Fabrice Dudenhofer, Malpelo Island, Colombia

Scalloped hammerheads are frequent and seen in giant numbers in Malpelo

 

The Tropical Jap Pacific is residence to a number of the world’s most well-known dive locations, together with the Galápagos Islands, Cocos Island in Costa Rica, and the Revillagigedos Archipelago in Mexico, however one different much less well-known however equally interesting vacation spot also needs to be included on this listing: Malpelo Island in Colombia. Positioned 300 miles from the mainland and solely accessible by liveaboard, Malpelo is a difficult place to go to and to dive, however adventurous vacationers prepared to make the journey to this barren seamount can be rewarded with wide-angle photograph alternatives to rival anyplace else on the planet. These aware of this a part of the world will know that nutrient-rich upwellings deflected into shallower water by underwater mountain ranges present gasoline for an abundance of marine lifetime of all sizes and shapes.

No tender coral coated reefs or their regular inhabitants right here. As an alternative, you’ll find giant rock formations and cliff faces that descend quickly into the deep water trench surrounding the island. The main focus in Malpelo is all the time on what could seem out of the blue, so underwater photographers diving listed here are suggested to neglect concerning the macro lens and focus on the large stuff. Big colleges of hammerhead and silky sharks patrol the water surrounding the island, and whale shark sightings are frequent. It’s also possible to count on to come across eagle rays and large colleges of jacks, barracuda and tuna. Nearer to the rocks, you possibly can deal with laborious coral coated outcrops and a few shut focus extensive angle pictures of moray eels and scorpionfish. Both manner, extensive angle is the best way ahead!

Anticipate sturdy currents and deep dives to expertise the very best encounters, and to make issues extra sophisticated you usually should deal with chilly water and restricted visibility, too. Underwater photographers are sometimes shocked to find how tough it may be to seize good photos in these circumstances, so it’s testomony to 1’s taking pictures abilities for those who return from journeys within the Jap Tropical Pacific with nice images or video.

 

Giant colleges of fish are discovered throughout the island and make for excellent photos

 

A large whale shark drifts by effortlessly in opposition to the sturdy present

 

Even across the rock formations fish faculty in giant numbers

 

Colourful coral scenes to enrich the large animal photos are additionally doable in some places

 

A pair of noticed eagle rays fully surrounded by fish

 

A twister of jacks block out the daylight above

 

A vibrant pink scorpionfish gives the closet factor to macro taking pictures you’ll find in Malpelo

 

Giant teams of barracuda swim on formation like birds above the floor

 

Head to head with the biggest fish within the ocean, the whale shark

 

A detailed-up shot of a leather-based bass in deep water

 

Moray eels could be seen in teams far and wide in Malpelo

 

A diver explores a darkish crevice near the islands shoreline

 

An enormous ball of snapper heading into deeper water to keep away from predators and some photographers!

 

A silky shark approaches the group within the blue

 

A flounder glides over the rocks looking for a spot to cover

 

Even the birds above wish to see what is going on under the water in Malpelo

 

A silky shark follows an enormous faculty of tuna, a typical Malpelo wide-angle picture

 

To see extra of Fabrice’s Galápagos photos or his equally superior work from different locations, take a look at his web site, www.fabricedudenhofer.com, and his Instagram web page.