Dive in World-Class Malpelo With Other Reef-Friendly Divers!
Overall Rating
We went to Malpelo on the VIVAX, the sister ship of the Ferox liveaboard. The atmosphere on board was excellent thanks to a fantastic, smiling, and efficient team. The food was varied and well-balanced. Our guides Richi and Sebastian were professional and friendly. We saw some big schools of hammerheads, a tiger shark, some Galapagos sharks, some eagle ray escadrons, oceanic mantas... and even a quite rare occurrence: a pregnant Ferox shark! The weather was rapidly changing, and we could not go to every site we wished, as the dive sites are almost all very exposed to currents and waves. It is for experienced divers who like a bit of a challenge. The national park rangers and the Silky team talks were very informative and enjoyable - good work! The VIVAX liveaboard lacked a warm, dry indoor space to relax after dives, the upper deck was noisy and uninviting, and seating options were limited, and not comfortable with rain. The way to get from the liveaboard to the skiff and vice-versa needs to be improved, as the ladder was moving around and not safe with waves. We liked that the equipment stays on the skiffs. Having nothing to carry around was great! Overall, a good trip, but for the current price point, the comfort and safety of the boat need significant improvement.
An incredible trip to this island that deserves its nickname Shark Island. We appreciate the crew's dedication, which makes up for the boat's lack of comfort. We had wonderful encounters and superb dives; we would have appreciated Mother Nature offering us even better underwater visibility!
Why We Love It
Get ready for an unforgettable diving experience on this SeaCrush liveaboard trip of August 14-23, 2025, in Malpelo! The island is located 500 km from the coast, at the confluence of several oceanic currents, and its steep waters go down to 3400 meters (11155 ft). Get ready for some of the biggest schools of hammerhead sharks you have ever seen, huge aggregations of silky sharks, some white tips sharks, eagle rays, and massive schools of fish. With only one liveaboard taking a maximum of 12 divers, diving Malpelo is one of the most exclusive experiences of the Pacific!
Conservation
The liveaboard has been working for more than five years in the Malpelo Fauna and Flora Sanctuary. They aim at limiting their impact on the marine environment. It is one of the very few liveaboards to have a biological wastewater treatment plant onboard. They also decided to only take 12 divers on every trip. Finally, the liveaboard is also extremely fuel efficient for its size.
Who Is It For?
This liveaboard is for passionate and experienced divers. The strong currents attract pelagic species, making most sites quite challenging. A minimum of 50 logged dives, and an Advanced Open Water or a level 2 is required. To reduce the risk of decompression sickness and nitrogen narcosis, the usage of Nitrox is mandatory.
Prices and Dates
Loading...
Dive Briefing!
Marine Life
- After 30 hours of navigation, you'll reach Malpelo island, at the heart of the Malpelo Fauna and Flora Sanctuary, the largest no-fishing zone in the Eastern Tropical Pacific.
- Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2006.
- Its deep waters, reaching a depth of around 3,400 meters, and the confluence of several oceanic currents bringing major sources of nutrients attract large schools of threatened species.
- It is one of the only places in the world where you can see schools of 200+ hammerhead sharks, and over 1,000 silky sharks.
- There are plenty of giant grouper, blue marlins, and tunas, and it is one of the few places in the world where sightings of the short-nosed ragged-toothed shark have been confirmed.
Dive Conditions
- Season: between May to December, it is the wet season and visibility is improved with clearer waters. Hammerhead sharks are found in deeper waters, and large schools of Silky sharks can be observed especially during the early months of the wet season. Whale sharks, Galapagos sharks, and Manta Rays can also be seen during the wet season.
- Currents: medium to strong
- Visibility: 3 to 30 m (10 to 98 ft)
- Water Temperature: from May to December a thermocline at (25 to 30 m (80 to 98 ft)) depth bring the temperature up to 25° to 27°C (77° to 81°F) .
- Depth: deep and shallow dives
Dive Sites
- Widely recognized as one of the top diving destinations in the world, due to the presence of steep walls and caves of outstanding natural beauty.
- Malpelo offers an undisturbed environment where marine life maintains its natural behavioral patterns.
- There are more than 28 dive sites around the island.
- The 12 divers are split into two groups of 6 divers each, and dive at different sites, using the two zodiacs.
Itinerary example for a 9 nights trip:
DAY 1:
- Private transport from Cali to Buenaventura (approximately 3 hours).
- Upon arrival in Buenaventura guests will be transported to the anchor Ferox.
- Guests will participate in vessel safety drills.
DAY 2:
- General Dive Briefing / National Park Briefing / Equipment Set Up.
DAYS 3-7:
- Arrival at Malpelo.
- After a dive briefing and safety checks, the diving begins.
- Three dives a day every day
DAY 8:
- Two dives
- Return to Buenaventura
DAY 9:
- Crossing Day
DAY 10:
- Arrival at the port of Buenaventura after approximately 30 hours of navigation.
- Private transportation to Cali.
The Team
- Dive operator in the area since 2018
- Swedish Navy ship built in 1991, and renovated in 2017
- Languages spoken: English, Spanish
- Guides with 30 years experience
- Maximum 6 divers per guide
Safety Information
- Equipment Recommended: a 5-7 mm long wetsuit, a hood, and dive gloves. Each diver must bring their own SMB, a whistle, and a knife. It's compulsory to dive with a flashlight and a position light. The usual equipment (wetsuit, BCD, regulator, dive computer, fins, flashlight, 15 L tanks) can be rented on board.
- Insurance: Both dive insurance and travel insurance are mandatory. We recommend DAN Europe, which has plans to cover both - ask us for a quote.
- Nearest Hyperbaric Chamber: in Bahia de Malaga, Buenaventura.
Visas, Flights, and More!
Visa Requirements
- You must have a valid passport to enter Colombia, and a return ticket
- Most citizens do not require a visa to stay in Colombia for up to 90 days
- Ensure your passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond the period you intend to stay
- Please check current visa policies that apply for your country on Colombia Tourism Office
- Please make sure that you have a valid ESTA number for flights via the USA.
- You must be vaccinated against Yellow Fever to gain entry to Malpelo National Park. Remember that this vaccine must be administered at least 10 days prior to traveling to the destination.
How to Get There
-
Fly to Cali (Airport Code CLO) one day before/after the trip. Trips to Malpelo start and end in Buenaventura on the Colombian Pacific coast. Transfers from Cali to Buenaventura as well as back to Cali are included in the rate.
-
Cali is connected internationally with Miami (American Airlines & AVIANCA), New York and Madrid (both AVIANCA) and Panama-Tocumen (Copa Airlines).
-
It is also possible to fly to Cali via Bogota which is connected to various cities:
- in North America: Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Newark, New York JFK, Orlando, Toronto, Washington,
- and Europe: Amsterdam, Barcelona, Frankfurt, Istanbul, London, Madrid, Munich, Paris.
-
There are also direct flights to Cali from Quito, Guayaquil, and Lima.
More...
- Bring warm clothes, a windbreaker, extra trousers, ear drops, medicine if needed, and sea-sickness tablets.
Destinations
Right Season
Dive Operators
Booking Fees
