About Golfo de Penas Fiords
Golfo de Penas, on Chile's remote Aysén Patagonia coast, hides unnamed fiords for exploratory dives with sea whales, icebergs, and deep walls. Sites near Caleta Chartres feature 40-50°F black waters, poor viz (10-30 feet), and glacial inflows. Expert-only; liveaboard charters from Puerto Natales advised, echoing Shearwater Research expeditions.
Safety Considerations
Terra incognita risks: no charts for many sites, strong river outflows and katabatic winds. Drysuit mastery essential (practice river currents). DAN rebreather protocols for extended bottom times. Pre-dive: rig checks for reliability, as failures catastrophic. Computer mandatory (Shearwater Teric); conservative profiles for unknown deco.
Essential Gear
Pinnacle Merlin drysuit, twinset 30s (steel Fabers), bailout bottle, primaries+backup lights (Kraken NR2), dry gloves. Ice pick for surface bergs.
Emergency Tips
Ascend to boat lines in caleta; EPIRB activation if separated. In-water O2 if mild DCS; self-rescue to shore only if trained. ARMADA Chile VHF 16; chamber Coyhaique (remote, 8+ hours).