Malpelo - Ferox new Colombian liveaboard

[Dom@DiveAdvice]

Hi Chris - there should be no reason why you cannot join the July 2-12 trip to Malpelo aboard the Ferox - it sounds like you have the certification and skills, but may I ask you when your most recent dive was and where. July is typically the ideal time to be there, seas tend to be calmer, water temps higher, but there are still strong currents. As an AOW/Rescue diver, and then cave diver, at least some time in your past you have learned the requisite skills to safely dive Malpelo. If you have not dived recently, I might suggest you might want to do a refresher dive to remind yourself of those skills, even if that means in a local pool. Even some of us with many dives under our belt, gain greatly by taking a refresher in a safe environment, before rolling off the tender into the open ocean. However don't let anyone put you off, and the initial dives you do at Malpelo are likely to be in fairly calm and current free sites. The dive guides there have so much experience and as long as you tell them, they will help guide you for those initial dives as you gain confidence. At this time,
we have spaces in two master cabins, which have double beds, 1 single cabin and we have a twin cabin that has an option for one space, but we can maybe move them to a single cabin so that you and your sister are in a twin cabin. Here are the details of the trip and you can find more on our website www.diveadvice.com
July 2-12 - 10 nights from Colombia - Max 12 guests - Free nitrox - Twin private bath $4130 - Single with share bathroom $4515 - Single private bathroom $4855 - Master $4970 - plus Park fees @ $35 per dive day.
Easiest for you to book it thru our California office but if you have questions and would like more details including flight and hotel recommendations for Cali for before and after, please feel welcome to contact me directly by e-mail or skype dom@diveadvice.com and skype adventuredom. I hope you can make it, its worth the trip. Cheers, Dom

 

[Dom@DiveAdvice]

Hi Chris - a further post to consider - for the July 2-12 Malpelo trip they currently have spaces in following cabins - 2 Master cabin (double bed only ), 1 Twin cabin and 1 individual private bath port side. This trip is not discounted but if you have any flexibility with time, they have just opened a 9 night trip for May 16-25 which they are offering 35% discount, with free nitrox and free local alcoholic beverages. Rates from $2489 plus park fees of $35 per dive day. That's a saving of at least $1700 if the timing works. Coming up fast though so maybe does not work this time. Happy to help you if you need anything. Best Dom

 

[Dom@DiveAdvice]

MV FEROX MALPELO - May 16-25 at 35% Discount

Amazing opportunity to dive this once in a lifetime destination at best rate possible.
They have just opened up a 9 night trip for May 16-25 2018 and are offering 35% discount,
free nitrox and free local alcoholic beverages.

Max 12 guests - Free nitrox + Free local bar - Twin private bath $2489 - Single with share bathroom $2739 - Single private bathroom $2960 - Master $3025 - plus Park fees @ $37 per dive day

We hope you can make it.

Please contact Dive Advice Travel or our North America office Amazing Adventures Travel for further details.

Dominick Macan
Dive Advice Travel
dom@diveadvice.com
www.diveadvice.com
Tel: +33 492 94 02 99 (France)
SKYPE: adventuredom
Live search for dive liveaboard spaces … for up-to-date liveaboard availability worldwide

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[divergirlLinda]

My husband and I recently returned from a 9 day trip (May 16-25) to Malpelo on the Ferox. I am willing to answer questions about our experience including the boat, the diving, and the logistics. Unfortunately I have been sick but I will take some time eventually to write a review. For now I can tell you that I recommend the Ferox. I have several other things I am mulling over prior to a full review.

 

[The Chairman]

but I will take some time eventually to write a review.

I look forward to it!

 

[Owen Bridgeman]

HI Chris, here is my 2 cents on the FEROX Malpelo.

Excellent service from the crew. The Owner/Captain, a very experienced former merchant marine, was very service oriented and worked hard to make things better for all of us. He earned five stars from me. The quarters were very comfortable and for a liveaboard very roomy. The shower was actually big enough to shower in and the bathroom roomy also. Very nicely retrofitted. My only concern was the steep stairs as this is a retrofitted military ship. The food for the most part was awesome, if you like Colombian cuisine. There was a standing offer to make special dishes which I did not partake in.

