Trip Report MALPELO review on the Ferox liveaboard

[Dom@DiveAdvice]

What incredible videos. I’m half Colombian and love seeing positive things about this country where I now live. For those of you who have dived Malpelo how challenging are the dives? I’m a new diver and would like to go there.

Hi Jafo, yes I would definitely set your sights on Malpelo, potentially it is amongst the most exciting diving in the world but although under certain supervision, one could possibly dive it with fewer dives, I would say it is not a destination for inexperienced divers. It has strong currents, sometimes big swells and agitated seas, water temperatures and visibility that can vary greatly above and below the thermocline, and local conditions can change rapidly. There is only one boat at a time permitted there and there is nothing beyond it other than open ocean. Although one has great guides and lots of safety backup, Malpelo might be likened to the Everest of diving and one should not treat it lightly, but build your dive skills and confidence so that when multiple challenges confront one at the same time, you feel truly confident in your abilities to deal with them. I have no doubt you'll get there but I think you will get more out of it by having more skills when you eventually do. Hope that helps.

 

[Dom@DiveAdvice]

Wait a minute, Dan's name is Craig?

Sorry - who knows - I had got a message from a Craig and thought he was the source of the message. Apologies if I mis-addressed you Dan

 

[Dan]

Sorry - who knows - I had got a message from a Craig and thought he was the source of the message. Apologies if I mis-addressed you Dan

No worries. I know whom you are referring to. I’ll see him on Ferox next July.

 

[Jafo19D]

Hi Jafo, yes I would definitely set your sights on Malpelo, potentially it is amongst the most exciting diving in the world but although under certain supervision, one could possibly dive it with fewer dives, I would say it is not a destination for inexperienced divers. It has strong currents, sometimes big swells and agitated seas, water temperatures and visibility that can vary greatly above and below the thermocline, and local conditions can change rapidly. There is only one boat at a time permitted there and there is nothing beyond it other than open ocean. Although one has great guides and lots of safety backup, Malpelo might be likened to the Everest of diving and one should not treat it lightly, but build your dive skills and confidence so that when multiple challenges confront one at the same time, you feel truly confident in your abilities to deal with them. I have no doubt you'll get there but I think you will get more out of it by having more skills when you eventually do. Hope that helps.

Very helpful thanks. I’ll have just over 30 dives after next week; this year really screwed up my plans in getting more dives in.

 

[scubadada]

No worries. I know whom you are referring to. I’ll see him on Ferox next July.

Just wish it was not still 9 months away

 

[Dan]

From the videos I have seen so far, Malpelo is like Cocos, Galápagos & the 4th Eastern Pacific big fish destinations I visited. I have been to Socorro in December 2018 (the 2nd trip will be in May 2021)

Just wish it was not still 9 months away

So, the next month trip doesn't fit in your schedule?

 

[scubadada]

From the videos I have seen so far, Malpelo is like Cocos, Galápagos & the 4th Eastern Pacific big fish destinations I visited. I have been to Socorro in December 2018 (the 2nd trip will be in May 2021)


So, the next month trip doesn't fit in your schedule?

Unfortunately, no. See you next July

 

[moorish8idol]

Very helpful thanks. I’ll have just over 30 dives after next week; this year really screwed up my plans in getting more dives in.

The national park won't let you dive Malpelo unless you have a minimum of 50 dives and I think they were considering (if not done already) increasing that minimum to 100. A park range accompanies the liveaboard for the entire time and will be diving with you. I would want other Pacific diving experience before going to Malpelo - off-shore, open water diving with negative entries, deep profiles, currents and surge - you should have fairly good air consumption and know how to deploy your safety sausage from 5 metres. Its a great destination but I think best enjoyed after you have done a bunch more diving!

 

[Jafo19D]

The national park won't let you dive Malpelo unless you have a minimum of 50 dives and I think they were considering (if not done already) increasing that minimum to 100. A park range accompanies the liveaboard for the entire time and will be diving with you. I would want other Pacific diving experience before going to Malpelo - off-shore, open water diving with negative entries, deep profiles, currents and surge - you should have fairly good air consumption and know how to deploy your safety sausage from 5 metres. Its a great destination but I think best enjoyed after you have done a bunch more diving!

How do they even confirm the number of dives? My log book has a few dives where I documented after the dive without the operator's stamp. I can get to 50 by next year but 100 is a huge stretch, I might do Gorgona first which can be done off shore and I'd like to have some negative entry experience.

As for air consumption it's really improved since I started shedding lead. My OW instructor really had me overewheighted but that's a whole different topic.

 

[chillyinCanada]

How do they even confirm the number of dives? My log book has a few dives where I documented after the dive without the operator's stamp. I can get to 50 by next year but 100 is a huge stretch, I might do Gorgona first which can be done off shore and I'd like to have some negative entry experience.

As for air consumption it's really improved since I started shedding lead. My OW instructor really had me overewheighted but that's a whole different topic.

Really, don't rush this. There's many other places to go and dive before Malpelo. You want to be able to savor Malpelo. It's one of the ultimate destinations, not one of the first to experience.