Tayrona Dive Center - Malpelo Island
Tayrona Dive Center operates from the Malpelo Island ranger station, primarily serving liveaboard guests rather than offering walk-in services. They manage the local dive logistics, ensuring visitor safety and adherence to park regulations for all divers exploring Malpelo’s incredible pelagic action. If you're on a liveaboard to Malpelo, you’ll be diving with their guidance.
- Location
- Malpelo Island, Colombia, South America
- Coordinates
- 11.266320, -74.189760
Dive Sites Near Tayrona Dive Center
Tayrona Dive Center 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