Bajo del Cholo
Protected Area
Sanctuaire de faune et de flore de Malpelo
Why dive here
With 71+ marine species recorded in the area - including barracuda and pufferfish - Bajo del Cholo offers some of Malpelo Island's richest pinnacle diving. Water ranges 28-30°C, warmest September, October, November.
Bajo del Cholo, for us, is classic Malpelo: big animal action and a good dose of current that keeps you on your toes. We love dropping down into the blue here, often finding ourselves surrounded by a swirling mass of black skipjack tuna. They push through the water with such force, you can almost feel the pressure change. Keep an eye out for dorado streaking past; they’re quick, but their iridescent flash gives them away. It's not always about the pelagics though. We’ve had some cracking encounters with golden cownose rays gliding gracefully over the reef, and the sheer number of Scissortail Chromis makes the whole place feel alive. For those who like to look closer, the Glossy Blenny are a real treat, tiny flashes of personality in the cracks. You’ll need to be comfortable with drift diving, and perhaps a bit of negative entry, but the rewards are absolutely worth it. This is a site for experienced divers who crave that raw, untamed ocean feel.
Reviews for Bajo del Cholo
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Bajo del Cholo
Bajo del Cholo Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for Bajo del Cholo, 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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