>

Venezuela

Divesites
6
Centers
3
Courses & Events
34
Wildlife
52
© Mares

Explore Venezuela

Venezuela offers a varied diving palette: shallow coral gardens, dramatic drop‑offs and submerged walls, and scattered wrecks that teem with life. Islands and archipelagos such as Los Roques and nearby keys shield vibrant reefs where gorgonians, sponges and hard corals host colorful reef fish, angelfish and parrotfish. Sea turtles, rays and occasional reef sharks are commonly seen, while seasonal visits from larger pelagics and migrating whales can add epic sightings to certain times of year, depending on region and season.

Dive styles range from easy shore entries and short boat hops to multi‑day liveaboards that reach remote atolls. Visibility can be excellent in offshore atolls and more variable along the mainland coast, so planning by season improves chances for calm seas and big animals. The mix of accessible shallow sites and adventurous wall and wreck dives makes Venezuela appealing both to relaxed snorkelers and experienced divers seeking memorable encounters and diverse underwater landscapes.

Power Plug Type
A, B
Payment Method
VISA, MC, AMEX, DC, JCB, Cir, Plus
Tipping
Tipping is customary but not mandatory. In restaurants, 10 % is typical if service is not included. Tips are often given in cash.
Airports
CCS
Currency
Venezuelan Bolívar (VES)
Dial Code
+58
Electricity
120 V / 60 Hz
Time
UTC−4

Courses and Events

Instructor Update (Crossover)

This refresher program for dive professionals will teach and/or refresh the SSI business philosophy, training philosophy, standards and education system to candidates.Crossover programs are available for Divemasters, Assistant Instructors and Dive Instructors.Candidate prerequisites:- Minimum age: 18 years old- Must have an SSI qualification or equivalent from a recognized agency in active status.- Must meet the minimum certification requirements of the program for which you want to Crossover.- A Divemaster Professional Crossover candidate must have completed the Science of Diving course skills and knowledge assessment.- Dive professionals from other agencies must follow the "Return to Active Status" standards.The Crossover process must follow the equivalency charts included in the SSI training standards as set forth by the RSTC. This process is usually "horizontal", meaning that a candidate receives a qualification as high as their previous agency's qualification.The Crossover process:.- The candidate must have or create a MySSI user account with a valid email address and affiliate with an SSI dive center.The dive center registers the candidate in the Crossover for Dive Professionals and prints the Crossover training record - The candidate must procure the Crossover kit according to the level of certification the candidate wishes to obtain. Candidate must upload to their MySSI account all required documentation for professional profile - Current medical history form - Current First Aid, CPR and O2 Administrator certifications - Current Dive Professional Liability Insurance (where applicable) - Candidate attends and completes the appropriate chapters of the Crossover program.

14 March +44 More
€1,724.60
$2,000.00

Dive Centers

Dive Sites

Top Wildlife Sightings in Venezuela

Venezuelan reefs host diverse Caribbean marine life: abundant parrotfish, surgeonfish, angelfish, grunts and snappers, plus common inhabitants like moray eels, octopus and spiny lobster. Small reef sharks and schools of barracuda are often encountered on deeper reef edges; visibility and current influence sightings.

Seasonal highlights include hawksbill and green turtles, seen year-round but more frequently during nesting seasons at protected sites (e.g., Los Roques), while reef and nurse sharks are common, and rays (southern stingrays, eagle rays) appear more seasonally or in sand flats—likelihood varies by site and season.

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: 600

Wrasse

22 Sightings
J
1
F
2
M
0
A
2
M
1
J
5
J
3
A
3
S
2
O
2
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: 200

Moray Eel

20 Sightings
J
3
F
2
M
3
A
1
M
3
J
2
J
2
A
0
S
3
O
0
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: 27

Barracuda

14 Sightings
J
2
F
0
M
0
A
2
M
0
J
5
J
2
A
1
S
2
O
0
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: 25

Eagle Ray

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

Green Turtle

3 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
1
A
0
M
0
J
1
J
0
A
0
S
1
O
0
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: 300

Octopus

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

Hawksbill Turtle

2 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
2
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
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: 12

