An early start (6am) from San Salvador to head to Lago de Ilppango for our first lake and freshwater dive - also our first dive in a volcanic crater!
We arrived around 8am, met the other divers & got Mario's boat in the water. It was a beautiful sunny morning with stunning views across the whole lake & of Volcan Chichontepeq.
On our way to the first dive site - Caldera del Diablo (the devil's pot) we passed the Cerros quemados & La isle Amor (love island). It was pretty amazing to experience the thermoclines & hot springs nearly 100ft down into the lake!
After a surface interval bobbing in the lake we then headed to Cerros hundidos. The visibility was so bad we lost a diver on the descent & had to surface & then go back to find him! Fortunately we were able to regroup & resume the dive! Once we hit the bottom - at round 20m we were able to scour for Nodulos - little rocks of lava formed from the last eruption. Some were as round & large as baseballs while others were like perfectly formed little marbles.
After the dives we had lunch by the lake. I had Mariscado - a local dish which is similar to a seafood laksa minus the noodles & coconut milk. Tasty!
We got back to San Salvador around 5/6pm, packed & then headed out with Mario & Antonietta for a final feast of papuses & to farewell our new friends.
Early to bed since it's s 3.30 start for the bus to Nicaragua. Fun fun!
