Explore: Isla de Providencia
General Info
This Colombian island lies midway between Costa Rica and Jamaica. It is connected to the smaller Santa Catalina Island by a 100-metre footbridge. With a long history of pirates and hidden treasure, it’s no surprise this is Colombia’s major scuba destination.
A scenic and friendly island, Providencia is convenient for a break on passage to/from Panama. Although a district of Columbia, it lies about 135NM east of the coast of Nicaragua and about 500nm from mainland Colombia.
Note: There is a significant datum offset (more than 200 metres) for both Navionics and C-Map electronic charting. This applies to Low Cay, north of Providencia and to Providencia Island itself. It may also apply to San Andres Island and to the Albuquerque Cays.
There are several channels leading into the port of Catalina. The primary channel is marked with six buoys and starts with the deep water buoy. Entering the harbour is straightforward
The tourist office is very helpful and they have copies of a “Cruising Guide to Colombia”, which is well worth asking for because it contains reduced colour copies of the major charts for all of the Colombian coastline.
Position 13° 22’48″N, 81° 22’19″W (Catalina)
Clearance
For detailed information on the formalities required for clearing into and out of Colombia go to Colombia Formalities.
For a list of agents see Clearance Agents.
No attempt at contacting the Port Captain should be made, except through your nominated clearing agent (Agencia Maritima) on arrival.
Clearance formalities must be completed even if coming from mainland Colombia. Visas are not required, nor issued.
Clearance is required before anchoring anywhere on the Island, including Low Cay.
Make arrangements to clear out a day or two before you intend to leave as not all officials are available at the same time to do all the paperwork.
It is likely Mr. Bush (contact Bernardo, VHF ch.16) will be your appointed agent (not available 1200-1400 when the whole town shuts for lunch). He will arrange clearance formalities, however, it could well take a few days for everything to be completed with several trips ashore required to visit his office with paperwork.
If you’re lucky he will respond to your VHF call and arrange to meet you at the dinghy dock. Otherwise, dinghy ashore, turn right at the dinghy dock and left at the only road junction in town, walk 400 meters up the road past the supermarkets and you’ll see a general store on the right with a sign for Bush Agencies on the first floor. Mr. Bush owns the store and his office is in his apartment above the store. It’s all very relaxed and everyone knows Mr. Bush.
Last updated: January 2018
Docking
Providencia Island (Catalina)
Has a buoyed approach. The main channel into the anchorage is well buoyed and well lit and so it is possible to enter safely at night.
Anchoring is good in the bay to port when you enter with depths from 5-15 feet in sand and turtle grass. This is a quiet and protected anchorage as long as there is not a big swell from the North.
Be careful not to anchor in the channel as it is used day and night by freighters. Watch out for the reef in the middle of the bay about 350 meters south of Santa Catalina Island. (Remember the big chart offset.)
Dinghies can be left at the dock to the left of the main pier; a stern anchor will be needed as there is quite a surge.
Low Cay
At the north end of the reef to the north of Providencia, Low Cay used to make a good night time anchorage if you arrived after dark from the north and didn’t want to attempt the approach to Providencia. However unfortunately now the authorities want all visiting vessels to clear-in before using Low Cay – so this option is no longer available.
Last updated: January 2018
