The Peruvian Diving Petrel is found off the coast of Peru and northern and central Chile. Except in the southern extremities of its range, where it is found alongside Magellanic Diving Petrel P. magellani, it is the only Diving-petrel to be found.

It nests in burrows in the guano deposited on off-shore islands and is vulnerable both to the exploitation of the guano deposits and to introduced predators such as rats, cats and foxes.