wall, pelagic diving across 10 named sites, with a marine life score of 78/100 in OkToDive's ranking.

Is Gorgona Island good for beginners?

Gorgona Island is better suited to experienced divers. Currents can be moderate and depths reach 35 m. A minimum Advanced Open Water certification is required, and OkToDive recommends at least 100 logged dives before visiting.

How much does it cost to dive Gorgona Island?

A 2-tank dive at Gorgona Island averages around $110 USD, placing it in the mid range tier. Both boat and shore access are available, giving divers flexibility on budget.

Gorgona Island Diving — Score: 61.1/100 | Conditions, Operators & Guide

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World Class

Advanced

Gorgona Island

ColombiaSouth America

61.1

SCORE

2.9700°N

-78.1800°E

Gorgona was Colombia's Alcatraz until 1984, when it became a national park protecting some of the best Pacific diving in South America. Humpback whales breach in the channel from June to October, while hammerheads and whale sharks patrol the deeper waters. The jungle-covered island itself teems with endemic wildlife.

Colombia's Pacific Prison-Turned-Paradise

Visibility8–20 m

Temperature24–28°C

Max Depth35 m

Currentmoderate

2-Tank Dive$110

Best MonthsJuly, August, September, October

CertificationAdvanced Open WaterAdvanced

Score breakdown

Click any score to see a detailed breakdown

Marine Life

78.0

Species diversity, megafauna encounters, reef fish abundance, macro life, and endemic species.

Species Diversity

Megafauna Encounters

Reef Fish Abundance

Macro Life

Endemic Species

Marine life diversity

78.0

Coral & reef health

62.0

Visibility & conditions

50.0

Dive site variety

55.0

Water temperature

82.0

Depth & access

60.0

Operator quality

65.0

Topside experience

55.0

Getting there

22.0

Value & cost

62.0

Crowding

92.0

Social proof

50.0

Key species

humpback whale whale shark hammerhead shark manta ray moray eel

Dive types

reefwallpelagic

Traveling with non-divers?

Your non-diving travel companions will find plenty to enjoy topside while you're underwater. Here are some activities to consider.

Activities for non-divers

jungle hikingwhale watchingformer prison ruins tourbirdwatching

Nearby cultural sites

Former prison ruins
Gorgona Island Natural Park

Non-diver score

6/10

Good topside options for non-diving companions.

Family FriendlyNot recommended

Restaurants & Nightlifenone

Safety & emergency

Dive insurance

DAN recommends dive insurance for all divers.

Learn more at DAN.org

Hyperbaric Chamber400 km — Hospital Universitario del Valle, Cali

Nearest Hospital200 km

Very remote; boat to Guapi then flight to Cali for hospital and chamber

Skill LevelAdvanced

Current Strengthmoderate

Top operators

Aviatur Eco Tours

PADI

4.4

38 reviews

Compare this dive site

Gorgona Island in Colombia scores 61.1/100in OkToDive's 12-category data-driven rating. Best for reef diving with 8–20m visibility and 24–28°C water temps. A 2-tank dive costs ~$110 USD. Peak season: July, August, September.

Last updated: 2026-05-25

Who should dive here

Best for

+ Divers who prioritize reef diving
+ Anyone visiting South America for the first time
+ Groups seeking 10+ named dive sites in one area

Skip if

− You don't have Advanced certification
− You need shore access — this is boat-only

Verdict

Choose Gorgona Island over similar South America destinations when crowding matters more than getting there

How Gorgona Island compares

Site	Score	Visibility	Cost/dive	Best for
Gorgona Island	61.1	8–20m	$110	reef, wall
Providencia	70.1	20–40m	$80	reef, wall
Galapagos Islands	66.9	6–24m	$300	pelagic, wall
Arraial do Cabo	63.7	8–25m	$75	reef, wreck
Abrolhos Marine Park	61.0	8–20m	$120	reef, wall

Honest reality check

What your dive shop won't tell you

The minimum certification printed on a brochure is the legal floor, not the honest recommendation. Here's what we actually think you should bring to this site.

Recommended logged dives

40+

Below this we'd send you somewhere easier first.

Recommended certification

Advanced Open Water

“Accessible to most certified divers with basic open water skills.”

