From next year it is only going to be liveaboards from Colombia that are licensed to take divers out to the formidable Pacific sea-mount of Malpelo, and only one such vessel will be permitted inside the protected area at a time.
Offering its services to divers is Colombia Dive Adventures with its Santa Marta-based vessel Ferox.
The UNESCO world heritage site of Malpelo is known for its big schools of hammerhead along with silky, Galapagos, whitetip and smalltooth sand-tiger sharks, manta and eagle rays and free-swimming moray eels.
CDS also offers expeditions to Gorgona (or Science Island), and along Colombia’s North Pacific basin.
The 32m Ferox is a former mine-layer with an 11mm-steel hull and, according to CDS, “all-new machinery and electronics as well as an extensive list of safety equipment”.
It takes 12 guests in two master suites, two twin and four single air-conditioned cabins. Crossings can be rough in this part of the world but the boat boasts rolling-chock stabilisers. All divers are given a personal locator beacon.
A berth for a 10-day trip in a double cabin (two sharing) starts from US $4130, but a 30% discount applies to bookings before the end of June 2018.
23-Dec-17
