Underwater Heritage Las Grutas

The Underwater Parks of San Matias Gulf.

 

The San Matias Gulf holds along its coastline various diving sites, within which lies he beauty and variety of a patagonian underwater environment. Las Grutas and Sierra Grande count on their own respective underwater parks; a must for experienced and not-so-experienced divers.

 

All year round you can endulge in the beauty of the depths of San Matias. You can see fish such sandperchs, seabass, porgies, white beams, flounders and rockfish among many. The gulf is also well known for its variety of crustaceans and other invertebrates; they make thebeds and the walls of the numerous rocks and caves a virtual patchwork of colour and form. Anemones, polychaetes and many species of crabs, not forgetting the enigmating sea-horse, embroider the quilt along with a great variety of algae. Let’s not forget the unexpected visit of ample marine mammals such as dolphins, sea lions and the majestic southern right whale.

 

 

Las Grutas Underwater Park

 

The Las Grutas Underwater Park holds many sites that offer various levels of difficulty to its visitor. In front of the third level you can find the diving platform from which one can accede to a submerged rock formation on which the traditional “baptism” can be carried out. The place has a depth of between 3 to 6 metres and it’s populated by a varied bunch of underwater patagonian species.Towards the south other sites delight us, like La Isla or, going north, Orengo Beach, which offer bigger stretches and formation varieties to experience, but also more currents and depths.

 

In the intertidal zone, during low-tide, a system of shallow wells forms, brimming with numerous species of juvenile sea-life, allowing us the joyof observing the by snorkeliong. You can marvel at the varied assortment of octopus, rockfish, flounders, seabass and invertebrates.