Restinga del Faro is defined by its mix of natural and artificial reefs sitting at moderate depths offshore from Mar del Plata, all accessed by boat. The signature draw is marine mammals: South American Sea Lion and Northern Elephant Seal are encountered very commonly, while Long-nosed Fur Seal and Bottlenose Dolphin are frequent presences. Eagle Ray, Seahorse and occasional Green Sea Turtle add variety across sites such as Banco del Medio and Banco de Pescadores. All sites suit intermediate divers.
Monthly water temperature across Restinga del Faro's sites, from satellite sea-surface data corrected for depth. The band shows the site-to-site spread.
Water temperatures follow a clear seasonal curve, peaking in late summer and dropping sharply through the winter months to their coldest around July and August. Summer visits bring the warmest conditions and the highest concentration of favourable diver reports, while winter demands exposure protection but keeps the reefs accessible. Spring and autumn sit in the mid-range, offering a reasonable balance of comfort and marine activity.
1 operator
Argentina
7 more sites to explore
Water temperature around Restinga del Faro ranges from about 10°C in July to 21°C in February, based on satellite sea-temperature data for its dive sites.
In the warm season (about 21°C) a 5mm suit is comfortable in Restinga del Faro; in the coldest months (about 10°C) step up to a drysuit.
Fin maps 10 sites in Restinga del Faro (9 scuba diving sites and 2 snorkelling spots, with some suited to both).
Across Restinga del Faro's dive sites, January, February and June are most often reported as the best months to visit.
South American Sea Lion is observed across virtually every site in the region and is the most reliably encountered large animal underwater. Northern Elephant Seal is also very commonly sighted, and Long-nosed Fur Seal is frequently present. Bottlenose Dolphin rounds out the marine mammal highlights, making this one of the few dive areas where encounters with multiple pinniped species on a single outing are realistic.
Yes. The named sites, including Restinga del Faro, Banco del Medio and Banco de Pescadores, are all reached exclusively by boat. They sit at varying distances offshore, so divers should plan to arrange boat access before arriving. There are currently no operators listed in the region, so independent arrangements will be necessary.
The top sites, including Banco del Medio and Banco de Pescadores, are rated intermediate. The boat-only access and open-water exposure offshore from Mar del Plata mean conditions can be variable. Divers who are comfortable with boat entries, moderate depths and some current will be well suited to the area.
The region features both natural reef and artificial reef structures, sometimes combined at the same site. The main site, Restinga del Faro itself, is a combined natural and artificial reef, as is Banco de Pescadores. Banco del Medio is a natural reef. This variety gives divers the chance to compare the different communities that develop on each structure type.
