Ned Thomas Cay
Why dive here
With 71+ marine species recorded in the area - including barracuda and pufferfish - Ned Thomas Cay offers some of Malpelo Island's richest reef diving. Water ranges 28-30°C, warmest September, October, November.
Ned Thomas Cay, part of the wider Malpelo Island system, often delivers a solid dive. We’ve found the reef here is home to schools of snapper and barracuda, typically cruising past the wall. Keep an eye out for the resident white-tip reef sharks, often resting in the sandy patches just off the main drop-off. It’s a good spot for divers comfortable with drift dives, as currents can pick up, making for an exhilarating ride along the reef's edge. This isn't usually the "big ticket" Malpelo experience, but it’s consistently interesting and a good place to appreciate the sheer volume of fish.
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Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Ned Thomas Cay
Ned Thomas Cay Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for Ned Thomas Cay, 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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