El Salvador is a wonderful country in Central America that lies on the Pacific Ocean. With no coastline on the Caribbean, you might think this is not much of a destination for divers, but this is simply not the case. El Salvador offers fantastic ocean diving that gives divers the chance to experience Pacific diving at its best. However, there is another side to diving in El Salvador that is difficult to experience elsewhere. El Salvador is home to two vast crater lakes, Lake Ilopango and Lake Coatepeque, that offer a unique diving environment that will thrill and delight any diver. These are great places for beginners to learn the sport of diving and these lakes also offer plenty to see and do for the experienced diver. Let’s take a closer look!
Lake Ilopango
Lake Ilopango is the largest lake in El Salvador and is located 15 km east of San Salvador. It was formed by a volcanic eruption in the year 240 AD that was accompanied by a huge explosion, one of the greatest in earth’s history and even greater than Krakatoa. Another volcanic eruption in the 19th century was responsible for creating the large volcanic island that graces the center of the lake. Lake Ilopango is 72 square km is area and 230 m in depth and because of its volcanic origins, the topography of the lake is very pronounced and rocky creating the perfect environment for some interesting wall and cliff diving. Fortunately, the temperature is a minimum of 26 C (77 F) and this makes for pleasant diving no matter what time of year it might be. Besides the main volcanic island in the center of the lake, there are a few other islands in the lake around which divers can explore and that are home to a number of different bird species.
Lake Coatepeque
Lake Coatepeque was also formed by a volcanic eruption that happened about 10,000 years ago and it is nestled between two volcanoes, the Santa Ana and Izalco. Located 53 km from San Salvador and 12 km from Santa Ana, this lake is surrounded by the green slopes that grow in rich volcanic soil and Cerro Verde. This is a wonderful lake diving site and is the busiest of the two lakes. Traditionally a weekend retreat for the people of San Salvador, this lake is dotted with vacation cottages as well as hotels that offer accommodations to travelers who wish to enjoy everything the lake has to offer.
Diving The Lakes
So what makes diving in these lakes so different from anywhere else? One of the first things divers might notice in these lakes is the presence of volcanic nodules, round rocks formed from lava that froze immediately upon touching the water. Lake Ilopango is well known for its cave diving and also has a section at about 110 feet deep where divers can find coins that are more than 100 years old. The story goes that these coins were made by the coffee farmers to use as currency at a time when there was no need for official currency in the country. Divers will also find hot water vents that reach down deep into the hot earth and are identified by the sulfur deposits that surround the opening.
Lake Coatepeque has a slightly different flavor when it comes to diving. This lake is a haven for many types of underwater life, including catfish, guapote, and zebra fish. At the southern end of the lake, divers will find the last remnants of the ancient volcanic activity, a series of fumaroles and hot springs on some of the islands there – Isla del Cerro, Cerro Pacho, and Cerro Afate. This lake and its surroundings are very lively and it is easy to spend many days just enjoying the scenery, the activities, and the people.
Both Lake Ilopango and Lake Coatepeque have lodging and offer plenty of other activities besides diving. This means that when the sun goes down or when divers want to take a day off and stay above water, they can indulge in activities that include hiking, kayaking, fishing, water skiing, and lying on the beach. Just a stone’s throw west of Lake Coatepeque is Parque Nacional Cerra Verde, where visitors can get a panoramic view of the lake and the Santa Ana and Izalco volcanoes. The park is also a bird sanctuary and more than 120 species of birds live there, including 17 species of humming birds, emerald toucanets, quetzals, motmots, and woodpeckers.
El Salvador has been a place avoided by tourists of all kinds. Rumors or crime has effectively wiped it off the map for all but the most adventurous of tourists. However, the government of El Salvador has worked hard to create an infrastructure to support the tourism industry and crime is down. Tourists who do visit the country are charmed by the friendliness and kindness of the people who live there. And one of the best things about it being off the beaten tourist path is that it remains a quiet and virgin territory in which to explore. There are no crowds here!
Whether you are a new to diving, a novice diver, or an old pro, lake diving in El Salvador will give you an ideal place to enjoy the sport you love. As a new or inexperienced diver you will be able to learn and practice the skills required for diving. For the experienced diver these lakes offer new adventures and a fresh environment that makes for a nice change from ocean diving. You may not find coral reefs in Lake Ilopango or in Lake Coatepeque, but you will find an underwater environment full of life and ancient mystery, one of the few places on Earth that testifies to the awesome power of nature.