Scuba Diving San Andrés: Certified divers, small groups

Limited visibility and brain corals the size of boulders

Half-day scuba diving on San Andrés Island for certified divers, run by a PADI 5-Star resort in small groups of 6 to 8 people. You make two dives at different reef sites with a guide, complete scuba gear, tanks and air included. Pickup and drop-off happen at meeting points across the island. Divers must be certified, have logged a dive in the last eight months, and wait 12 to 18 hours after diving before flying.

The experience

You arrive at a meeting point anywhere on San Andrés (your hotel, a beach access, a dock), and the guide picks you up with the gear already loaded. No rental shop, no paperwork at a dive center, no waiting for a group to assemble. The boat heads to the first site, and the water temperature sits at 27 degrees with visibility beyond 30 meters on the days the current cooperates. Brain corals, moose horn, fire coral and sea fans fill the reef in layers, and the guide stays close enough to point out what moves and what stays rooted.

Two dives happen at different spots, so the second site often holds something the first one didn't: a different angle on the same reef, or a separate formation altogether. The dives run back-to-back with a surface interval between them, which is why the whole outing takes four and a half hours from pickup to drop-off. Groups stay small, six to eight divers maximum, so the guide can watch everyone and nobody gets lost in a crowd underwater.

Gear comes with you: BCD, mask, fins, weights, regulator, two standard aluminum 80-cubic-foot tanks filled with air. Dive computers cost extra if you want one. Most divers bring their own. Wetsuits are not included and run an additional charge if you need one. The guide speaks English or Spanish depending on the group.

What’s included

• Two dives at different reef sites.
• complete scuba gear including BCD, mask, fins, weights and regulator.
• two standard aluminum 80-cubic-foot tanks filled with air.
• a certified guide speaking English or Spanish.
• pickup and drop-off at meeting points across San Andrés Island.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:30 and 14:00

AgesAdult (10 to 60 years) · Under 10: can't be booked

GroupUp to 8

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 23

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Scuba San Andres Dive Shop

Is this one for you?Book this dive if you're certified and staying on San Andrés without a car: pickup at your hotel or a beach access means you skip the logistics of finding the dive shop and getting to the boat, and the small group size keeps the pace relaxed enough that you can focus on the reef instead of managing a crowd.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

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.

I'm staying in a hotel on San Andrés, how does pickup work?

The operator picks you up at your hotel or at a designated meeting point anywhere on the island and drops you back there after the dives, so you don't need a car or a taxi to get to the boat.

What does the water look like on the reefs around San Andrés?

Visibility runs 30 meters or more on clear days, and the reefs are built from brain corals, fire coral, sea fans and moose horn coral stacked in different depths, with water temperature around 27 degrees Celsius year-round.

How long has it been since I last dived? Does that matter?

You need to have logged at least one dive in the last eight months to join this trip. If it's been longer, you'll need a refresher course elsewhere before booking.

Can I fly home the same day after diving?

No, you must wait 12 to 18 hours after your last dive before flying, so plan your departure for the next day if you're diving in the afternoon.

What if I don't have my own dive computer?

Dive computers are available to rent for an additional cost. If you prefer to use your own, bring it with you.

Is there anything I should know about my fitness before booking?

You should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness. The operator does not recommend diving if you have spinal injuries, cardiovascular issues, or are pregnant.