Sea Lion Diving in Puerto Madryn

Guided dive at Punta Loma · Certified divers or Discover Scuba Diving

Scenic boat ride of ~20 min to Punta Loma Nature Reserve
Up to 40 min in the water with sea lions (per regulations)
Options: Certified divers or Discover Scuba Diving (first experience)
Small groups: max. 6 guests + instructors

A unique dive in the world

Just like sea lion snorkeling at the Punta Loma Nature Reserve, sea lion diving is a must-do because it’s one-of-a-kind worldwide. This haul-out hosts a stable population of approximately 600 animals, free and wild. After a ~20-minute boat ride to the Reserve, we enter the water for an unparalleled experience: there is no other colony on record where sea lions approach and interact with people the way they do here.

This uniqueness is due to three factors: the South American sea lion (Otaria flavescens), known for its friendly behaviour; the fact that much of the colony resides permanently at the site; and the complete absence of predators. The animals are neither handled nor forced: they always decide the approach and the type of interaction. As it should be, we depend on their willingness.

Dive overview

Options: dive with a valid certification or choose Discover Scuba Diving (same-day training for non-certified participants).
Timing: boat ride ≈ 20 min each way; up to 40 min in the water (per Reserve regulations).
Area: Punta Loma Nature Reserve (Golfo Nuevo, Puerto Madryn).
Safety: continuous instructor supervision throughout the activity.

Key regulations inside the Reserve

Maximum time allowed in the activity area: 40 minutes.
People simultaneously in the water: up to 24.
Boats simultaneously inside the Reserve: up to 3.
Minimum approach distance: 50 meters (a buoy line must not be crossed).
Interaction is defined by wild animals: no touching and no feeding.

Access and stay are regulated by rangers. Quotas and conditions are supervised to protect the resource.

Discover Scuba Diving — First sea lion dive

If you’re not certified, you can choose Discover Scuba Diving: a theory + practice session on the same day of the excursion that enables your first dive with these amazing animals, always under instructor supervision.

During the dive we observe the marine mammals in their natural habitat in a relaxed, safe way, emphasising that approaches happen by their own will.

Punta Loma Provincial Tourist Reserve

Located 17 km from Puerto Madryn and created in 1967, it protects the area’s only permanent haul-out site of South American sea lions. Snorkeling and diving practices are subject to strict regulations, with ranger monitoring to avoid negative impacts. You can also find Neotropic Cormorants, South American Terns, and other marine and terrestrial birds, reptiles, and mammals.

Itinerary

Check-in & gear set-up: meet at the operator, gear hand-out, and safety briefing. For Discover Scuba Diving, theory and guided practice first.
Boat ride to Punta Loma: ≈ 20 minutes to the colony area.
Dive with sea lions: assisted entry; up to 40 minutes in the water with instructors, passive observation, and animal-led interaction.
Return to port: gear offload and end of the experience.

The plan may vary due to tides, wind, visibility, and Reserve regulations.