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Diving in the Galapagos: a first-timer guide

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The Galapagos Islands are a dream, a promise, an overwhelming expectation. The Galapagos Islands deliver. But don’t believe it will come easy. The Galapagos are the Olympics of scuba diving . You’ll face turbine-like currents and chilling water temperatures. The diving conditions of the Ecuadorian archipelago of the Pacific will test all your diving training. Honestly, I didn’t feel 10 years was too much to wait to be fully prepared for it.

The reward? Dives beyond your imagination. You may simultaneously see hammerhead sharks, eagle rays, dolphins, turtles, mola-molas, and sea lions. Lucky divers will even meet a whale shark or two, or even orcas! The Galapagos were the pinnacle of all my previous 700 dives. On this one trip, I got to see what took me a decade to see around the world in different locations .

By reading this introduction, I apologise if I scare you regarding the experience you need to fully and safely enjoy your dives in the Galapagos. It also depends on your expectations. I promise you’ll want more than just surviving underwater at the budget level of the Galapagos . The good news is there is a way to enjoy the Galapagos Islands as a beginner diver.

Organising a diving trip to the Galapagos is a full-time job when you don’t have an entire month like me and want to make the most of your time. That’s why I tested a little bit of everything so I could help you plan for your first and maybe only trip to the Galapagos Islands as a scuba diver. I’ve covered everything from which islands to visit, where to stay, how to travel between islands and ways to balance your budget by snorkelling in the best free spots. Ready? Let’s dive in!

Diving in Galapagos at a glance

• Best liveaboard cruise: Tiburon Explorer
• Best dive centre: Macarron Scuba Divers
• Best place to stay: Hotel Solymar

How good diving in Galapagos is?

• marine life
• unique features
• protected area

Where is the best diving in the Galapagos Islands?

Among the numerous dive sites across the archipelago, Darwin and Wolf islands are usually, and rightfully, on the top of the podium. Even if I had a blast there, my favourite was Isabela Island .

However, not all scuba divers will get there if their budget doesn’t allow for a liveaboard . Depending on your scuba diving level and your budget, you might choose to stay on the main islands. Here are the main diving areas in the Galapagos Islands, the first marine protected area to become a UNESCO world heritage site , and what you can expect in each.

Scuba diving in Darwin & Wolf (liveaboard only)

We could argue Darwin might be the most famous dive site in the world . Indeed, it gained fame for its incredible sightings of both whale and hammerhead sharks. While this is where I was lucky enough to see my first whale shark while scuba diving, generally speaking, I found all my dives in both Darwin and Wolf were equally exciting.

I wasn’t expecting so many hammerhead sharks in June. It was a festival on every single dive at Shark Bay ( Bahia de Tiburones ), Landslide (El Derrumbe ) and Darwin Arch (or Arco de Darwin , which I’d prefer to call Darwin Columns – Columnas de Darwin – since its collapse in 2021). This is why I wanted to report on both islands together. They are 4 hours of navigation apart, while Wolf Island is 26 hours of navigation from Santa Cruz . This is why Darwin and Wolf can only be accessed by boarding a one-week liveaboard cruise .

The water entry procedure was similar and sporty for almost all dives: a back roll from the dinghy boat into a negative entrance where you immediately need to swim down against the surface currents until you grab a rock while equalising your ear and trying not to empty your tank by over ventilating.

I was impressed by our dive guide, who could see where to jump from the boat in the choppy water and anticipate how much the current would push us back. We almost “landed” on the same point every time for the dive sites we visited several times. Now, that is called experience. The dive guides of the Galapagos are my new heroes .

The start of the dive looked more like underwater rock climbing than a relaxed hoovering swim. Then we reached an observatory (nicknamed the “Theater” in Darwin’s case) and waited to see something cool. Now, you’re mistaken if you think this is a relaxed dive from there. Thankfully there isn’t much coral in the Galapagos because you’d better hold tight to that rock (gloves mandatory, I use these 2mm neoprene gloves ).

Depending on the conditions, we changed our observation point up to 2 or 3 times. It had to be done with the utmost care to avoid getting dragged away by the current . To put it simply, these are the strongest currents I have ever experienced; they didn’t even beat my 2 years of diving in Scotland.

Can you picture the face of a dog passing its head through the window with the wind in its face? That was almost me. The current was sometimes so strong that it would push on the purge of my regulator . I had to somehow put my head at an angle to protect myself from it.

