Well known for its shipwrecks, including the famous Monte Cervantes, the Beagle Channel is named in honor of the HMS Beagle, which traveled through the area in 1833 with Charles Darwin onboard. Darwin was amazed by the views, which include beautiful blue glaciers juxtaposed against a backdrop of pristine white snow, soaring mountaintops, and an endless expanse of clean, cold water. Underwater, beautiful kelp forests, splendid marine life, and incredible rock formations reflect the same magnificence you’ll find topside. Let’s take a look at five of the top dive sites the area has to offer.
Estancia Tunel
Also known as the old Tunel Farm, this is a fantastic site where you’ll be able to visit a sheltered bay fronted by an abandoned house and a lovely pebbled beach. The rocks that surround the bay protect it from outside currents, and provide shelter to lots of macro life, including colorful starfish, crabs, little octopus, and even some intricately patterned nudibranchs. There is a small wall beyond the rocks, which drops to a depth of 10 meters. The wall rises up from a plateau, which eventually meets the seabed at a depth of 23 meters. In addition, you’ll find a beautiful emerald green kelp forest which shelters a number of different fish species, and it is not uncommon to encounter sea lions while exploring the bay.
Isla De Los Lobos
Located about an hour from Ushuaia, near Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse, Isla de los Lobos is also known as Sea Lions Island, and is named for the colony of sea lions which live nearby. The island is surrounded by a magnificent kelp forest, which not only shelters fish and numerous forms of macro life including starfish, sea urchins, and crabs, but which provides a playground for the sea lions, who often join divers, putting on quite a show. Maximum depth here is 23 meters, and during the winter, when the water is clearest, you can get some truly incredible photos, especially on sunny days.
Islas Bridges
Also known as Bridges Islands, this group of four little islands is located just about twenty feet offshore from Ushuaia. A fantastic site for all divers, and often used for diver training, the site features depths between 10 and 14 meters, and is well sheltered from outside currents and the winds that whip up and down Beagle Channel. Here, you’ll find crabs and other crustaceans, plenty of fish, and the occasional group of playful sea lions. The rock formations are fantastic, as are the patches of kelp – both combine to create a magical atmosphere which is simply unforgettable.
Isla Redonda
Situated just offshore from the Tierra del Fuego National Park, Isla Redonda, or Round Island, is the site of the World’s End Post Office, plus there is a small Coast Guard base belonging to the Prefectura Nacional. Steep walls drop away from the island’s rocky coast, meeting the seabed at a depth of 27 meters. A dense, somewhat dark kelp forest surrounds the island, providing a safe haven for all kinds of marine life, large and small. Watch for crabs and tiny fish, sea lions, and lots of fish.
Bahia Ensenada
Also known as Ensenada Bay, Bahia Ensenada is located within the boundaries of the Tierra del Fuego National Park. Topside, splendid views await; and beneath the surface, you’ll find plenty of octopus, fish, crustaceans, and nudibranchs, plus the occasional sea lion. Easily accessible from shore, the site can be reached from either boat or car, and is shallow enough for novices to enjoy. Those with more experience will have fun here too, as visibility is excellent, and night diving is outstanding.
There are a variety of accommodations available in the area, and dive operators have drysuits available for rent, along with US regulators and octos, BC’s and other equipment. Be sure to make reservations in advance whether you plan to dive during the winter or summer, as space is limited. Most of all though, enjoy this rare opportunity to dive some of the most pristine sites on the planet.