The Dive Shop Old Providence

The Dive Shop Old Providence is situated on the island of Providencia, accessible via a short flight from San Andrés. The centre is positioned at the end of the Manzanillo Bay road, just 175 metres from the beach, serving as a gateway to the diverse marine ecosystems of the archipelago.

This centre operates with a strong commitment to marine conservation and environmental education. By focusing on small groups and personalised service, they ensure that every diver gains a deep understanding of the local ecosystems and the importance of protecting these natural resources.

The team is led by highly experienced professionals, including instructor Alejandro Archbold, who brings 23 years of experience as a PADI and NAUI instructor. His expertise covers a wide range of specialties, from Enriched Air Nitrox and Deep Diver to Dry Suit Diver and Gas Blender.

Instruction is available in both English and Spanish, making the centre accessible to an international community of divers. The team is trained to work with a variety of students, including children and divers with special physical needs, ensuring a patient and professional approach to training.

A comprehensive range of PADI and NAUI courses is available, catering to everyone from those looking for their first experience to advanced technical divers. Beginners can start with the Scuba Diver course or progress through the Open Water Diver and Advanced Open Water Diver certifications.

For those looking to specialise, the centre offers training in Deep Diver, Drift Diver, Dry Suit Diver, and Enriched Air Nitrox. More advanced students can pursue Gas Blender training or take part in specialised mini-courses to refine specific skills.

The centre provides a full range of rental kit, including cylinders, BCDs, regulators, weights, fins, and masks. Wetsuits are also available for hire to ensure comfort during your dives.

For those requiring more specialised equipment, dive computers and torches can be rented on a daily basis. The centre is equipped to support Enriched Air Nitrox divers, with oxygen safety protocols and equipment maintained to high standards.

The reefs are characterised by a vibrant array of fixed life, including various hard corals, soft corals, sponges, and whip corals. You will find significant structural complexity provided by star corals, brain corals, and large colonies of gorgonians.

Large pelagics and reef residents are a constant highlight, with grey reef sharks, nurse sharks, and occasionally tiger sharks patrolling the walls. You can also observe stingrays, hammerhead sharks, and bottlenose dolphins in the area.

In the open water and along the reefs, look for large schools of jacks, mackerels, swordfish, and various species of snapper, grouper, and kerapik. Wahoo and carangue are also common residents of these waters.

For those interested in macro life, the crevices and caves host a wealth of invertebrates. You can find spiny lobsters, various species of shrimp, crabs, moray eels, nudibranchs, and sea cucumbers tucked away in the reef structure.

Diving is possible year-round, with excellent visibility maintained even during the rainy season. However, the centre may cancel dives if currents become too strong or if the sea is too rough.

Local weather applications can sometimes be imprecise for the island, so it is often more reliable to monitor wind forecasts. It is also recommended to allow 12 to 24 hours between your last dive and any flights.