San Andrés: Helmet Diving & Poseidon Statue Underwater
Walk the seafloor in San Andrés without learning to dive
You descend in a weighted helmet and walk the seafloor for 25 minutes, breathing normally the whole time. You'll see the Poseidon statue, feed fish by hand, and get photos from your instructor. No diving certification or swimming ability needed. Confirm your time slot on arrival, and plan to be at West View twenty minutes before your scheduled hour.
Step-by-step itinerary
Aquanautas underwater walking experience
- Confirm activity time on arrival
- Receive helmet and safety briefing
- Begin 25-minute underwater walk
- See Poseidon statue and marine life
- Feed fish during the walk
- Instructor guides and takes photos
What’s included
Your experience includes a weighted brass helmet fitted for safe breathing, an instructor who stays with you the entire 25 minutes underwater, water shoes, locker storage, and professional photos taken by your guide of you at the Poseidon statue and around the seafloor. The helmet allows you to breathe naturally without any diving training or swimming ability.
Times
- Monday to Saturday 10:00 16:00
Before you book
Operated by AQUANAUTAS
Prices and times updated 15 days ago
Traveler reviews
The experience
The boat is already moving when you step aboard at West View. Twenty minutes before your scheduled hour, you're fitted into the helmet: a weighted brass affair that looks like something from an old diving manual, except it's designed so you breathe naturally the whole time, no tank on your back, no training required. Your instructor checks the seal, nods, and then you're descending the ladder into water so clear you can see the sand thirty feet down.
The walk itself lasts 25 minutes, and it's stranger than snorkeling because you're actually on the bottom, moving slowly across the seafloor instead of floating above it. Fish come close (closer than they do when you're thrashing around on the surface), and you feed them by hand if you want. The real draw is the Poseidon statue, a bronze figure planted on the sand that looks both absurd and oddly peaceful down there. Your instructor stays with you the whole time, pointing things out and taking pictures of you standing next to it, helmet and all. Groups stay small, never more than six people, which means you're not jostling for space or waiting for someone else to finish their moment.
The whole thing runs on the hour, every hour, so timing is flexible, but you do need to confirm your slot when you arrive on the island because weather and sea conditions can shut it down. Show up at West View twenty minutes early, bring nothing but yourself (cameras stay on the boat), and wear the water shoes they provide. Even if you've never swum a lap in your life, you can do this. The helmet does the work.
Is this one for you?Book this if you want to walk on the seafloor and see marine life up close without the learning curve of scuba certification or the physical demand of snorkeling: the helmet and instructor handle everything, leaving you free to feed fish and stand in front of a bronze god thirty feet down.
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Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English, Spanish and Portuguese.
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
Do I need to know how to swim?
No. The helmet diving in San Andrés is designed for non-swimmers. You walk on the seafloor, not float on the surface.
How long is the underwater walk?
25 minutes underwater, plus time for fitting the helmet and descending the ladder.
What's included?
The helmet, guide, lockers, water shoes, and instructor photos of your time underwater.
How many people go at once?
Groups are 1 to 6 people, with departures every hour.
Can I bring my camera?
No, cameras aren't allowed during the activity. Your instructor takes photos for you.
Do I need to book in advance?
Confirm your time slot when you arrive on the island. Contact Aquanautas 24 hours before to check weather and operating conditions.
What's the minimum height?
1.42 meters (about 4'8"). Children under 12 are not permitted.
What if the weather is bad?
The activity may be cancelled due to sea conditions. Confirm 24 hours in advance and check again on the day.
Where do I meet?
West View. Arrive 20 minutes before your scheduled time.
San Andrés: Helmet Diving & Poseidon Statue Underwater
1h 30m · EN · ES · PT
from US$ 60 per person
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