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Day 1. Arrival and scuba diving in the Adriatic
Welcome at 3:00 PM in the local airport. After your arrival we will go to the hotel and get settled in. Later on, after a little rest, we will enjoy a light but delicious lunch. At around 4:45 PM, we will set out to the pier for our first trip to a place known as the "Adriatic" where we will participate in our first dive in shallow water, to break in our gear and prepare our minds and bodies for the new environment. The Adriatic goes as deep as 59 ft. (18 m), with an overall average depth measuring 39 to 49 ft. (12 to 15 mts.). Our approximate time along the ocean floor is 40 minutes.
Day 2. Daytime and Nighttime Scuba Diving
We will begin the day with a savory breakfast at approximately 8:30 AM.
Then at 10:00 AM we will depart from the pier and head to "Punta Lobería". This site is interesting because 70 ft. (21 m.) underwater we will find an anchor that dates back to the 18th century. We will also see large schools of Pampanitos (scorpsis chilensis), Scorpion fish (scorpaena uncinata), colored fish (capodron longimanus), etc. There will be approx. 1 hour of surface interval time in the boat with a maximum depth of 79 ft. (24 m.) and an average of 59 ft. (18 m.). Our time on the ocean floor is approx. 30 minutes.
Later on, we will change our trajectory and make our way towards "Punta Bacalao", which is characterized for having a well-defined undersea shelf that passes from rock to gravel and sand. This is the typical formation that you find along the coast of the archipelago where the majority of the species are found.
After a pleasant day of diving we will experience it all over again, this time at night in Punta Lobería. Divers enjoy these nightly excursions because they are able to admire nocturnal animals that are impossible to see during the day. Some examples include the sea crayfish, Juan Fernandez lobster, sea spiders, and soldier fish.
Day 3. Puerto Ingles
A little later, around 9:00 AM, we will eat breakfast and then head to the pier to set sail for "Punta San Carlos". This tongue-shaped bank is approximately 10 to 85 ft. (3 to 26 m.) deep and is home to flounder, moray and labroid fish. The surface interval time on the boat is 1 hour, and the average depth is 59 ft. (18 m.). Duration along the ocean floor is 30 minutes. Afterwards, we will continue heading north towards the mystic Puerto Inglés to cast anchor along the incredible sandbanks of "Salsipuedes". The maximum depth here is 59 ft. (18 m.) and during our half hour dive we will discover the famous Black Coral (paratinpathes fernandezii), Puffer fish (aspidiodadema microtuberculatum), and Juan Fernandez Corbina.
Day 4. Puerto de la Vaquería
After breakfast we will set sail from the pier once again at 10:30 AM to get to Bajo Rey. This place is a 30-minute boatride away, located in front of Puerto de la Vaquería, and is characterized by the large variety of fish that live here. As we swim along the rocky ocean floor we will see the famous Bleak fish (Cheilodactylus Gayi) and schools of "jerguillas" (Girilla albostriata), an endemic species belonging to the archipelago. Surface interval time is 1 hour, and the maximum depth is 79 ft. (24 m.). / Average depth: 59 ft. (18 m.) / Time on the sand bottom: 30 minutes. Later on, we will participate in our 8th dive in "El Encierro", characterized by cliffs with vast extensions of sand where we will see flounder, cabrillas, and butterfly fish. Surface Interval time is approx. 1 hour with a maximum depth of 59 ft. (18 m.). / Average depth: 39 ft. (12 m.) / Time on the sand bottom: 30 minutes.
Day 5. Cumberland Bay
A delicious breakfast at 8:00 AM will start our day and later on we will depart from the pier on a course to a place known as "El Cernícalo". This place is located about 1 hour from Cumberland Bay. This dive will be one of the most spectacular of all, due to the diverse flora and fauna; variety of colorful sea anemone, shoals of "vidriola" (seriola Lalandis), the aloof Calantias Platei of the Serranidae (Sea bass) family. Schools of Jurels and "Pampanitos". Surface Interval time is approx. 1 hour and will take place in the largest sea lion colony on the island where you can admire the famous fur seal, the only mammal that inhabits these beaches. Maximum depth is 79 ft. (24 m.) / Average depth: 72 ft. (22 m.) / Time on sand bottom: 30 minutes.
After a pleasant dive in "El Cernícalo", we will head to "La Tortuga". Maximum depth: 59 ft. (18 m.), Average depth: 39 ft. (12 m.) with a duration of 40 minutes along the sand bottom. This entertaining dive will take us through labyrinths, caves, and large rocks. Brevas, lobsters, "vidriolas", cabrillas, and the sea lion will accompany us on our last dive.
Day 6. Selkirk Lookout Point
We can take advantage of a well-deserved rest during the morning (Nitrogen elimination) or hike up to the famous Alexander Selkirk Lookout Point. It is located 1,869 ft. (570 m.) above sea level. There is a spectacular view of both sides of the island from here, where long ago, this Scottish sailor searched the horizon day after day in hopes of finding a ship that would rescue him from this exile to return to his homeland.
Day 7. Return
After breakfast at 8:30 AM in the hostel, we will head out to the pier and set sail from Cumberland Bay towards Father Bay where we will arrive at approx. 12:00 PM. We will board our return flight to Santiago at the local airport.
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