The current was so strong that as I was holding my camera in one hand and the Rock in the other, the tiniest balance mistake got me rolling on my back; my regulator hose got stuck onto a rock, making me lose it for a few seconds. You better know what to do in this case .

Beyond testing every point of my diving training (including sharing air at the safety stop more than once), what I saw underwater was insanely good. The visibility was sometimes tricky in June. We could only see the sharks at the very last moment. The amount of food in the water is why the visibility is low but also why it’s one of the largest shark concentrations in the world .

Seeing at the same time eagle rays, turtles, hammerhead sharks and dolphins (yes, all at once sometimes) is something I never even considered or dreamed of before. Note that 50% of the remarkable encounters are not only from these static observation spots but also ascending to the safety stop, pushed by the current in the blue. That’s how we saw a whale shark, two silky sharks and a pod of dolphins.

With 4 dives a day starting at 6 am, yes, it was intense. Some people already gave up on doing all the dives on the first day. By the end of the liveaboard, we were only 3 divers out of 7 who did all the dives. Me, proud of being one of them? Just a little… but the truth? It took me 48 hours after the liveaboard to recover. But it was all worth it.

Diving parameters in Darwin

Dive #1 – max depth 26 m – dive time 36 min – water temp 22°C

Dive #2 – max depth 22 m – dive time 46 min – water temp 22°C

Dive #3 – max depth 36 m – dive time 51 min – water temp 22°C

Dive #4 – max depth 16 m – dive time 48 min – water temp 22°C

Diving parameters in Wolf

Dive #5 – max depth 33 m – dive time 51 min – water temp 21°C

Dive #6 – max depth 28 m – dive time 52 min – water temp 21°C

Dive #7 – max depth 24 m – dive time 44 min – water temp 22°C

Dive #8 – max depth 24 m – dive time 51 min – water temp 22°C

Scuba diving in Isabela

Isabela is the largest island in the Galapagos. While you can stay in the south of Isabela by taking a “ferry” from Santa Cruz and organise a diving day trip to a nearby area called Tintoreras, the most exciting dive sites of Isabela are in the north . They are only accessible with a liveaboard cruise . For information, Tintoreras in Isabela is also a snorkelling spot that can be accessed by kayaking.

In Isabela, I got to scuba dive in Punta Vincente Roca , its northwest point, and in Roca Blanca , off the east coast. The two were very different, but in each case, I found them to be the most scenic underwater landscapes thanks to the excellent visibility and gorgonians gardens.

The only thing with Isabela, especially on its west coast, is the water temperature which can go down to 14°C. I guess I was lucky with 16°C , but after 3 intense days of diving in Darwin and Wolf, I was freezing. I knew the water was colder in the Galapagos, but this? I had no idea!

But you’re going to say there’s got to be a reward to it, isn’t it? Indeed… The other thing I didn’t know was in Punta Vincente Roca, thanks to this cold water, it’s actually a mola-mola hotspot ! And we did see two, which was terrific.

Besides, both Punta Vincente Roca and Roca Blanca are good spots to see manta rays . We saw one in Punta Vincente Roca. I wasn’t too disappointed not to see any in Roca Blanca because for me, seeing the golden cownose rays was way cooler and rarer than manta rays in my case.

The trade-off of the cold water was gentle currents which helped me enjoy taking underwater photos. I think I took all my best shots in Isabela because I could mix marine life and underwater landscapes while waiting for the perfect moment quietly.

And if I needed another excuse to explain why Punta Vincente Roca was maybe my favourite dive site in the Galapagos: this is where I saw my first Galapagos penguins !

Diving parameters in Punta Vincente Roca

Dive #1 – max depth 36 m – dive time 33 min – water temp 16°C

Dive #2 – max depth 32 m – dive time 37 min – water temp 17°C

Diving parameters in Roca Blanca

Dive #1 – max depth 19 m – dive time 60 min – water temp 20°C

Dive #2 – max depth 20 m – dive time 49 min – water temp 20°C

Scuba diving in Fernandina (liveaboard only)

I went scuba diving in Fernandina the same day I was diving in Punta Vincente Roca in Isabela . It takes about 1 hour to cross the channel between the two islands in the direction of Cape Douglas ( Cabo Douglas ).

There we went first for a dive that could have been done snorkelling as we were so shallow (less than 5 m deep). It was so much fun to see the marine iguanas swimming and feeding underwater while the sea lions were playing around us in a gentle tidal current. This experience is only available for those who book a one-week liveaboard cruise .

