Location

Venezuela is a land filled with rich biodiversity and a huge range of different natural features. It is the home of Angel Falls, the Gran Sabana with the mystical Tepuy, Orinoco Delta, Amazon, and of course with over 3000 km (2000 miles) of Caribbean coastline an amazing variety of diving.

During your stay in Venezuela you will be based at a remote village on the coastline called 'Playa Colorada'. It is approximately 40 minutes by jeep to Puerto La Cruz and one hour away from Caracas by air.

 

Dive Centre

Operating as a PADI Dive Resort # 18597, the centre follows all the international standards in the matters of Instructor standards, safety and operation. It offers PADI courses from Open Water to Divemaster and tries to keep group numbers to a minimum. It is located in the Marina Americo Vespucio of Puerto La Cruz about 20 minutes by boat from Playa Colorada. On each diving day the boat comes to Playa Colorada and picks you up and then either takes you to the dive centre lessons and theory or out to the dive sites in the area for diving.

Programmes

We offer two types of programmes in Venezuela; a short 6 week trip and an extended three "month trip" that ranges from 10-14 weeks in duration - there are three options depending on your diving level. Programmes include Spanish lessons, scuba diving courses, activities and loads more fun things. Please see our programmes list for more information.

 

 

The Diving

Venezuela is still an unknown to many divers, but that only makes it more special. With the waters of the Orinoco River emptying in front of the Island of Trinidad, and east of us a very deep part of the ocean which brings an upwelling of cold water, the waters of Mochima National Park are a breeding place for all kinds of fish. Species are still being discovered here! Soft coral, hard coral, Sponges, Tube Worms, Spaghetti Worms, Christmas Tree Worms, great variety and quantity of all reef fish, Spotted Morays, often large snappers and groupers, Cleaner Shrimp stations, large hermit crabs, trumpet fish, spotted drums, Angel fish, Butterfly fish attacking the eggs of the Sergeant Major, occasionally a ray or turtle are all seen at the different dive sites. Usually our boat will be the only one at a dive site!

 

 

Accommodation & Spanish

Located alongside the beautiful beach of Playa Colorada in the heart of the Mochima National Park our palm fringed Caribbean base is amongst a procession of sandy beaches from where we explore the myriad of deserted offshore islands by kayak whilst interacting with dolphins, go snorkelling, fishing, lying on the beach or exploring the local towns or forested interior. 

Jakera lodge is the perfect location - situated right near the heart of the best scuba diving in Mochima National park where diving opportunities are excellent.

The accommodation is authentic. You will have a choice of beds or hammocks. Your accommodation includes a breakfast of fresh fruits and cereal and a main meal of national and international flavours each evening. Lunch is also included when you are having Spanish lessons.

 

 

 

Spanish Lessons

Where better to learn Spanish than in a Spanish speaking country, submerged in the culture and surrounded by the seductive tongue. A Gap Year Diver Spanish and Dive Programme will take you from basic, ‘hola, una cerveza por favor’ Spanish, to an advanced level in as little as 3 months without even realising that you have been in class.

The classes are informal and given in the open air; on Caribbean beaches, in steaming jungles and even on top of eerie Tepuys. In addition to teaching Spanish in a fun and useful way, we combine local culture, folklore and learn about the local fauna and flora.

 

 

Activities

Virtually everything goes here in Venezuela and Gap Year Diver can help you with whatever your bag. Venezuela has 42 National Parks for hiking and trekking and around 20 nature reserves (monumentos naturales) which, together, cover some 15 per cent of the total land mass, it also has by far the largest coastline of the Caribbean where all water-sports are possible. Most activities are available from the doorstep of the Jakera Lodge multi-sport camp.

 

 

 

 

 

7-8 week travelling classroom

As part of our three month programme we include a 7 week travelling classroom that takes you all over Venezuela. Places include Angel Falls, Gran Sabana, Roraima, kayaking down the Orinoco Delta and sea-kayaking.

 

 

 

 

Gallery

Please follow this link to view photos of Venezuela.