13.67° N · 89.05° W · Lago de Ilopango
DIVE THE VOLCANO
A crater lake inside a living volcano, a short drive from San Salvador. No reef. No crowds. A dive almost nobody else in your dive club has done.
US$185 · 2 guided dives · Gear and hotel pickup included
Max 4 divers per Divemaster or Instructor · Solo divers welcome · 4.8 on Google (78 reviews)
US$100 deposit · Free cancellation up to 72 hours · Full refund if we cancel for conditions
Most people see it from the overlook. You'll see it from 60 feet down.
Lago de Ilopango fills the caldera of one of the largest eruptions of the last 2,000 years, and the volcano isn't finished. You descend through open water past dark volcanic rock to statues local divers placed on the bottom, then to vents where heat still pushes up out of the earth. Hold your hand near the rock and you can feel it. You won't find a reef fish parade here, and we won't pretend you will. What you get is stranger and rarer.
The dive
Who can go
Open Water certified and up. Been a while? Do a refresher first. Not certified? Try Scuba is a shallow first dive with an instructor, not the volcano. Take your course with us.
Visibility
5 to 15 meters (16 to 49 ft). Best December to March.
Water
26 to 29°C (79 to 84°F). A 3 mm wetsuit is plenty.
Depth
Open Water divers to 18 m (60 ft). Advanced divers to 30 m (100 ft).
Group size
4 divers max per Divemaster or Instructor. No minimum, so solo divers are welcome.
Your dive pros:
PADI professionals who dive this lake every week.
Altitude
The lake sits at 440 m (1,440 ft). We plan your dives and your flight home around it.
From the lake
Your volcano day
7:00 am
Pickup at your hotel in San Salvador
8:00 am
Arrive at Lake Ilopango. Gear up and full briefing
Dive 1
Statues or volcanic walls, depth set by your certification
Surface
Surface break with snacks and drinks on the boat
Dive 2
Fumaroles. Feel the heat!
4:00 pm
Back at your hotel
Book the volcano
US$185per diver, 2 tanks
About 9 hours, hotel to hotel
US$100 deposit holds your spot
Free cancellation up to 72 hours. Full refund if we cancel for conditions.
Solo diver welcome. No minimum.
What's included
- Pickup from San Salvador hotels
- Staying at the beach (El Tunco, El Zonte, El Sunzal)? Pickup is US$75, or meet us at the lake.
- PADI Divemaster or Instructor and full briefing
- Two tanks and weights
- Rental gear
- Snacks and non-alcoholic beverages
- No alcohol allowed in vehicles or on the boat.
Group rates available. Discounts for locals who don't need transportation.
Traveling with a non diver? They can do a Try Scuba the same day for US$110, or ride along on the boat for US$35.
Check availabilityAsk us on WhatsAppDive both
The volcano one day, the Pacific reef another. Book both and save US$20.
US$365 per diver · 4 dives · Gear and hotel pickup included (normally US$385)
Los Cóbanos runs December 15 through March.
Check availabilityVolcano FAQ
Is it safe to dive in a volcano?
Yes. The volcano is the adventure, not the danger. Before every dive you get a full briefing on the route, depth limits and what to do if anything changes. If conditions aren't right, we don't go, and you choose a new date or a full refund. See our Booking Policy.
What are the underwater statues at Lake Ilopango?
Local divers have placed statues at sites like Los Quemados and Cerro Encantado over the years, including a replica of Christ the Redeemer, the Virgin of Dolores and a giant rosary. They double as landmarks on our guided dives.
Will I see the heat vents?
On most days, yes. Your Divemaster or Instructor plans the route on the day based on conditions and your certification.