2015 Malpelo Expedition – 7 Diving Days
November 29 to December 09 Aboard MV YEMAYA - large schools of hammerheads; hammerhead sharks can be
seen all year round, but scientists have observed that the schools are bigger during these months.
MALPELO is renowned for the huge concentration of sharks that can be seen at one time and the variety of
species that can be found in the area, from the most frequently seen to the rarer varieties—hammerhead, Galapagos, silky, whale, white-tip, black-tip, dusky, and small toothed sand tiger sharks
Date
Expedition
Standard
Standard
Master Cabin
Cabin,
Cabin,
2
Shared Bath
Private Bath
2015:
November 29th to MALPELO Island USD 4,250 USD 4,620 USD 4,940
December 9th 11 days - 7 dive days Malpelo
INCLUDED IN THE TRIP
•
Transportation by coach to Puerto Mutis, Province of Veraguas
•
Expedition cruise aboard M/V Yemaya
•
Three meals per day, snacks, and non-alcoholic drinks
•
Divemaster service
•
Action-packed diving with three dives per day
•
Tanks, air fills, and weights
•
All land trips during expedition
•
Return transfer by coach from Puerto Mutis to Panama City
MV Yemaya accept cash onboard. Unfortunately, they do not accept credit cards or travelers
checks at this time.
NOT INCLUDED IN THE TRIP
•International and domestic transportation
•Ground transfers from the airport in Panama to hotel •Hotel accommodation
•Meals ashore before and after the cruise •Travel and dive insurance
•Dive equipment rental
•Nitrox fills package ($100 per person per expedition) •Additional private tours
•Onboard telecommunications
•Onboard alcoholic beverages, which are available for purchase at very reasonable prices. •National Park fees and government taxes - Malpelo: USD 90 pp per dive day
•Crew gratuities; gratuities are customary in the diving industry. We suggest leaving a tip of 10% of the expedition fee at the end of your trip if you were satisfied with the service of the crew. Usually diver give between USD 150 and 250 per person.
Rental Equipment
Trip
Day
BCD
70 USD
15 USD
Wet Suites
60 USD
14 USD
Lamps
50 USD
10 USD
Computer
80 USD
16 USD
Full surcharge: depending on the brent oil price Yemaya takes the right to charge additionaly between USD 100 and USD 160 per person. This will confirmed by written notice 15 days before the trip.
Park Fees: park fees 90 USD per diving day in Malpelo, so for a 7 dive day excursion the fee is USD 630
Payment: MV Yemaya required a first and NON refoundable 30% payment, the balance should be made until 60 before the trip.
After confirming availability we will send you the invoice with the bank wire information. If you wish another payment options we check the possibilities.
SAMPLE Malpelo Dive Expedition Agenda
Day 1 – Orientation
At 6:30 am you will be met by our representative/guide at the arranged meeting points at hotels in Panama City. Our representative/guide will accompany you on the coach ride to Puerto Mutis, a small inter-tidal river port in the province of Veraguas. This journey takes around 3.5 hours.
Upon arrival, a 30-minute transfer by tender to M/V Yemaya, at anchor amongst the ancient mangrove forests of the Gulf of Montijo, a RAMSAR Site, recognized for its international importance for marine birds.
Once aboard, we set sail for Malpelo Island, the Mount Everest of Sharks. During the cruise, lunch will be served. You will have time to settle into your cabin, prepare your dive and camera equipment. We will introduce our crew and deliver briefings on safety aboard M/V Yemaya and an introduction to the dive deck and dive program aboard.
Day 2 – Crossing to Malpelo
Time to relax, look for dolphins, take some sun and enjoy the hospitality of M/V Yemaya and her crew. We arrive at Malpelo in the evening
Day 3 – Arrival at Malpelo
We leave at 8:00 am to make our check out dive on one of the easier dive sites at Isla Malpelo. Afterwards, we take in two (2) more of Malpelo’s famous signature dive sites.
Day 9 – Last Day at Malpelo
Three (3) dives at Malpelo Island, with choice of dive sites in Malpelo depending on sea state and weather. In the afternoon and upon completion of a full day's dive agenda, our crew will secure M/V Yemaya for departure and the overnight cruise back to Panama.
Day 10 – Crossing Back to Puerto Mutis in the Gulf of Montijo
Time to pack your dive gear and camera equipment and relax as we cruise into Panamanian waters. We arrive at our anchorage in the evening.
Day 11 – Transfer Day
After breakfast, our crew will assist to transport you and your luggage to the waiting coach and back to Panama City. You will be in Panama City by early afternoon.
MALPELO ISLAND
Malpelo is the eldorado of Hammerhead sharks! This rough and rocky island, has a lot to offer underwater and above the surface it is an important habitat for plenty of seabirds and several endemic reptil species.
Malpelo Sea Conditions
Sea conditions can make entries and exits challenging at times. Currents can be strong, making drift diving the best option on some of the sites. Occasionally the crossings can get a little bumpy; however the diving at Malpelo makes it more than worth while. We highly recommend you take precautions if you suffer from travel sickness.
Malpelo Dive Conditions
Visibility ranges between 10 meters and 35 meters (33 feet to 115 feet). Occasionally, there can be upwellings full of plankton that bring a lot of fish but at the same time reduce visibility. Water temperatures range between 16 and 24 C (61 to 75 F) on the surface. Thermoclines start at 15 meters (49 feet), which sometimes totally disappear. All descents and ascents are without a line as most dive sites are located close to the main island and anchoring is not permitted anywhere within the marine protected area.
Diver Experience Level
It is required that divers hold at minimum an Advanced Open Water certification and have proof of extensive diving experience at the maximum recreational dive depths of 130 feet/40 meters. Beginner divers might find this diving environment and conditions challenging.
Dive Year Requiered:
Clothing and personal items - Lightweight, breathable clothing, a light rain/wind jacket and comfortable
sandals/walking shoes are recommended. Please bring your own shampoo and other personal toiletries including a high factor sun screen.
Wetsuit - Depending on the time of year and how cold you get we recommend wearing a 5-7 mm for Malpelo.
You may bring a hooded vest and/or hood for layering. A drysuit is not recommended due to
the surface swells that are present in some dive sites. You are allowed to wear gloves Other equipment - Mask, fins and snorkel; regulator with console, pressure and depth gauges; buoyancy compensating device (BCD), dive computer and weight belt; dive knife and timing device; 1 safety sausage/surface marker buoy and Dive Alert or normal whistle; dive lights, batteries and at least 4 cyalume/glow sticks.
Equipment provided - Weights (2, 3, 4 and 6 lbs or 1, 1.5, 2 and 3 kgs), air/nitrox tanks and tank valves for
Yoke or DIN attachments.
Pura Colombia, is subordinate to the law 300/96 y d. R. 1075/97. The exploitation and the sexual abuse of persons under age is punished with term imprisonment according to law 679 of 2001.