Inca Lake May 2005

Inca Lake is near Portillo, a sky resort a few hours north of Santiago near the border with Argentina. The road switches back as it climbs over the Andes giving a view of a mountainside of trucks as they struggle up the inclines.


Trucks climbing towards Portillo

Inca Lake is at 3,000 metres above sea level, which for diving makes it unique and technical.


Inca Lake, 3,000 metres above sea level

It is freshwater so there is less buoyancy, it is very cold and the altitude limits dive time and depth. Oh yeah, the lake has very steep sides and low visability so it is easy to get disorientated, which could potentially be disastrous due to the ease that you can sink. Swimming to the surface from only 10 metres down takes time and is exhausting, in an environment when you need to move slowly to avoid exhaustion.


Preparing to dive Inca Lake


Divers in Inca Lake