Scuba San Andres - Malpelo Island
The team at Scuba San Andres aren't just guides, they're Malpelo fanatics, and that's exactly what you want when you’re venturing to this remote outpost. They specialise in making Malpelo’s notoriously challenging conditions feel manageable, perfect for advanced divers ready to tick off some serious shark encounters. If you’re chasing hammerheads, silkies, and whale sharks, and want a crew that lives and breathes this island, these are your people. Malpelo isn't a casual drop-in, it’s a commitment, and Scuba San Andres understands that. We've spent time on their liveaboard, and the whole operation runs like a well-oiled machine, essential when you're sometimes hundreds of miles offshore. We particularly love their deep dives around sites like 'La Nevera,' where the thermoclines hit you with a cool embrace before revealing schools of hammerheads so dense they look like a moving wall. Their instructors, especially for the PADI Deep Diver or Nitrox courses, are excellent at briefing the currents, which can be brutal here. They really emphasise safety, which we appreciate, especially when the Pacific swell starts rolling in. You can feel the energy of the ocean down there, a deep rumble that vibrates through your chest, a constant reminder of the raw power surrounding you. If you’re coming for the big stuff, the pelagics, you’re in the right hands. They know the currents, they know the sharks, and they’ll get you into the action.
- Location
- Malpelo Island, Colombia, South America
- Coordinates
- 12.533979, -81.733780
- Website
- https://www.scubasanandres.com.co/
- Certification Agencies
- PADI
- Courses
- PADI Open Water, Advanced Open Water, Rescue Diver, Scuba Diver, ReActivate, Deep Diver, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Night Diver, Nitrox, Search and Recovery, Underwater Navigation, Discover Scuba Diving
- Air Fills
- Air, Nitrox
- Languages
- Spanish, English
- Price Range
- mid-range
Dive Sites Near Scuba San Andres
Scuba San Andres provides access to 15 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)
Other Dive Centres in Malpelo Island
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
Marine Life in Malpelo Island
Home to 72 recorded species including 68 reef fish, 2 other, 1 hard corals, 1 sea cucumbers.
Notable Marine Life
- 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
Recommended Packing List for Malpelo Island
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