
Tesoro Island Reef
Rosario Islands · Colombia
The reef surrounding Isla del Tesoro descends in two distinct terraces — a shallow coral garden at 5 to 12 m and a deeper rubble-and-sponge zone from 12 to 28 m — creating a layered dive that rewards both wide-angle and macro photographers. Caribbean spiny lobsters emerge from their sheltering crevices at dusk to forage across the sand, while spotted moray eels and sharp-tailed eels patrol the rubble margin throughout the day. The site's sponge-covered ledges host some of the densest populations of arrow crabs and banded coral shrimp in the Rosario archipelago, making this an essential stop for divers interested in the reef's invertebrate community.
Conditions
Depth
5 to 28 m
Open water and up
Current
Usually still
Can pick up on the edge
Visibility
10 to 20 m
Clearest in the calm season
Water
25 to 30°C
3mm wetsuit
Month by month
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water (°C) | 25 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 25 |
| Vis (m) | 12 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 12 |
| Current | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Still | Gentle | Still | Still | Still | Moderate | Moderate | Gentle | Gentle |
Your chances of seeing each animal
Magnificent Frigatebird
Last confirmed Jul 4, 2026 · 40 records
Almost always
Nearly every dive
Great-Tailed Grackle
Last confirmed Apr 23, 2026 · 30 records
Very likely
Most dives
Sally Lightfoot Crab
Last confirmed May 24, 2026 · 16 records
Very likely
Most dives
Yellow-Headed Caracara
Last confirmed Apr 26, 2026 · 18 records
Very likely
Most dives
Caribbean Spiny Lobster
Last confirmed Oct 26, 2025 · 3 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Banded Coral Shrimp
Last confirmed Apr 23, 2026 · 2 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Rock Beauty Angelfish
Last confirmed May 1, 2025 · 1 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Gear