ENOMIS DIVERS

ENOMIS DIVERS offers scuba diving excursions to many sites in Venezuela and the Caribbean.  Among the most popular are excursions to El Farallon, Isla de Los Frailes, and Cubagua Island.

LOS FRAILES - The Los Frailes Archipelago is a group of 5 small uninhabited islands and rocks, located 10 nautical miles northeast of Margarita Island.   Because of its northerly location, it has some special characteristics, such as the presence of large sea nutrients, which makes it a place with a large biological diversity and is exceptionally favorable for reproduction of underwater fauna and also for some migratory birds.

Our expedition to Los Frailes is based mainly on visiting the dive and snorkeling sites there.  We offer a variety of scuba diving excursions for certified scuba divers.

The journey begins from the Concorde Marina which is located by the Pescador restaurant, where we will board our 30' Island Hopper custom made diveboat named the "Explorador 1", or our 26' pontoon boat named "Mako."  The trip to the Los Frailes Islands takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes.  If we go to El Farallon, the trip will only take 15 minutes.  In addition to our own boats, we also have use of another boat named the "Dona Raquel", which is a large and very safe wood hulled boat based at the El Tirano Harbor.

The main attraction is without a doubt the abundant and diverse underwater life.  Visibility may oscillate between 6 to 20 meters (18 to 60 feet), depending on seasons and the days conditions.  This is due to the large quantity of underwater nutrients (plankton) suspended in the water and dragged by the sea currents.  Because of this, even on poor visibility days, a large number of fish can be seen as well as an exuberant micro fauna which makes this place an underwater macro photography paradise.

The following paragraphs describe some of the dive sites at Los Frailes:

La Pecha - This site is situated in front of a small sandy beach, it is a popular place for snorkeling close to the fisherman's shelter.  The reef slope is typical with gorgonians and some sponges.  It is a very pleasant and relaxed dive, an excellent first dive to get introduced to the Los Frailes reefs.

Payape -  The presence of large quantities of gorgonians and the great variety of underwater life makes this dive site a superb natural aquarium.  There are two outstanding characteristics of this beautiful habitat:  the first is that there are almost always a chance for a fun drift dive, the second is the great variety of underwater creatures that include Barracuda, various Parrot fish, Spanish Hog fish, all kinds of Grunts, Groupers, and huge Balloon fishes and if you are very attentive, you may see lobsters and sea horses.  Jacks are frequently sighted in this area.  Since this beautiful place is in a maximum of 50 feet of water, there is more than sufficient bottom time for exploration and photography and has good snorkel value.

Pena - We recommend this site to the experienced diver only because the entry  is normally rough.  Good swimming ability is required.  During calm weather, however, this site can also be dived safely by less experienced divers.  The boat will be moored over a sandy terrace in a corner of the small island, from where you swim out against the current to the drop-off at 25 to 26 feet.  The reef drops steeply down to a depth well over 90 feet.  Fish are especially plentifull down to about 20 meters (60 feet).  Here you will see numerous Schoolmasters, Snappers, blue striped Grunts (Corocoros), Groupers and sometimes you can see a school of Boga trying to fend off attacks from Bar Jacks, and some other big pelagic fauna.

Infierno - This dive site got its name from the way the ocean surface looks (very choppy and rough).  Normally this is not a dive for everyone, yet it is a very exciting dive.  We are taking you on a 60 to 80 foot dive with possible current and an entry what cannot be labeled as "easy or nice" except under most favourable weather circumstances.

Punta Rajunao -  This dive site is situated off the south-western corner of Cominoto and is characterized by the presence of small walls.  It starts at 20 feet and goes down to about 50 feet.  Gorgonians are abundant at the upper edge of the walls

My Point -  This place is a gorgonian forest at 12 to 15 meters ( 36 to 45 feet).  A shallow sandy terrace with healthy islands of hard and soft corals.

Echao -  From the mooring at 5 meters (15 feet) it is just a short swim (in good weather conditions only) to an underwater passage through the rocks.  It is just beautiful.  At the end of the little cavern there will be the reef which slopes down to about 16 meters (48 to 50 feet).

CUBAGUA -  It was a 120 foot long by 30 foot wide, steel hulled ferry registered in Margarita Island.  In 1981 she was enroute from Puerta la Cruz to Punta De Piedras, Margarita Island carrying a cargo of cars, trucks and passengers.  Due to electrical failure and ignited by sparks she was quickly engulfed in flames and sank.  The crew and passengers eluded injury.

Less than 5 feet behind the Cacica Isabel is another wreck, the San Esteban.  The San Esteban was purposely sunk years later by students of the La Salle College to serve as an artificial reef.  Both wrecks are now sitting in about 45 feet of water in an upright position.  Divers can descend through open decks or swim around their exteriors.  Snorkellers as well as divers often visit the Cacica Isabel and the San Esteban.

EL FARALLON -  A massive white rock (or small island) where birds and divers gather together.  Located between Porlamar and Pampatar, El Farallon is about 15 minutes from the Concorde Marina.  Visibility ranges between 15 to 50 feet and the maximum depth around El Farallon is about 15 meters (45 feet).  Here you can find gorgonians, Brain Coral, and other types of coral found in the Caribbean.  Divers will be treated to schools of Jacks, Grouper, Hogfish, Sergeant Majors, Squirrel fish, Puffer fish (porcupine fish), Spotted Drums, Needle fish(Trumpet fish), Barracuda, Grunts, Sardines, Angelfish, Damselfish, Flying Gunnards, Reef Squid, etc.  If you look carefully, you can see Moray and spotted Eels, Lobster, Flounder, Arrow Crabs, and Scorpion fish (dont touch!).

On the ocean floor in about 8 meter (24 feet) of water, divers can admire a beautiful bronze statue of the Coromoto Virgin, who protects the oceans of Venezuela.