Most dive sites are located close to the main island. Anchoring is not permitted anywhere within the marine protected area, consequently all descents and ascents are without a line.
Sea conditions can make entries and exists challenging at times. Visibility ranges between 80 ft to 130 ft / 25 m to 40 m. Water temperatures between 25 and 28 C 72 to 79 F.
Currents can be strong, which makes drift diving the best option on some of the sites.
We always dive in a group here. Our Dive master will employ a surface buoy at the start of the dive to mark our location. Our dive skiffs will follow our progress along the site.
Malpelo Island is home to an important coral formation as well as a large variety and quantity of marine creatures. Of special interest is the hammerhead shark with its awe-inspiring schools reaching up to 300 hundred individuals.
The two most outstanding phenomena in Malpelo are the huge number of cluster and free swimming moray eels and the enormous congregations of silky sharks who often mix with hammerheads to form colossal shark schools.
The rare, deep water ragged-tooth shark also can be encountered in the colder depths of the island. |
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Other common sites are the White Tip Shark, Galapagos Shark, giant schools of Angel Fish, Creole fish, Jacks, Tuna, and occasionally a Sail Fish, Whale Shark and even Humpback Whale.
The Malpelo Foundation only allows one Live-Aboard dive vessel to be present at the island at any one time, with a maximum of 25 divers.
They also require that divers hold at minimum an Advanced Open Water certification or have proof of extensive diving experience at the maximum recreational dive depths of 130 feet/ 40 meters.
There are 2 principal moorings for larger vessels located at the island.
*Beginner divers might find this diving environment and conditions challenging. |
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