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MapSpeciesParksDiving
  1. Home
  2. Diving and snorkelling
  4. Ecuador
  5. Machalilla / Isla de la Plata
Reef/PelagicMarine Protected Area

Machalilla / Isla de la Plata

Depth: 8–25 mLevel: Advanced Open WaterJune-September (whales)
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The island is sometimes called "the poor man's Galápagos" for its birdlife and its accessibility from the mainland, although the diving is very different from that of the archipelago.

Depth

8–25 m

Recommended level

Advanced Open Water

Average visibility

12 m

Nicknamed the "poor man's Galápagos" for its similar wildlife at a fraction of the cost, on Ecuador's mainland coast.

Protection status

Machalilla National Park

Location

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Machalilla / Isla de la Plata: 23 documented species

Ecosystem

ReefLarge pelagics

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Same country: Ecuador

Same country: Ecuador

Same country: Ecuador

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Water temperature

22 °C

Current

Moderate

Access

Boat

Best season

June-September (whales)

Recommended certification

Advanced Open Water

Approx. price

55 USD / dive

Plan your dive

Best season
June-September (whales)
Approx. price
55 USD / dive
See location

Same country: Ecuador

Ecuador · Manabí
See on the interactive map→
Humpback WhaleLeast Concern

Humpback Whale

Megaptera novaeangliae

SkipjackLeast Concern

Skipjack

Katsuwonus pelamis

Humboldt SquidNot Evaluated

Humboldt Squid

Dosidicus gigas

Sally Lightfoot CrabNot Evaluated

Sally Lightfoot Crab

Grapsus grapsus

Moon CrabNot Evaluated

Moon Crab

Gecarcinus quadratus

Hump CoralNear Threatened

Hump Coral

Porites lobata

Pantropical Spotted DolphinLeast Concern

Pantropical Spotted Dolphin

Stenella attenuata

Bottlenose DolphinLeast Concern

Bottlenose Dolphin

Tursiops truncatus

Moorish IdolLeast Concern

Moorish Idol

Zanclus cornutus

Giant MantaEndangered

Giant Manta

Mobula birostris

Killer WhaleEndangered

Killer Whale

Orcinus orca

Spot-fin PorcupinefishLeast Concern

Spot-fin Porcupinefish

Diodon hystrix

See all 23 species found here
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CountryEcuador
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