Los Molles sits in central Chile and offers a striking range of dive experiences across reef walls, kelp forests, caverns, pinnacles, and a historic shipwreck. The site mix spans shallow beginner-friendly entries such as Kontiki Beach and Bahia Ensueño through to the deep wall at Bajo el Cerro de la Cruz and the advanced wreck dive at Indus. South American Sea Lion and Long-nosed Fur Seal are consistent presences, while Whale Shark, Eagle Ray, and Grey Reef Shark add real excitement. Water stays cold year-round, rewarding divers who come prepared with the right exposure protection.
Monthly water temperature across Los Molles's sites, from satellite sea-surface data corrected for depth. The band shows the site-to-site spread.
Water temperature in Los Molles remains cool throughout the year, sitting at its lowest in spring and rising only slightly through summer and autumn. The warmest months align with the peak of the austral summer, when visibility also tends to be at its best. Divers should expect cold-water conditions regardless of season and plan their thermal protection accordingly.
14 operators
Water temperature around Los Molles ranges from about 12°C in September to 14°C in January, based on satellite sea-temperature data for its dive sites.
6 more sites to explore
With water around 12–14°C, a 7mm or semi-dry suit works in Los Molles year-round.
Fin maps 14 sites in Los Molles (14 scuba diving sites and 2 snorkelling spots, with some suited to both).
Los Molles has an impressive list of observed species. South American Sea Lion and Long-nosed Fur Seal are very common across the sites, and Whale Shark has been recorded at roughly half of them. Eagle Ray and Grey Reef Shark are encountered occasionally, and Green Sea Turtle has also been sighted in the area.
The region caters to a wide range of skill levels. Kontiki Beach, Bahia Ensueño, and Naja Casualidad are rated for beginners and offer shallower reef and wall diving accessible from shore or boat. Intermediate divers will find plenty to explore at Los Reyes and La Isla Seca, while the Indus wreck is reserved for advanced divers only.
Most sites in Los Molles are accessed by boat, including the pinnacle and cavern diving at Los Reyes and the wreck at Indus. Kontiki Beach is a notable exception, offering direct shore entry. Humboldt Diving is the local operator running trips in the area.
Los Molles offers exceptional variety for a single region. Divers can explore steep walls, rocky reefs, caverns, pinnacles, a kelp forest at La Isla Seca, and the Indus shipwreck. The rock reef at Arcoiris is notable for its coverage of giant sponges, making it a strong choice for macro photography.
