Trip Report Return to Malpelo, July 20-30, 2023 on Colombia Dive Adventures, Ferox

[Catito]

Guineafowl Puffer, spotted phase
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Guineafowl Puffer, golden phase
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Leather Bass
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Scorpionfish
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Flag Cabrilla
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Great photos

 

[scubadada]

Interesting. Thanks for all the detail. Total cost (excluding plane ticket)?

The boat cost $5500. With one night hotel in Miami, 2 nights hotel in Cali, Natl Park fees, a couple meals, total cost was $6500. This does not include airfare or tips.

For 21 dives and over 23 hours of dive time off Malpelo, in a group of 6 very good divers, with a superlative guide, I find this a great bargain!

Our trip is also discussed in Sten's blog, "Back in one of my favorite destinations to guide"

Ramblings of a Rambling Man

Random thoughts on anything under the sun.

www.jamtsisu.com

 

[NothingClever]

Getting warmer to booking.

 

[P-Dog]

Loved reading this. I'm going next week - got a very last minute deal on the one remaining empty cabin on board. I'm also booked to go next year in July. Will be fun to experience it in different seasons.

 

[rongoodman]

Do you have the option of rebboarding the RIBS while wearing your BC or are you required to take it off in the water? I was at Socorro last month and having to struggle out of a one-piece harness while hanging on the side of the RIB was miserable. If I return, I'll change the harness around to make things easier. This was the first time I'd ever run into that and I was not a happy camper!

 

[NothingClever]

Do you have the option of rebboarding the RIBS while wearing your BC or are you required to take it off in the water? I was at Socorro last month and having to struggle out of a one-piece harness while hanging on the side of the RIB was miserable. If I return, I'll change the harness around to make things easier. This was the first time I'd ever run into that and I was not a happy camper!

I've seen Christmas tree ladders in photos.

Take a look at the second video (posted 14 July) in their current Facebook page.

At 12 and 20 seconds, the RIB's ladder comes into view.

Colombia Dive Adventures FEROX - Malpelo

Colombia Dive Adventures FEROX - Malpelo. Gefällt 1.747 Mal · 15 Personen sprechen darüber. We are a live aboard dive operator offering expeditions to the exclusive destinations Malpelo, Gorgona on...

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[scubadada]

Do you have the option of rebboarding the RIBS while wearing your BC or are you required to take it off in the water? I was at Socorro last month and having to struggle out of a one-piece harness while hanging on the side of the RIB was miserable. If I return, I'll change the harness around to make things easier. This was the first time I'd ever run into that and I was not a happy camper!

I've been twice. Everyone always removed their BC before boarding the RIB. Hand up cameras, hand up weights, hand up BC and cylinder, hand up fins, reboard.

@Dan is there now for his third time

I dive with my primary on a 40" hose under my right arm and a bungeed second. Even that was somewhat of a hassle. I didn't always get my primary clipped off and worried a little about it flopping around as my BC and cylinder were hauled aboard and stored. The easiest rig would be a short hose primary and an Air 2. I think that @Nemrod may have discussed this.

 

[rongoodman]

I’ll switch out the harness for the one from Golem Gear with the break when I go back and for Malpelo if I go.

 

[Dan]

I’ll switch out the harness for the one from Golem Gear with the break when I go back and for Malpelo if I go.

Just practice how to remove your BCD in the water before you go diving there. This is pretty common practice when diving with dinghy (RiB) in most liveaboard diving that I know of.

 

[rongoodman]

I've been on multiple liveaboard trips diving off RIBs and that's the first time I've ever run into it as a requirement, as opposed to something the crews provide as an added customer service. If the crew thinks the ladder is too flimsy to hold a 155# diver plus gear, they need to replace the ladder.