The second dive was much deeper with only one goal: meeting the alien-like fish named the red-lipped batfish ! A few more pictures of the elegant gorgonians, a Galapagos searobin, a torpedo ray hiding in the sand, and the cold water got to us all after 30 minutes. At least there was almost no current there.

Diving parameters in Cabo Douglas

Dive #1 – max depth 4 m – dive time 27 min – water temp 17°C

Dive #2 – max depth 24 m – dive time 37 min – water temp 17°C

Scuba diving in Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz is the first island where I went on a diving day trip while staying on land. The usual choice of dive sites from Puerto Ayora is:

• Gordon Rocks
• Daphne Island
• Seymour Island
• Mosquera Island

You must know that from Puerto Ayora, the central touristic hub on the south coast of Santa Cruz, you must drive all the way to the Itabaca Canal at dawn to board your scuba diving boat. It takes 45 minutes after a meet-up at 6.30 am at the dive centre.

It then takes an hour of navigation to Gordon Rocks. It is a bit less for Seymour, Mosquera and Daphne as they are closer to the Itabaca Canal. If Santa Cruz is your only go at scuba diving in the Galapagos and if you’re an experienced diver, don’t hesitate to book Gordon Rocks . It was sincerely almost as good as Wolf Island regarding sharks, strong currents included.

I have no means to verify if it was true, but apparently, 3 days before my group, the divers saw a whale shark. I was happy enough with all these hammerhead sharks, eagle rays and the greatest concentration of sea turtles I have ever seen… seriously I stopped counting after 40; there were maybe more than 100 turtles in the water around us!

The diving route will depend on the current conditions of the day, but it will be more or less a mix of wall diving and diving in the blue above a sandy bottom at 32 m deep. Not only were the currents strong, but I also found they were maybe the trickiest I’ve seen in the Galapagos with quick changes of directions, including ascending and descending currents. It might be time to grab the nearest Rock if you feel like your fins work for nothing.

From an underwater photography point of view, it was by far the most challenging dive as we were moving all the time, and due to the currents, it was impossible to spend even one minute somewhere without losing the group . Indeed, this is the dive site where I took the smallest number of pictures. An action cam, especially the GoPro HERO11 , is the best option in these conditions (alternatively you can also invest in a phone diving case )

Diving parameters in Gordon Rocks

Dive #1 – max depth 31 m – dive time 49 min – water temp 22°C

Dive #2 – max depth 30 m – dive time 36 min – water temp 22°C

Scuba diving in San Cristobal

If your budget only allows for scuba diving day trips and if you have to choose only one island, San Cristobal is definitely where to go . I would even go as far as saying that if you are a scuba diver travelling on a budget to the Galapagos, fly direct to San Cristobal and stay there.

Why? Great hiking and snorkelling spots are accessible within 30 minutes of walking from town. Fantastic dive sites are directly accessible by boat in 10 to 30 minutes from the harbour . Besides, the airport is right next to the centre, which means no long and expensive transfer to pay (contrary to Baltra Airport near Santa Cruz).

Of course, I’m glad I got to explore almost most of the archipelago, but honestly, by staying in San Cristobal, you could still get 75% of the Galapagos experience . The only things I didn’t see in San Cristobal were a whale shark, mola-molas, penguins and flamingos. I saw everything else including loads of hammerhead sharks, sea lions, turtles and blue-footed boobies.

In San Cristobal, the star dive site is Kicker Rock ( Leon Dormido in Spanish). But there are many more, including Roca Ballena, Cueva and the Caragua shipwreck. Unfortunately, it was the end of my stay, and I was short on time to do them. But the good news is I’m returning to San Cristobal soon, so I hope to update this section in the near future.

There are good reasons Kicker Rock became such a popular dive site. It is accessible (only 30/40 minutes by boat from the main harbour of San Cristobal, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno) and relatively sheltered from currents thanks to its high and deep walls (so much that the tour is also available to snorkellers). Besides, it is hard not to see hammerhead sharks there. So if you’re not a very experienced diver, this is where you have the most chances of having a fantastic dive in the Galapagos without suffering too much, especially if you board the Sharky catamaran, which offers plenty of space and smooth navigation.

