Diving in Bahia Solano - Diving Bahía Solano - Colombia

Almost 34 meters (110 ft) below the sea, the wreck of the former Colombian Navy vessel, the Sebastián de Belalcázar, is a mystical attraction. The site is out of reach to open-water divers, but remains an enticing destination for more advanced divers. The ship, scuttled to provide a haven for marine life, has an incredibly interesting history. Originally a U.S. Navy boat that survived Pearl Harbor, it was decommissioned by the U.S., sold to Colombia and named after a Spanish conquistador. At that time, the vessel and crew were responsible for intercepting the largest shipment of weapons destined for the M19 guerrilla group.

Today, experienced divers glide over the ship’s hull, looking into the control room and massive snappers, groupers and the occasional shark. For very experienced divers, there are possibilities of exploring within if the conditions are appropriate. For more information on diving, contact Rodrigo Fajardo at the Posada del Mar (Tel: 682-7415, E-mail: rfajardo@bis.com.co); he runs all diving trips from Bahía Solano.

Location:

Diving

Getting There

To get to Bahía Solano, you need to fly from either Pereira, Quibdó or Medellín.

Travel Tips:

Check the equipment.

Price Description:

$60 for two tanks, plus some extra fees for boat gasoline

Relative price: High End

Travel Skills: advanced/difficult.

In the immediate area there are kayaking, hiking, beaching and fishing opportunities

About this Page

By Richard McColl
With over five years travelling and working in Latin America, Richard feels most at home here in the big Continent. From the former Scottish...

Updated: 30 Aug 2011