Depth: 16 - > 130ft (5 - > 40m) Visibility: 82 - 197ft (25 - 60m) Currents: Can be strong in the Pacific,
usually mild in the Caribbean
Surface conditions: Mostly calm but can be choppy further
from shore
Water temperature: 66 - 84 °F (19 - 29 °C) Experience level: Intermediate - advanced (Pacific), beginner - advanced (Caribbean) Number of dive sites: > 120 Recommended length of stay: 2 - 3 weeks
El Ni o an irregular variation of ocean current that,
from January to February, flows off the west coast of South America, carrying warm, low - salinity, nutrient - poor
water to the south; does not
usually extend farther than a few degrees south of the Equator, but occasionally it does penetrate beyond 12 S, displacing the relatively cold Peruvian current;
usually short - lived effects, but sometimes last more than a year, raising sea -
surface temperatures along the coast of Peru and in the equatorial eastern Pacific Ocean, having disastrous effects on marine life and fishing
This flood
usually occurs
from a temporary situation such as a rapid accumulation of runoff of
surface waters from heavy rains, damn breakage, tidal waves and / or heavy mudflow.