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Scuba Diving Columbia

Malpelo Island - Flora and Fauna Sanctuary

Photo and information courtesy of Coiba Dive Expeditions

Unesco World Heritage Site

Malpelo Island, isolated in the Pacific 506 km /314 miles west of Colombia. This sinister and forbidding Island is an isolated basaltic seamount with sheer cliffs rising 13, 200 ft / 4,000 m above the ocean floor.

The highest point, “El Cerro de La Mona”, is 376 m above sea level; Malpelo Island is surrounded by a dozen satellite rocks, each with its own appeal. All were formed between 17 and 20 million years ago and are of volcanic origin.

Malpelo was once eight to ten times larger than its present size of eight 8 square kilometers. The constant pounding of the ocean and weather have eroded the island forming steep cliffs and sea caves along its coastline.

The submarine environment surrounding Malpelo is defined not only by its isolation but also by its location, which is highly influenced by several diverse marine currents.

17 species of marine mammal, including the Humpback and Blue Whale, 5 terrestrial and 7 marine reptile species, 61 species of birds, 394 species of fish and 340 species of mollusks have been recorded.

The terrestrial fauna of the island is adapted to the barren conditions and the deposits of guano which are the basis of the island's ecology, both on land and undersea. There are twelve endemic species, five terrestrial and seven marine.

The island is often visited by some twelve species of migratory birds, including the Red-billed Tropic bird, Red-footed Booby, Black Noddy and the great and magnificent Frigate birds.

Endemic to the island are one crab species, two starfish, various species of coralline fish, and two reptiles.

Algae, moss and lichens cover the rugged cliffs of Malpelo which host the 2nd largest Masked Booby colony in the world, approximately twenty five thousand birds.

A small Colombian Navy garrison has been in place since 1986 and ten years later Malpelo was recognized as a Colombian Fauna and Flora Sanctuary, with a marine protected area of six miles around the island.

Diving in Malpelo Island, Colombia

Malpelo is the Island of Sharks!

Beside Isla Coco, there is no other place in the world where you can encounter such huge Schools of Hammerhead- and Silkie Sharks!

Malpelo Island is home to 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 enormous congregations of Silky Sharks who often mix with Hammerheads to form colossal Shark Schools and the huge number of cluster and free swimming Moray Eels are the two most outstanding phenomena in Malpelo.

Other common sights 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 Whales and Blue Whale.

The rare, deep water Ragged-Tooth Shark also can be encountered in the colder depths.

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 exits 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 on surface. In case of Thermoclines, water temperatures can drop to 15 C , 60 F.

Currents can be strong, which makes drift diving the best option on some of the sites.

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.

MALPELO WEATHER AND ANIMAL ACTION!

There is a lot of action at anytime. Among the species you will always see are Hammerheads, Whale Sharks, large schools of Barracudas, Rays, Mantas, Eagle Rays, Galapagos sharks and more!

There are two main seasons: December-May and May-December.

December – May: It is dry season, and north winds produce upwelling that lowers water temperature and thus there is plankton and other nutrients that may attract large schools of fish however, all this amount of plankton reduces visibility.

It is important to note that even though Hammerheads are present all year round, there are very large schools between months of December and April.

In March and April water is colder than the rest of the months so that gives big possibilities to see Sand Tiger Shark.

From May to August, besides the extreme amount of Hammerheads there are opportinities to meet Silky Sharks in schools of up to 1000 individuals!

There is less plankton from May to November so visibility is much better (like 25 to 40 meters).

Whale sharks are always present but mostly from July to September; there are Humpback whales between July and November and also there is a good visibility by that time.

We always recommend dive suits of at least 5mm.

MV Yemaya - Malpelo Island Liveaboard