Centro de Buceo Rincón del Mar - Divecenter - Malpelo Island
Honestly, most divers aren't coming to Malpelo for the "Divecenter" site itself. This isn't a showstopper. It’s more of a functional spot, what you might call a house reef for the operations here. Think of it as a calm little corner where you might do a check dive or sort out any gear kinks before heading out to the serious stuff. That said, we’ve had some surprisingly chill dives here. While you won't get the hammerhead action of The Fridge, we’ve often spotted some really interesting macro. Look closely among the rocky crevices and you might find fringed filefish blending in perfectly, or a curious Caribbean pipefish peeking out. Savigny's brittle stars are always a fun find, tucked away in the nooks. It’s a great spot for photographers who want to slow down and practice their close-up shots without fighting a ripping current. We’d suggest going in the late afternoon; the light is softer, and some of the more timid creatures start to emerge as the boat traffic lessens. Don't expect dramatic topography, but it’s a solid warm-up dive.
- Location
- Malpelo Island, Colombia, South America
- Coordinates
- 9.773950, -75.645370
Marine Protected Area: Los Corales del Rosario y de San Bernardo
Best Time to Dive in Malpelo Island
The warmest water temperatures in Malpelo Island occur in October, averaging 30.2°C. The coolest conditions are in February at 28.0°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 28.2°C
- February: 28.0°C
- March: 28.3°C
- April: 29.0°C
- May: 29.7°C
- June: 29.9°C
- July: 29.4°C
- August: 29.4°C
- September: 29.9°C
- October: 30.2°C
- November: 29.4°C
- December: 28.7°C
Nearby Dive Sites in Malpelo Island
- Alice-Agnes Rocks (reef)
- Aquamarina
- Aquarius
- Archies Rock (reef)
- Arrecife Edinburgh (reef)
- Arthur Jackson Reef - 5-20m (reef)
- Asmalera Rocks (reef)
- Auiapuni Reef (reef)
- Auikera (reef)
- Bajo Bonito (reef)
- Bajo Caribana (reef)
- Bajo del Anda (pinnacle)
- Bajo del Cholo (pinnacle)
- Bajo del Hospital
- Bajo del Junior (pinnacle)
Nearest Dive Centres to Centro de Buceo Rincón del Mar - Divecenter
Marine Life in Malpelo Island
Home to 72 recorded species including 68 reef fish, 2 other, 1 hard corals, 1 sea cucumbers.
Notable Species
- Silver mojarra (Eucinostomus argenteus) - Reef Fish
- Snapper (Lutjanus synagris) - Reef Fish
- Kwab (Sparisoma radians) - Reef Fish
- Butterfly (Chaetodon capistratus) - Reef Fish
- Cola (Ocyurus chrysurus) - Reef Fish
- Banded Wrasse (Halichoeres notospilus) - Reef Fish
- Flamefish (Apogon maculatus) - Reef Fish
- Mutton Snapper (Lutjanus analis) - Reef Fish
- Fringed Filefish (Monacanthus ciliatus) - Reef Fish
- Molly Miller (Labrisomus nuchipinnis) - Reef Fish
- Spiny Brittle Star (Ophiocoma echinata)
- Puffer (Sphoeroides spengleri) - Reef Fish
- Threeband Butterflyfish (Chaetodon humeralis) - Reef Fish
- Puffer (Sphoeroides testudineus) - Reef Fish
- Barber (Acanthurus bahianus) - Reef Fish
- Parrotfish (Thalassoma bifasciatum) - Reef Fish
- Yellowtail Parrotfish (Sparisoma rubripinne) - Reef Fish
- Mulet (Mugil curema) - Reef Fish
- Schoolmaster (Lutjanus apodus) - Reef Fish
- Panamic frillfin (Bathygobius ramosus) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Centro de Buceo Rincón del Mar - Divecenter
Based on average water temperature of 29.2°C, currents 14 cm/s.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 29°C water needs minimal exposure protection
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories