Shackle Reef
Why dive here
With 71+ marine species recorded in the area - including barracuda and pufferfish - Shackle Reef offers some of Malpelo Island's richest reef diving. Water ranges 28-30°C, warmest September, October, November.
Shackle Reef, off Malpelo Island, is a solid drift dive. We've often found ourselves eye-level with schools of hammerheads here, sometimes hundreds of them passing by. The reef itself hosts a good variety of reef fish. It's best suited for experienced divers comfortable with strong, unpredictable currents.
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Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Shackle Reef
Shackle Reef Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for Shackle Reef, 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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