The dive route in Kicker Rock is mainly along a deep wall covered in gorgonians where coral hawkfish love to hide and turtles like to float peacefully. At any point, hammerhead sharks can come to check you out , so always keep an eye in the blue. Sometimes the visibility can be reduced so you may see them at the last moment before they disappear again.

I particularly loved swimming through the dense school of black-striped salemas where sea lions, black-tip and silky sharks are often seen hunting. The canyon separating the rocky islet into two is also a memorable experience with sting rays and sharks swimming in its current.

The opportunities to take wide-angle shots are fantastic since the conditions are much more relaxed in Kicker Rock than in Gordon Rocks . I regretted my macro lens due to the numerous lovely nudibranchs I found on its walls.

With other dive sites accessible to beginner divers, San Cristobal is definitely the best island to start your underwater adventures in the Galapagos if you still need to gain experience. Why not warm up there and gain more confidence before moving to more challenging dive sites?

Diving parameters in Leon Dormido / Kicker Rock

Dive #1 – max depth 26 m – dive time 48 min – water temp 22°C

Dive #2 – max depth 21 m – dive time 57 min – water temp 22°C

Liveaboard vs Land-based day trips: which one is the best option? 

Can you believe this is finally in the Galapagos that I went on my first liveaboard ? After more than 10 years of dive trips around the world, this is the destination that finally convinced me it was worth being locked down with strangers on a boat for a week (I’m half joking here because I have always loved the freedom I have when at a land-based dive centre). But in a nutshell, everyone was so lovely, primarily solo travellers like me in love with the ocean, and we bonded immediately.

This must tell you something about how fantastic boarding a liveaboard in the Galapagos is if your budget allows it. The main incentive for me was to reach Darwin and Wolf islands which can’t be visited as a day trip (they require a day of navigation from Santa Cruz Island). The itinerary also had other excellent surprises I discovered once on board (mola-mola in the north of Isabela).

Besides, having up to 4 dives per day in mostly the same sites gave me more opportunities to see incredible things and understand the conditions to take photos and videos. And let me tell you, I struggled with my camera in the Galapagos. Due to the currents, the reduced visibility and the impossibility of getting closer to the animals as a consequence, I used my camera very often in video mode, unable to do better. For the underwater photos I could take, if I compare my photos between the liveaboard and my day trips, there is no comparison. I took my best shots during the liveaboard . But again, I also think the repetition of similar conditions was key.

Having a month in the Galapagos allowed me to explore the inland part of the islands and go on some additional scuba diving day trips and take advantage of great free snorkelling spots. And that’s the thing: no land activity is included during a scuba diving liveaboard . And there is so much to explore on Santa Cruz, San Cristobal, Isabela and Floreana islands, even by yourself.

This being said, while liveaboard cruises in the Galapagos take you to the best dive sites in the archipelago, the strength of their currents requires experience and a good level of scuba diving.

Sorry to say, but even 50 dives, worst if there were only in calm, warm waters, is not going to cut it. Local dive guides and instructors are incredibly experienced and knowledgeable to keep everyone safe. Still, I saw 80% of the divers in Galapagos being shit scared by the currents, half of them emptying their tanks in 20 minutes . Indeed, a negative entry in a strong surface current while equalising your ear is not easy if you have never practised it before.

If your budget or level doesn’t allow you to join a liveaboard, no worries, there are other excellent diving spots that have nothing to be ashamed of , even in comparison to Darwin and Wolf. I was genuinely impressed by Gordon Rocks in Santa Cruz and Kicker Rock in San Cristobal. I don’t recommend Gordon Rocks for beginners, but I found Kicker Rock more accessible.

Can you visit the Galapagos Islands as a beginner scuba diver?

If your goal is to be surrounded by hammerhead and whale sharks in Darwin and Wolf, I’ll say make sure to log a few more dives (ideally 100+) in places other than the Caribbean or the Red Sea that offer among the easiest dive conditions in the world. Someone with 50+ dives almost only in the UK will be better prepared than someone with 200+ dives in the Red Sea . Please, be realistic about your level and experience.

But there are also dive sites accessible to beginner divers on Santa Cruz and San Cristobal islands. These sites won’t have as much current so that you shouldn’t struggle too much. Also, remember the water is colder in Galapagos despite being on the Equator due to the currents coming from Antarctica. Consider the fact you will dive with a full wetsuit, booties and potentially a hood (which I recommend). If you have only scuba dived in a shorty in warm waters before, this is something you want to experience first in an easier spot. The uneasy feeling of restriction is real for many the first time.

