The Colombian islands of Providencia and Santa Catalina, part of the UNESCO Seaflower Biosphere Reserve, lie within the San Andrés archipelago. The islands, situated roughly 125 miles off the Nicaraguan coast, provide a base for exploring over 40 sites of shallow-to-deep dives. Marine life includes huge sponges and corals, schools of groupers, jacks and snappers, caribbean reef fish, huge crabs and lobsters, sea turtles, stingrays and reef sharks. There are several wrecks to explore and night diving which reveal elusive octopuses, sleeping fish, scuttling cigales de mer and brilliant phosphorescence.

In the rainy season visibility can be hindered, as rainwater flushes out the land and fills the waters around the island with the debris. However, with a low-season range of around 30-50 feet, visibility is still good- even if the water is not always the piercing shades of aqua that it has the potential to be.

There are currently three dive outfits on the island; Sirius Hotel and Dive Centre is the only accommodation with its own dive shop, where all PADI courses are offered. All travel to and from Providencia is through larger neighbouring island San Andrés, 25 minutes by plane or 8 hours by cargo boat.

Read more about Providencia here.

Written by  Amber Dobrzensky.

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