La Tortuga is a remote island in the Caribbean Sea, roughly ninety kilometres offshore, and all diving here is done by boat. The island's sites range from shallow seagrass beds and reef fringes to steep drop-offs, pinnacles, and drift dives, with depths running from very shallow to thirty metres. Water temperature stays warm throughout the year, rising highest in late autumn and cooling slightly in the early months of the year. Divers come for the variety of topography and the chance to encounter green and Ridley sea turtles, Atlantic goliath grouper, nurse sharks, whale sharks, lined seahorses, and gorgonians across sites that suit all skill levels.
Monthly water temperature across La Tortuga's sites, from satellite sea-surface data corrected for depth. The band shows the site-to-site spread.
Water temperature is at its warmest from September through November and coolest from January through April, though it remains comfortably warm throughout the year. Currents can be strong at offshore sites such as Farallón Centinela and at the drop-offs, so some sites are reserved for advanced divers while shallower reef and seagrass sites suit beginners.
Water temperature around La Tortuga ranges from about 26°C in January to 29°C in September, based on satellite sea-temperature data for its dive sites.
In the warm season (about 29°C) a rash guard or 3mm shorty is comfortable in La Tortuga; in the coldest months (about 26°C) step up to a 3mm full suit.
Fin maps 8 sites in La Tortuga (4 scuba diving sites and 4 snorkelling spots).
Across La Tortuga's dive sites, January, February, March, April and December are most often reported as the best months to visit.
7 more sites to explore
