Diving in Peru

The area has become a hotspot for divers who are keen on underwater eco-tourism and who are familiar with the rich biodiversity to be found in areas near the National Paracas Reserve.

Thanks to the efforts of Mundo Azul, an entity that is working to conserve the natural area, ecologists and diving enthusiasts now have access to three-dimensional maps of the sea bottom of the Paracas Reserve, particularly the Mendieta beach.

According to Stefan Austerm¸hle, head of projects and scientific research at Mundo Azul, Mendieta covers just 0.003% of the sea surface of the Paracas Reserve, but is home to 50% of the sea urchin and seastar species, 27.4% of scallops and sea snails and 19.7% of crabs, not to mention all the species that have yet to be classified.