I'm sure that there are those who see it differently, but my one and only experience at Maracaibo was not that great. Where we were it was so deep that you could not see the top of the reef when we entered the water, and it took a very long time to get down to it (~135') we descended the wall a bit, and after about 5 minutes the DM gave us the signal to ascend. Then we were about 30 minutes coming up waiting for deco obligations to clear, hanging in limbo with nothing to see. Down on the reef it was cold and dark, and we didn't see anything that we couldn't have seen at Palancar. I've not been that anxious to go back, though I can now say that I have been to 154'.
I'll venture that it was a bad drop. There are sections, including the area near the arch, where the wall starts well above 100'. Through the arch can be done at 112'. I've never been below recreational depths, certainly not near 150', in lots of trips there.
A 100 or 120 cu ft tank of 31 or 32%, capi and DM who know the area well, proper surface conditions, and appropriate skill level add up to a gorgeous dive with several minutes spent along the wall, leading to a swim across the reef to Maracaibo Shallows (being a relative term

) to enjoy the lush hard and soft coral dunes. A most pleasant 50 minutes or so with no deco obligation for those who keep an eye on their computers.
A slow ascent and safety stop with that great viz affords sweeping views of the shallows as we keep an eye out for pelagics.
The described dive is with Aldora. I use a 100 cu ft tank. The capitans use GPS and can see (amazingly) the drop areas. Several DMs have extensive experience there and know Maracaibo well enough to lead a number of different dives there, some exclusively in the Shallows, meaning longer bottom times and no triple digit depths.
Maracaibo exists in a different set of environmental conditions with different water flow. The reef itself is different than what you see at Palancar. I hope you get to do it again, as a well-run dive that will knock your socks off.
I get a big smile when it comes up as one of the choices for the dive.
YMMV, but I wish for you that it didn't!