Location:
Rising steeply from the Pacific Ocean about 500 km off Colombia’s coast, Malpelo is a remote volcanic outcrop surrounded by deep ocean, part of a protected marine sanctuary and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
 
Why it’s a top dive destination:
Malpelo is all about big, wild, blue-water diving. Powerful currents attract vast schools of scalloped hammerheads, Galápagos sharks, and silky sharks — often seen cruising together in mesmerizing numbers. It’s raw, remote, and one of the most awe-inspiring shark dives on the planet.
 
Highlights:
Schooling hammerheads at sites like La Nevera and El Freezer
Galápagos and silky sharks in open water
Giant moray eels, eagle rays, and barracuda schools
Dramatic walls and deep pinnacles
 
Fun Fact:
Malpelo is so isolated that only a handful of liveaboards operate here giving divers the surreal experience of having an entire shark-filled ocean all to themselves.