Lionfish

38 Sightings
J
3
F
1
M
2
A
5
M
1
J
5
J
5
A
5
S
3
O
2
N
0
D
6

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

Total number of species: 90

Angelfish

34 Sightings
J
3
F
1
M
1
A
6
M
2
J
6
J
2
A
4
S
2
O
2
N
0
D
5

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

Total number of species: 100

Parrotfish

32 Sightings
J
2
F
2
M
0
A
4
M
1
J
5
J
3
A
5
S
3
O
2
N
0
D
5

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

Total number of species: 85

Surgeonfish

31 Sightings
J
3
F
1
M
2
A
6
M
1
J
5
J
3
A
4
S
2
O
2
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: 130

Butterfly Fish

29 Sightings
J
3
F
1
M
0
A
6
M
2
J
6
J
2
A
4
S
2
O
2
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: 3

Trumpetfish

29 Sightings
J
3
F
1
M
2
A
5
M
1
J
5
J
3
A
4
S
2
O
2
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: 150

Sweetlips and Grunts

28 Sightings
J
2
F
0
M
3
A
4
M
1
J
5
J
2
A
3
S
2
O
2
N
0
D
4

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

Total number of species: 350

Damselfish

26 Sightings
J
3
F
1
M
1
A
3
M
1
J
5
J
3
A
3
S
2
O
2
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: 60

Soldierfish

24 Sightings
J
2
F
1
M
0
A
4
M
1
J
5
J
2
A
4
S
2
O
2
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: 130

Pufferfish

24 Sightings
J
2
F
2
M
1
A
2
M
0
J
5
J
3
A
2
S
2
O
2
N
0
D
3

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

Total number of species: 3

Cornetfish

21 Sightings
J
2
F
1
M
1
A
6
M
1
J
5
J
2
A
0
S
1
O
2
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: 25

Boxfish

21 Sightings
J
2
F
1
M
2
A
3
M
0
J
5
J
2
A
1
S
2
O
2
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: 60

Squirrelfish

20 Sightings
J
3
F
1
M
0
A
3
M
1
J
5
J
2
A
1
S
2
O
1
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: 40

Triggerfish

19 Sightings
J
2
F
1
M
0
A
2
M
0
J
5
J
2
A
3
S
2
O
2
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: 190

Conger Eel

18 Sightings
J
3
F
1
M
0
A
3
M
0
J
3
J
4
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: 90

Goatfish

18 Sightings
J
3
F
0
M
0
A
1
M
1
J
4
J
2
A
3
S
2
O
1
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: 30

Sand Eel

15 Sightings
J
2
F
1
M
0
A
3
M
1
J
4
J
2
A
0
S
2
O
0
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: 8

Bannerfish

15 Sightings
J
3
F
1
M
1
A
1
M
0
J
5
J
0
A
2
S
2
O
0
N
0
D
0

Garibaldi Damselfish

14 Sightings
J
2
F
0
M
1
A
0
M
0
J
3
J
2
A
3
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: 7000

Crab

14 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
0
A
2
M
0
J
5
J
0
A
2
S
2
O
1
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: 80

Stingrays

11 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
3
M
1
J
2
J
0
A
1
S
2
O
1
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: 300

Snake Eel

11 Sightings
J
2
F
0
M
1
A
2
M
1
J
3
J
0
A
0
S
2
O
0
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: 110

Snapper

11 Sightings
J
2
F
1
M
2
A
2
M
0
J
1
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: 20

Porcupinefish

9 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
2
A
0
M
0
J
2
J
1
A
1
S
2
O
0
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: 55

Lobster

9 Sightings
J
2
F
0
M
1
A
2
M
0
J
2
J
0
A
1
S
0
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: 50

Sea Wasp

9 Sightings
J
1
F
1
M
0
A
1
M
0
J
3
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: 20

Sea Nettle

9 Sightings
J
0
F
1
M
0
A
1
M
0
J
2
J
2
A
0
S
2
O
0
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: 15

Garfish

7 Sightings
J
3
F
0
M
1
A
1
M
0
J
2
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
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: 3400

Shrimp

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

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

Total number of species: 60

Spiny Lobster

7 Sightings
J
2
F
0
M
1
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
1
A
0
S
2
O
0
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: 28

Clownfish

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

Ribbon Moray Eel (Ghost Eel)

6 Sightings
J
1
F
2
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
1
A
0
S
0
O
1
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: 300

Squid

5 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
2
J
0
A
0
S
2
O
0
N
0
D
0

Panther Moray Eel (Dragon Eel)

5 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
1
A
0
M
0
J
2
J
0
A
0
S
2
O
0
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: 250

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

Total number of species: 80

Emperor

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

Whitetip Reef Shark

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

Common Seahorse

2 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
2
A
0
S
0
O
0
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: 2

Nurse Shark

2 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
1
A
1
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
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: 250

Scorpionfish

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

Silvertip Shark

2 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
2
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
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: 2

Tarpon

2 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
1
J
0
A
0
S
0
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: 3000

Nudibranch

2 Sightings
J
0
F
2
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
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: 40

Jackfish

2 Sightings
J
2
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0