On the other hand, if you are already passionate about scuba diving and want to become a more experienced diver , then the Galapagos Islands are among the best places to reach that point. But you’ll need to budget for more dives until you get to the point of diving comfortably in the best dive sites of the Galapagos.

Here is an idea for you: Why not stay a little bit longer on San Cristobal Island upon your arrival and pass your advanced Open Water certification? The dive sites are much more accessible than in Santa Cruz (10 to 30 min boat ride only), and you can gradually increase the difficulty until you go diving in Kicker Rock which is still easier than Gordon Rocks in Santa Cruz.

What about snorkelling in the Galapagos?

There are many opportunities to go snorkelling in the Galapagos, and it’s good news because it is the chance to extend your underwater adventures without breaking the bank further . Here are my favourite snorkelling sites you can explore for free or not for a crazy amount of money.

Snorkelling in San Cristobal

There are a few options in San Cristobal, but the spot that totally stole my heart in the entire archipelago was, without a doubt, Tijeretas . It takes about 30 minutes walking to reach the pier of the creek if you walk via the beach of Punta Carola .

There the water is clear, and the sea lions are curious and playful . But not only you’ll see them putting on a show, but the site is an excellent example of the marine life of the Galapagos with turtles and schools of surgeonfish. With depths from 5m to 10m, it’s also a fantastic place for freediving. And the best of all? It’s completely free.

My recommendation, come with your wetsuit, booties, mask, snorkel and fins . The water can be chilly , and there is enough to swim with sometimes a light current for the fins to be a comfortable choice. I used my mesh bag like a backpack to walk to the site. I even packed my underwater camera (without the strobes) in my wetsuit.

Bonus: the viewpoint above the creek is breathtaking . But will you be brave enough to climb up there with all your gear? The truth is, I visited this site 3 times in total to appreciate all the opportunities this beautiful place offers, including the 1-hour hike to Playa Baquerizo.

Snorkelling in Floreana

It was a part of the day trip I booked to explore Floreana, but you can also just decide to take the “ferry” (speedboat) and stay overnight. Access to the Loberia and Playa Negra is free, and I had one of the most memorable snorkelling in each spot with sea lions and penguins! Seeing penguins swimming and fishing underwater at Playa Negra was just one of the most incredible things I’ve ever seen underwater. They are even faster than sea lions!

Snorkelling in Isabela

While Tintoreras is one option that usually requires paying for a tour or renting a kayak, I chose to spend my last morning in Concha de Perla . This natural sea pool is next to the main pier of Puerto Villamil, about a 10-minute walk from the centre.

Same again, I packed my snorkelling gear in my mesh bag used as a backpack. After a short walk through the mangrove , there is a pontoon with a changing area where you can hang your bag and clothes. I recommend coming without any valuables, though.

Talking with other snorkelers the day before, I heard many saying they had seen a flock of eagle rays in the pool of Concha de Perla . Although I didn’t have that luck, in addition to turtles and stingrays , I quickly saw a penguin swimming! That definitely made my day. Again, access to this site is free.

Snorkelling in Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz may have one of the most beautiful beaches I’ve seen worldwide (Turtle Bay), but it doesn’t have a great snorkelling spot accessible without paying . The best snorkelling I did in Santa Cruz was near the access pier of Playa de Los Perros . Despite relatively low visibility, I saw many turtles, king angelfish, razor surgeonfish and barracudas . I only saw a small black-tip shark quickly.

The other popular site in Santa Cruz is Las Grietas . This canyon is indeed pretty but small. It was rather overcrowded and hence difficult to appreciate fully. The water in the canyon was clear, but snorkelling there had limited interest. A guide is now mandatory to access. I couldn’t stay in the water for more than 5 minutes.

What to see underwater in the Galapagos?

The Galapagos Islands are the place to see big marine animals and not so much about coral and macro critters (even if there are some). If you are into sharks, rays and sea lions, this is simply one of the best destinations in the world.

