Planning a trip?
Hotels, dive operators, gear, and how to get here are on the Malpelo Island location page.
Overview
La Nevera ('The Refrigerator') is Malpelo's most-dived site, a slope of large boulders on the island's southwest side dropping past 40 m. Its terraces hold the sanctuary's busiest hammerhead cleaning stations: divers wedge low among the rocks and wait for barberfish to coax in scalloped hammerheads, sometimes 100-200 strong, that hang almost motionless to be groomed. From May to August female silky sharks mass overhead in their hundreds, joined by Galapagos sharks, eagle rays, the occasional whale shark and walls of creolefish and jacks. Cold upwelling, hard current and surge give the site its name and make it a serious, current-savvy dive.
Briefing note
Inside the Malpelo Fauna and Flora Sanctuary (UNESCO World Heritage Site); access only via permitted Colombian liveaboard, one vessel at a time. Park typically requires a minimum of 50 logged dives. No anchoring: live skiff drops with immediate negative descents are standard because of strong currents (up to ~5 knots) and surge. Nitrox recommended. Yellow fever vaccination required. Divers settle into the boulders at 15-25 m to watch the cleaning stations; keep clear of the fragile fan corals. Nearest hyperbaric chamber is at the naval base in Buenaventura.
What you'll see
8 species curated- year-roundScalloped hammerhead sharkPeak: Dec · Jan · Feb · Mar · Apr
- seasonalSilky sharkPeak: May · Jun · Jul · Aug
- year-roundGalapagos shark
- seasonalWhale sharkPeak: Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct · Nov
- year-roundSpotted eagle ray
- year-roundBarberfish (cleaner butterflyfish)
- year-roundBigeye trevally
- year-roundPacific creolefish
Conditions
| Month | Water | Visibility | Current |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 20–25 °C | 12–25 m | strong |
| Feb | 20–25 °C | 12–25 m | strong |
| Mar | 20–25 °C | 12–25 m | strong |
| Apr | 20–26 °C | 12–28 m | strong |
| May | 21–27 °C | 15–30 m | moderate |
| Jun | 22–28 °C | 20–35 m | moderate |
| Jul | 22–28 °C | 20–40 m | moderate |
| Aug | 22–28 °C | 20–40 m | moderate |
| Sep | 22–28 °C | 20–35 m | moderate |
| Oct | 22–28 °C | 15–30 m | moderate |
| Nov | 22–28 °C | 15–30 m | moderate |
| Dec | 21–26 °C | 12–25 m | strong |
Season calendar
Peak season highlighted · current month outlined
Next step
Book your trip to Malpelo Island
Hotels, liveaboards, dive operators, gear recommendations, and travel logistics for the whole region.
Plan your trip →Some links earn us a commission. Learn more