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Peru

© Shutterstock/May_Lana

Explore Peru

Peru’s Pacific coast offers a distinctive diving profile: nutrient-rich waters, dramatic seasonal upwelling and a mix of temperate and tropical species that reward curious divers. Shallow reefs near the north host colorful fish, octopus and nudibranchs, while southern kelp beds and rocky reefs shelter seafloor life and playful sea lions. Visibility varies with season—clearer in late summer after plankton cycles—and currents can make drift dives exhilarating, so plan for varied conditions.

Most diving is by boat or shore from small coastal towns, with occasional liveaboard options for offshore islands and deeper sites. Wrecks, walls and kelp forests offer diverse dive styles: exploratory wreck penetration for experienced teams, wall drifts for strong swimmers, and calmer shore entries for training and macro photography. Regional highlights include the biodiverse north and the dramatic southern kelp ecosystems; combine diving with cultural stops for a rich Peruvian adventure.

Power Plug Type
A, C
Payment Method
VISA, MC, AMEX, DC
Tipping
Tipping is customary but not mandatory. In restaurants, 10% is standard if service is not included. Some restaurants may automatically add a service charge. Tips are typically given in cash.
Airports
LIM, CUZ
Currency
Peruvian Sol (PEN)
Dial Code
+51
Electricity
220 V / 60 Hz
Time
UTC −5

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    Top Wildlife Sightings in Peru

    Peru's coastal reefs and rocky outcrops host a mix of tropical and temperate species. Common reef fish include angelfish, wrasses, damselfish and sergeant majors near northern sites, while kelp beds farther south hold rockfish and clingfish. Visibility and species mix vary with upwelling and season.

    Seasonally, divers may spot scalloped hammerheads and other sharks—more likely around offshore seamounts and in the warm season—green and olive ridley turtles at nesting times, and manta rays or mobulas near plankton blooms; encounters depend on location, currents and time of year.

    Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

    The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

    Total number of species approx.: 200

    Moray Eel

    Moray Eel

    72 Sightings
    J
    5
    F
    7
    M
    1
    A
    1
    M
    7
    J
    2
    J
    10
    A
    11
    S
    12
    O
    7
    N
    2
    D
    7

    The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

    Total number of species approx.: 300

    Octopus

    Octopus

    64 Sightings
    J
    1
    F
    13
    M
    3
    A
    3
    M
    0
    J
    3
    J
    6
    A
    7
    S
    6
    O
    7
    N
    1
    D
    14

    The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

    Total number of species approx.: 7

    Sea Lion

    Sea Lion

    23 Sightings
    J
    4
    F
    0
    M
    2
    A
    1
    M
    3
    J
    0
    J
    3
    A
    1
    S
    0
    O
    8
    N
    0
    D
    1

    The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

    Total number of species approx.: 7000

    Crab

    Crab

    407 Sightings
    J
    42
    F
    49
    M
    63
    A
    53
    M
    18
    J
    16
    J
    29
    A
    23
    S
    18
    O
    24
    N
    29
    D
    43

    The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

    Total number of species approx.: 120

    Flounder

    Flounder

    167 Sightings
    J
    18
    F
    30
    M
    36
    A
    1
    M
    3
    J
    1
    J
    6
    A
    1
    S
    15
    O
    11
    N
    14
    D
    31

    The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

    Total number of species approx.: 3000

    Nudibranch

    Nudibranch

    101 Sightings
    J
    1
    F
    3
    M
    38
    A
    33
    M
    6
    J
    0
    J
    3
    A
    1
    S
    9
    O
    3
    N
    2
    D
    2

    The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

    Total number of species approx.: 9

    Fur Seal

    Fur Seal

    67 Sightings
    J
    6
    F
    5
    M
    4
    A
    8
    M
    2
    J
    1
    J
    1
    A
    5
    S
    5
    O
    8
    N
    11
    D
    11

    The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

    Total number of species approx.: 130

    Butterfly Fish

    Butterfly Fish

    49 Sightings
    J
    0
    F
    8
    M
    0
    A
    0
    M
    0
    J
    1
    J
    5
    A
    0
    S
    6
    O
    9
    N
    9
    D
    11

    The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

    Total number of species approx.: 250

    Scorpionfish

    Scorpionfish

    47 Sightings
    J
    0
    F
    6
    M
    0
    A
    0
    M
    1
    J
    2
    J
    4
    A
    1
    S
    8
    O
    11
    N
    8
    D
    6

    The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

    Total number of species approx.: 350

    Damselfish

    Damselfish

    47 Sightings
    J
    0
    F
    6
    M
    0
    A
    0
    M
    0
    J
    3
    J
    7
    A
    1
    S
    2
    O
    10
    N
    8
    D
    10

    The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

    Total number of species approx.: 50

    Frogfish

    Frogfish

    33 Sightings
    J
    0
    F
    7
    M
    0
    A
    0
    M
    3
    J
    0
    J
    3
    A
    0
    S
    4
    O
    5
    N
    0
    D
    11

    The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

    Total number of species approx.: 30

    Sand Eel

    Sand Eel

    31 Sightings
    J
    0
    F
    16
    M
    12
    A
    0
    M
    0
    J
    0
    J
    0
    A
    0
    S
    2
    O
    1
    N
    0
    D
    0

    The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

    Total number of species approx.: 20

    Porcupinefish

    Porcupinefish

    22 Sightings
    J
    0
    F
    6
    M
    0
    A
    0
    M
    2
    J
    0
    J
    2
    A
    0
    S
    0
    O
    0
    N
    4
    D
    8

    The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

    Total number of species approx.: 80

    Stingrays

    Stingrays

    16 Sightings
    J
    0
    F
    3
    M
    3
    A
    0
    M
    0
    J
    1
    J
    0
    A
    1
    S
    2
    O
    0
    N
    6
    D
    0

    The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

    Total number of species approx.: 3400

    Shrimp

    Shrimp

    13 Sightings
    J
    4
    F
    0
    M
    1
    A
    1
    M
    0
    J
    0
    J
    3
    A
    0
    S
    2
    O
    0
    N
    0
    D
    2

    The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

    Total number of species approx.: 100

    Parrotfish

    Parrotfish

    11 Sightings
    J
    0
    F
    0
    M
    0
    A
    0
    M
    0
    J
    1
    J
    1
    A
    0
    S
    1
    O
    8
    N
    0
    D
    0

    The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

    Total number of species approx.: 125

    Gurnards

    Gurnards

    11 Sightings
    J
    0
    F
    0
    M
    0
    A
    0
    M
    0
    J
    0
    J
    0
    A
    0
    S
    0
    O
    0
    N
    5
    D
    6