Diving in Bahia Solano

Location:
Bahia Solano, Choco

Contact Rodrigo Fajardo at the Hostal del Mar
Bahía Solano, Colombia

Diving

By Richard McColl

At 110 feet in depth the wreck of the former Colombian Navy vessel - Sebastian de Belalcazar - is out of reach to open water divers but remains an enticing attraction to Advanced level divers. The ship, scuttled to provide a haven for marine life, has an incredibly interesting history not to mention its current sea bed residents. Originally a US Navy boat that survived Pearl Harbor, it was decommissioned by the US and sold to Colombia and named after the Spanish Conquistador. Here, the vessel and crew were responsible for intercepting the largest shipment of weapons destined for the M19 guerrilla group. Now, experienced divers can glide over its hull, see into the control room, view massive snappers, groupers and the occasional shark that frequent the wreck. For very experienced divers, if the conditions are appropriate, there are possibilities of exploring the insides.

Getting There
To get to Bahia Solano you need to fly from either Pereira, Quibdo or Medellin.

Travel Tips: Check the equipment.

Price Description: $50 for two tanks plus some extra fees for boat gasoline

Relative price: Expensive

Travel Skills: advanced/difficult.

To See and Do: In the immediate area there are kayaking, hiking, beaching and fishing opportunities

Contact Information:
Phone: 574 682 7415
E-mail: rfajardo(at)remove-this.bis.com.co

Traveler Reviews of Diving in Bahia Solano

Sebastian de Belalcazar

Rating: 100%

The diving was incredible - although we saw no sharks, there were enormous groupers, snapper and just before immersion we spotted a turtle and a pair of whales.

By V!VA User from London, Nov 05, 2007