San Andrés & Providencia

San Andrés and Providencia (Old Providence) - jewels in the crown of the Caribbean ocean. The San Andrés archipelago is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about 750km north-west of the Colombia mainland and only 230km east of Nicaragua. The archipelago is made up of two groups of islands: the southern group, with San Andrés as its largest and most important island; and 90km to the north, the group centred around the island of Providencia. There are also several small cays away from the main islands scattered over an area of 350,000 sq km.

These idyllic islands are perfect retreats for scuba divers, snorkellers and people who enjoy peace & quiet or sandy beaches. San Andrés town has several dive centers, although most seem to operate only half the day (ahhh, the rhythm of life on the islands...). I decided to dive with Banda Dive Shop, an outfit run by Luis Banda, an easy-going San Luisano and his wife. I must have been the only diver in town, as it was just the two of us for all four divers over two days.

San Andrés island offers more than 30 dive sites, most within reach of the shore, although some are a bit further afield. The stunning coral bottoms are teaming with life, turtles, spiny puffers, sergeant majors, sardines, barracudas, and hundreds of garden eels which poke their heads up from the sand after sensing vibrations (stick your hand in the sand and wait...). Amazing yellow anemonaes with blue "eyes", three calamars swimming in formation, and lots more. Crystal clear waters.

Traditionally known as Old Providence, Providencia is located about 90km north of San Andrés island. It is the second-largest island of the archipelago, 7km long and 4km wide. It is a mountainous island of volcanic origin, much older than San Andrés. It's highest peak, El Pico, reaches 320m, and there are a few others slightly lower. The island has diverse forest with coconut palms growing mainly along the shores. The native inhabitants, descendants of the Jamaican slaves, still speak a thick Jamaican-English.

In Old Providence there was less of a selection of dive centers, the only one I found open in Sweetwater (Agua Dulce) was Sonny Dive Shop, again they seem to work mornings only.

Banda Dive Shop
Hotel LORD PIERRE, Local 102
SAN ANDRES ISLA, COLOMBIA
Tel: (578) 5122507- 5124143
Fax: (578) 512 2507
E-mail: bandadiveshop@yahoo.com

Sonny Dive Shop
Sector de Agua Dulce
PROVIDENCIA ISLA, COLOMBIA
Tel: 098 5148231
Fax: 098 5148289
E-mail: sonydive@coll.telecom.com.co