Lagunillas Reef
Paracas · Peru
Lagunillas Reef is a shallow rocky reef system within the Paracas National Reserve, sheltered enough for novice divers yet rich enough in cold-water species to satisfy experienced explorers. The Humboldt Current delivers nutrients that sustain dense kelp forests and cold-water coral communities rarely seen at these latitudes, including cup corals and encrusting bryozoans that coat every available surface. Seahorses cling to kelp fronds alongside decorator crabs and nudibranchs, making this the premier macro site in the Paracas region.
Conditions
Depth
5 to 20 m
Open water and up
Current
Can be moderate
Can pick up on the edge
Visibility
12 to 22 m
Clearest in the calm season
Water
13 to 21°C
7mm wetsuit or drysuit
Month by month
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water (°C) | 17 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| Vis (m) | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Current | Gentle | Gentle | Still | Still | Gentle | Gentle | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle |
Your chances of seeing each animal
Humboldt Penguin
Last confirmed Jun 30, 2026 · 205 records
Almost always
Nearly every dive
American Oystercatcher
Last confirmed Jun 30, 2026 · 85 records
Almost always
Nearly every dive
Ruddy Turnstone
Last confirmed Apr 20, 2026 · 75 records
Almost always
Nearly every dive
Hudsonian Whimbrel
Last confirmed May 3, 2026 · 62 records
Almost always
Nearly every dive
South American Fur Seal
Last confirmed Aug 9, 2025 · 1 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Pacific Seahorse
Expected
Known here, not yet in recent logs
Lacy Scorpionfish
Expected
Known here, not yet in recent logs
Gear