About Comau Fjord
Comau Fjord, in Chile's Los Lagos Region of Patagonia, offers world-class scuba diving amid glacial-carved fjords, dense kelp forests, and vibrant marine life. Popular sites include Punta Aculeo and Islotes de Choros, where divers encounter sea lions, colorful nudibranchs, and schools of rockfish. Water temperatures hover around 50-55°F year-round, with visibility from 30-60 feet on calm days. This remote area demands advanced skills due to its isolation and dynamic conditions; access is via boat from Hornopirén or charter dives with operators like Patagonia Dive Center.
Safety Considerations
Follow PADI and DAN protocols strictly: maintain a dive buddy system at all times, as currents can exceed 3 knots and shift unpredictably. Cold water risks hypothermia; limit bottom time to 20-30 minutes per dive. Kelp entanglement is common in forests up to 100 feet deep, so practice controlled ascents. Check forecasts via Windy app for katabatic winds from the Patagonian Ice Field. Pre-dive briefings must cover site-specific hazards like upwellings near drop-offs. REI recommends logging dives with a Shearwater dive computer for real-time nitrogen tracking.
Essential Gear
Beyond standard scuba setup, prioritize drysuits from brands like DUI or Bare for thermal protection. Use 15-20 cu ft aluminum tanks with redundant regulators (Aqua Lung Legend series). Include lift bags, SMBs (Halcyon), and backup lights (Dive Rite CX2) for low-visibility entries. Weights: 20-30 lbs in drysuit config. Hooded 8/5mm neoprene dry gloves essential.
Emergency Tips
In case of lost buddy or equipment failure, deploy SMB immediately and ascend at 30 fpm while monitoring air and computer. Signal boat with whistle; VHF Channel 16 for Chilean Coast Guard. Treat decompression sickness with 100% oxygen from DAN kit; nearest chamber in Puerto Montt (4-6 hour boat/road). Avoid solo diving; file float plan with operator.