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El Acuario, shallow crystal-clear water off San Andrés

Diving West View and the Poseidon statue, San Andrés

West View is on the west coast of San Andrés, at kilometre 11 of the ring road, next to La Piscinita. It’s a natural pool of rock and sand where people snorkel at the surface and dive a little further down, to a rocky area with a sculpture of Poseidon. You can go in from the shore or from a boat, and the water is usually calm with good visibility.

Depth: 3 to 12 m depending on the spot

Get the details
Depth 3 m 12 m 3 to 12 m depending on the spot
Island
San Andrés
Level
Beginner and snorkelling
Type of dive
Reef, sand and statue
Ideal for
Try dives, snorkelling and photos

Site profile

Open Water limit · 18 m Advanced limit · 30 m

What the dive is like

You descend over a bottom of sand and rock to a rocky area at around 9 m, where the statue stands. The site is shallow: according to the sources, between around 3 and 10 m, with spots that reach 12 m. It’s a straightforward dive that you can start from the shore.

What you’ll see

The star of the show is the sculpture of Poseidon, placed in 2012 by the artist Mario Hoyos using environmentally friendly materials, designed to be colonised by coral, algae and fish. Around it swim parrotfish, butterflyfish, angelfish and surgeonfish, and lots of juveniles.

Level, depth and conditions

It’s one of the easiest spots in San Andrés: suitable for snorkelling, try dives and beginners. To go down to the statue with scuba gear you need a certification, or you can do it as a try dive with an instructor; one guide rates it as intermediate level, so talk it through in light of your experience.

Access has traditionally been charged as an entrance fee; check the current price, because the published figures are out of date. If you snorkel, use biodegradable sun cream: conventional sun cream can bleach the coral.

When to dive

You can visit all year round. With a calm sea the visibility is wide; with rain or swell it drops, as it does across the whole island. If your Siete Azules trip includes companions who don’t dive, it’s a good shared plan, although each day’s programme depends on the sea and the group.

What you’ll see

  • Parrotfish
  • Blue tang
  • Queen angelfish
  • Parrotfish
  • Butterflyfish
  • Angelfish
  • Surgeonfish
  • Lots of juvenile fish
  • Coral and algae on the statue

AI-generated image, for illustration

More dive sites

Colourful fish in the clear water at West View, San Andrés Blue Wall (La Pared Azul) The most famous dive in San Andrés: a wall on the east side of the island that starts a few metres down and disappears into the blue.
Wreck lying on the seabed off San Andrés Nirvana A simple reef full of life on the west coast, at around 14 m.
Turquoise water and coral on the west coast of San Andrés, the sea of seven colours Trampa Tortuga (Trampa de Tortugas) An east-coast reef known for very clear water.
Blue water by the rocks at West View, San Andrés La Pirámide (The Pyramids) A very shallow reef, around 4 m deep, at the northern tip of the island.
Platform with diving helmets for underwater walks at West View Blue Diamond (naufragio) A cargo ship sunk off the west coast, now an artificial reef.
The stranded ship at Rocky Cay, San Andrés Bajo Bonito A reef with sandy patches at around 15 m, the kind that invites you to slow down.
Johnny Cay seen from the sea Reggae Nest A reef on the west side, down to around 20 m, with coral described as being in very good condition.
Green hills and blue sea in Providencia Felipe’s Place A coral platform that ends in a wall, with a natural tunnel and a submerged statue of Christ at about 24 m that PADI describes as damaged.
Beach with palm trees and a swing in Providencia Tete’s Place A shallow reef of about 9 m that diving magazines describe as one of the fishiest sites in Providencia, with pillar coral and octocorals.
The Lovers’ Bridge between Providencia and Santa Catalina Manta’s City Patch reefs on sand at about 12 m, with stingrays, cushion sea stars and plenty of macro.
Sunset on a beach in Providencia Turtle Rock A large rock separated from the wall by a deep crevice, with black coral.
Green hills and blue sea in Providencia The Spiral A tunnel that spirals down between about 24 and 35 m and a network of passages that ends among coral pillars.
Beach with palm trees and a swing in Providencia Confusion A wall with a ledge jutting out over the blue and encounters with reef sharks.
The Lovers’ Bridge between Providencia and Santa Catalina El Planchón An upturned, almost intact hull covered in coral at the entrance to the harbour area.
Sunset on a beach in Providencia Bajo de San Felipe A shallow coral garden, 11 to 12 m at most, off Lazy Hill.
Green hills and blue sea in Providencia Chromis Reef sharks over a forest of sea fans, near Manta’s City.
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Frequently asked questions

How deep is the Poseidon statue in San Andrés?

At around 8 to 9 m, in a rocky area of West View, on the west coast of the island.

Do I need a certification to dive at West View?

Not for snorkelling. To go down with scuba gear you can do it with a certification or as a try dive with an instructor. It’s a calm, shallow spot.

Where is West View?

On the west coast of San Andrés, at kilometre 11 of the ring road, next to La Piscinita. You can go in from the shore.

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