The diving is another story, unfortunately. First it was a little disappointing in that visibility was generally poor and because it rained for the most part every day, we did not see as much as we hoped. The last dive was probably the best with the most to see. If it had been sunny and the weather typical for that time of year it could have been awesome viewing. That is just the chance you take. While I understand the legalistic entanglements of the government, the restrictions placed on us by the dive master were extreme and not warranted for experienced divers. We had two very experienced divers (more than 500) one with more than 90 and two with 50 or so but no deep or cold water diving. We were all treated like total dweebs. The dive master basically took us down and wanted us to plant ourselves for the entire dive. The two gentlemen with the fewest dives were constantly running low on air. Not a safe operation in my opinion. In my opinion the Captain needs to find a divemaster who has worked other dive sites like the Galapagos and the Socorros. Maybe even book a trip on an Aggressor fleet to one of those places to see how they do business and treat the divers. I understand the divemaster was very experienced at the site but he was still in my opinion, way overboard with the restrictions. Unfortunately I do not think I would travel on this liveaboard again if the same divemaster was going to be on the trip. I do believe that this could be a solid five star operation if they iron out the divemaster issues.

 

[divergirlLinda]

MV FEROX MALPELO - May 16-25, 2018

I've had some time to think over our experience in Malpelo aboard the MV Ferox. To give you some background I have been diving in the Galapagos 3 times, Socorro Islands 2 times, and many other places in the world. I mention the Galapagos because it is probably the closest conditions to Malpelo, at least as far as the current goes and the sea life goes.

The Ferox is not built for luxury but I have no complaints about the rooms. We had a master stateroom which was nice. The masters have a nice TV and they even supplied an HDMI cable for us. All the rooms that I toured looked pretty good. The stairs to the lower level however, are very steep but if used properly they are safe.

Speaking of safety, I don't think you will find a much safer liveaboard around. The ship is well built and has every safety measure in place and every piece of equipment used for safety available. The Captain is extremely experienced as he served in the Merchant Marines and has been all over the world. The crew appears to be very experienced as well so I had no concerns whatsoever about our safety while on board.

The service while on board was excellent. The entire crew were friendly and did everything they could to make sure we had a great time and had everything we needed. I do not prefer Columbian food but I have to say that most of the time it was very tasty and there was plenty of it. The kitchen staff goes above and beyond trying to please everyone as far as food is concerned. On our trip beer and wine was included as a special incentive. Both beer and wine were plentiful with the crew (including the captain) serving us anytime and anywhere we wanted, unless we were diving, of course.

I was aware that there were no indoor areas to hang out in but except for the first night in a storm the tables are under cover and the bar upstairs is a nice place to hang out. There is also a nice sundeck on top with lounge chairs. I wouldn't let the fact that the dining tables or bar are outside bother you at all. Even during rain it is fine.

Now to the diving. I have heard that different times of year yield different conditions so May should have been pretty good conditions and because hammer heads were not our only priority I think it was a good time to go. Unfortunately the weather did not cooperate and visibility was not as good as expected. I believe we averaged about 30 feet of visibility. The current is very strong. I am not that bothered by current as long as I am not expected to swim into it. Unfortunately we were either forced to cling to a rock or swim against the current because of our divemaster.

The divemaster on this trip was familiar with Malpelo as he had worked there several years in the past but his methods of conducting the dives were questionable. Although the minimum number of dives is 50, I think it should be 100. The ranger (a very nice guy) from the park was on all of our dives. He said the park minimum is 35 but also agreed it should be higher. We had a few divers with 50 dives and a few with 500+. The divemaster had expectations that he and all 6 divers on the boat should descend on the dive, be together the entire dive, and surface as a group. This is not possible in these conditions. The reality was that we went down as a group, found a rock to cling to (often in quite deep water) and when the two divers with low experience ran low on air then we all had to surface. On one dive I tried to take photos of several silky sharks so close to me I needed a wide angle lens but was being beckoned back to the rock by the dive master the entire time. On another dive myself and the other experienced diver saw a whale shark that we went out in the current to see. That did not go over well with the divemaster either. The dive after that was ended shortly after descent for the other 4 divers when the divemaster saw myself and my buddy were ahead of the group of divers wedged in the rock. Unfortunately it was my husband's 100th dive that ended after 21 minutes. In the Galapagos there are strong currents. You go down with the divemaster, follow his guidance but when you start to go with your buddy to photograph the whale shark, hammerhead, etc. you then are on the buddy system. Somehow this divemaster thinks you should all hold hands the entire dive and surface holding hands. I know for experienced divers they will not like this. Inexperienced divers should reconsider this destination. Keep in mind that they give you an electronic tracking device that can see you up to 6 miles. Although there is a valid consideration for safety something would have to be drastically wrong to get that far away from the boat to get lost.

This review would not be fair without saying that Captain Tony was amazing. He did his very best to make our trip the best it could be. He listened to the divers and our concerns. He has a wonderful crew and a nice boat. Hopefully between the conditions and the divemaster this place can be a great place to dive. It has potential.

 

[The Chairman]

Those are excellent and well thought out reviews! Thanks!!!

 

[chillyinCanada]

 

[Sunn]

the restrictions placed on us by the dive master were extreme and not warranted for experienced divers.

what's his name ?