The island
Going to the atoll and not knowing the island of Cayo Centro is as if you had never been to Banco Chinchorro. We are the only ones who maintain the old route to the island thanks to the fact that our captains (former fishermen of the area) know how to move safely among the numerous reefs that protrude from the water. In Cayo Centro, formed by mangrove, palm and bushes, you can observe the large crocodiles and the huge and colorful iguanas that roam freely between the fishermen's shacks and the park rangers' biological station.
The nurse sharks
They are the great attraction of diving in these reefs. The nurse shark is a very common species in the Caribbean. Normally it has a very passive behavior, we find them sleeping on the sand and moves away when we approach it. However, in Chinchorro they behave very differently, it could even be said that they show a unique behavior in their species: very active during the whole dive, interacting with the divers, that is why we must be very cautious when diving with them and keep our hands well guarded on our body and avoid physical contact with the sharks.
The wrecks
In the farthest area of Chinchorro, in the Eastern part of the atoll, there is one of the largest underwater cemeteries of shipwrecks, with shipwrecks dating from the sixteenth century to the present. For climatic reasons, the only viable time to visit them is in summer, when we organize a couple of expeditions there. It is a real journey back in time, where we can be transported to the era of the mythical galleons and experience the exciting battles between pirates and the British Empire, and shortly after enter the era of the great steamships in the midst of the Industrial Revolution.
Coral Negro
It is the indispensable diving in your first visit to this place. Located in the North-East side of the atoll, it is formed by a sand slope where big coral structures stand out. It is full of sea life and the average depth is 65 feet.
Ginger Soul
When the sea conditions allow it, you can go to see this wreck located in the East of the atoll. It is a cargo ship, a Nineteenth century steamer, that still has all its machinery spread all over a very healthy and clean shallow reef. The most famous part: its huge propeller.
El Acuario
Naturally, Chinchorro has also its "Aquarium". A place full of marine life which landscape combines coral reef and white sand. The nurse sharks are very common here and they use to be very curious.
40 Cañones
This is the most known wreck in Chinchorro. A war ship from Seventeenth century -probable in a battle- in a big sandbank at 26 feet in depth. The boat's wood structure has already disappeared but it is still possible to see 30 bronze canyons.
Santa Teresita
It is formed by a beatiful coral wall, steep but not very deep (58 feet maximum). It is very common to see morays, lobsters, groupers, parrot fishes and turtles. If you look further to the blue, maybe you will also see a shark crossing.
Calderas
It is another wreck located in the north side, close to Cayo Lobos -where nowadays there is a navy base-. It is a Nineteenth century steamer merchant and it is known due to its huge boiler that almost reaches the water surface. It is a shallow and calm diving.