What will challenge you

→Moderate currents. Expect to drift — this is not a skill-builder site for a first trip after certification.
→Recreational limit of 40 m is reachable here (max depth 35 m). Gas planning and NDL tracking matter.
→Nearest hyperbaric chamber is ~400 km away. Evacuation is slow. Dive conservative profiles and get DAN insurance before you fly.

What will surprise you

→Thermoclines can drop water temp by 4°C between the surface and depth. Your wetsuit choice should match the minimum, not the average.
→Short dive season — only 4 months worth going (July, August, September, October). Book well ahead or miss it.
→Permit-restricted access. Daily cap: 20 divers. Book 6+ months ahead through a licensed operator.

Time of day

When to dive it

Every dive shop gives you this briefing at 7am. We just wrote it down. Tidal dependency: slight. Optimal window: First light to 11am for best visibility..

Morning

Viz
moderate
Current
moderate
Crowd
light

reef exploration
photography

Best light and calmest conditions before afternoon wind picks up.

Afternoon

Viz
moderate
Current
moderate
Crowd
moderate

drift diving
second tank

Wind chop can reduce viz. Still diveable but morning is better.

Month-by-month

Dive forecast

Realistic conditions by month. Viz ranges are what you should actually expect, not best-case marketing numbers. Confidence % is the share of days that match this profile historically.

Month	Viz (m)	Temp (°C)	Current	Sea	Rain	Confidence	Highlights
Jan	8–14	24	Mod	Mod	Light	70%	reef fish active, peak season crowds
Feb	8–14	24	Mod	Mod	Light	70%	reef fish active, peak season crowds
Mar	8–14	24	Mod	Mod	Light	70%	reef fish active, peak season crowds
Apr	8–14	24	Mod	Mod	Light	70%	reef fish active
May	17–20	28	Mod	Calm	Dry	70%	reef fish active
Jun	17–20	28	Mod	Calm	Dry	70%	reef fish active
Jul	17–20	28	Mod	Calm	Dry	70%	reef fish active
Aug	17–20	28	Mod	Calm	Dry	70%	reef fish active
Sep	17–20	28	Mod	Calm	Dry	70%	reef fish active
Oct	8–14	24	Mod	Mod	Light	70%	reef fish active
Nov	8–14	24	Mod	Mod	Light	70%	reef fish active
Dec	8–14	24	Mod	Mod	Light	70%	reef fish active

Shoot here

Photography brief

Subjects are only half the shot. A perfect macro site is useless in a three-knot drift, and a wide-angle dream is useless at 35 m with a murky ceiling. These are the conditions, not the hype.

Macro subjects53

Wide angle74

Viz stability42

Hover friendliness70

Natural light35

Recommended kit

→Wide-angle or fisheye (8-15mm range), dual strobes for close-focus wide angle

Level up here

What this site will teach you

The dives that made you a better diver are the ones that made you uncomfortable for the right reasons. Here's what this site will quietly train you for.

Deep diving comfort
advanced
Regular dives past 30m build confidence at depth.

What it costsEstimates — calibration pending

7-day trip, per person

Rough ranges anchored to existing regional data — not booking quotes. Land-based trip, standard breakdown.

Budget

$1,800–$2,700

Hostels, shore diving, cheap eats

Flights (RT from US): $630–$770
Accommodation / day: $50–$100
Diving / day: $90–$110
Food / day: $15–$30
Transfers + misc: $80–$230

Mid-range

$2,950–$4,450

3-star hotels, standard boat ops, mix of restaurants

Flights (RT from US): $990–$1,200
Accommodation / day: $120–$220
Diving / day: $110–$140
Food / day: $35–$70
Transfers + misc: $80–$230

Splurge

$5,050–$8,100

Top resorts or liveaboards, premium operators

Flights (RT from US): $1,600–$2,000
Accommodation / day: $260–$500
Diving / day: $140–$190
Food / day: $80–$150
Transfers + misc: $80–$230

Budget decision guide

Choose Budget if you prioritize dive count over comfort — hostels and shore diving maximize bottom time per dollar. Choose Mid-range for the best balance of comfort and value — most divers land here. Choose Splurge for premium operators, private guides, and top-tier accommodation — worth it for special trips or non-diving partners.

Flights priced round-trip from a major US hub. Figures are per person on a shared room. Solo travelers add ~30% to accommodation.

Pair with

Build a trip around it

Most divers fly across the world for one destination and don't realise another worth-it site is 90 minutes away. Here are the honest pairings.

Best dive types here

Gorgona Island Diving — Colombia