Aquarius
Protected Area
Tayrona
Why dive here
With 71+ marine species recorded in the area - including barracuda and pufferfish - Aquarius offers some of Malpelo Island's richest wall diving. Water ranges 28-30°C, warmest September, October, November.
Aquarius is one of those sites where you drop in and immediately feel like you’re part of something bigger. It’s usually a drift, and a fast one, so be ready to move. We love the vertical walls here, just absolutely plastered with corals that you don’t see in a lot of other places. Keep an eye out for the smaller stuff clinging on – the Okapi Gobies are a personal favourite, incredibly camouflaged but worth the hunt. The real show, though, comes from the schooling fish. We’ve seen Black Surgeonfish in numbers that blot out the sun, and the way they move with the current is mesmerising. This site is definitely for experienced divers who are comfortable in strong currents and can keep their wits about them while everything rushes past. You’ll spend most of the dive looking out into the blue, hoping for a glimpse of something large, but don’t forget to check the cracks and crevices for Banded Jawfish and those shy Lesser Rock Shrimp. It’s a dynamic dive, full of energy, and always keeps you on your toes.
Typical Aquarius Dive Profile
Illustrative profile based on site depth and type. Actual dive profiles vary - always follow your dive computer and training.
Safety Notes
Depth of 20m - Advanced Open Water certification recommended.
Always perform a 3-minute safety stop at 5m before surfacing.
Nearest Dive Centres to Aquarius
Dive shops near Aquarius
Aquarius
Ocean Lovers Taganga
Reef Shepherd
Oceano Scuba Centro de Buceo
Poseidon Dive Center
Tayrona Dive Center
Reviews for Aquarius
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Aquarius
Aquarius Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for Aquarius, sourced from Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU) - nearest station: Open-Meteo marine grid (12.4, -81.47) (108km away)
October Averages
Sea Temperature
30°C
86°F · Range: 29.3–31.3°C
Current Speed
13.42 cm/s
Direction: NE (63.4°)
Chlorophyll-a
0.094 mg/m³
Very clear (oligotrophic)
Salinity
34.38 PSU
Based on 4 years of monitoring data · Data sources: Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU)
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