I listed below some of the incredible marine wildlife you will be likely to meet during a trip to the Galapagos that I could see myself in 28 dives:

Sharks & rays

• Whale shark
• Scalloped hammerhead shark
• Galapagos shark
• Silky shark
• Galapagos bullhead shark
• White-tip shark
• Golden cownose ray
• Spotted eagle ray
• Marbled ray
• Diamond stingray
• Peruvian torpedo ray

Tropical fish

• King angelfish
• Razor surgeonfish
• Guineafowl pufferfish
• Galapagos pufferfish
• Harlequin wrasse
• Giant hawkfish
• Coral hawkfish
• Three-banded or Panamic fanged blenny
• Red-lipped batfish
• Galapagos searobin or gunard
• Black nosed butterflyfish
• Mexican hogfish
• Ringtail damselfish
• Yellowtail damselfish
• Pacific creole fish

Other marine species

• Bottlenose dolphin
• Galapagos penguin
• Marine iguana
• Hawksbill & Green sea turtle
• Mola-mola (sunfish)
• Pacific seahorse

When is the best time to go scuba diving in the Galapagos?

The Galapagos Islands are good to dive all year long but for different reasons. You may want to avoid the coldest and roughest sea conditions, but by doing so, you may also miss the peak of the whale shark season. Choices, choices, choices…

So, it depends on you and what you want :

• Easier diving conditions or having the whale shark time of your life?
• Warmer water or clearer visibility?
• Dry season or rainy season?

Each season has its rewards, but here is the key information to make the best choice for you.

Seasons in the Galapagos

The dry season is from June to November when you have more chances to have a clear blue sky. It can still rain, but it is more like a misty rain that never lasts long.

The wet season is from December to May . The sun will still shine at some point between the clouds, but you can expect showers every day for an hour or two. The rainfall is at its worst in March and April.

If you are prone to seasickness, you may want to know the swell is at its worst from August to October . Anyway, I would recommend stocking up on seasickness pills for your entire trip. The few times I forgot them, I deeply regrated them, even in June. Note that on my liveaboard, I managed to get out of the seasickness pills after 3 days.

Last but not least, you may want to avoid the high peak tourist seasons , which are July and August, and then Christmas and Easter holidays. September and October usually have the lowest number of tourists.

Water temperatures in the Galapagos

The water temperature is cooler to colder from June to December, with temperatures from 22°C to 14°C where the Humboldt current flows from Antarctica. Bringing a semi-dry suit could be a good idea. Otherwise, hood and cloves, or even better, a hoodie top to put below your wetsuit is a must! Due to the currents, I don’t necessarily recommend a dry suit (even if I sometimes missed it).

The water temperature is warmer from December to May, with temperatures going up to 26°C with a minimum of 20°C . The Panama current brings warm water from Central America, but still, a 7mm wetsuit is a more comfortable choice than a 5mm if you can bring your own. Dive centres and liveaboards usually only rent 5mm wetsuits.

Marine animal migrations in the Galapagos

When the water is warmer and clearer, this is also when there are fewer fish to see… Why? The colder water of the Humboldt current brings a lot of food (plankton lowers the visibility) and attracts a more diverse range of marine species.

The whale shark season is from June to November , with September being the peak of the season (yes, when the sea conditions are at their worst, enjoy).

The hammerhead sharks are around the islands almost all year long . To get a clear view of them schooling in numbers, it is indeed in the warmer season that you are more likely to get this kind of experience.

Which scuba diving centre to choose in the Galapagos?

If you’re setting your eyes on a liveaboard in the Galapagos, the best is to check the latest prices and availabilities on liveaboard.com to check what fits your dates and budget best. All the boats are good, but the price reflects the level of comfort and luxury (the most expensive have jacuzzis on board). You have to know that the crews are shifting between ships so that you can have the same dive instructors on a budget or a luxury boat!

My biggest surprise was that there were not so many ships. Be aware that the prices range between 3,500 and 7,500 USD a week . And if, like me, you are dreaming of grabbing a last-minute price, well, in this case, better to have 3 to 4 weeks like me on the islands. But even in my case, I booked my liveaboard about 10 days ahead online because even if June is not the high season, there weren’t so many spots left. I know a liveaboard in the Galapagos doesn’t come cheap, but if you’re a passionate diver, save up and make yourself this gift of a lifetime.

Then there is the solution of organising a land-based diving trip in the Galapagos. For a 2-tank day trip, count between 180 and 200 USD . Depending on the site’s distance, it can be a little below or above that price. Here is a list of reputable dive centres you can talk to:

• Macarron Scuba Divers , Santa Cruz Island
• Scuba Iguana , Santa Cruz Island
• Blue Evolution , San Cristobal Island
• Wreck Bay Diving Center , San Cristobal Island

It is possible to avoid bankruptcy by balancing things with hostels and shopping at markets to prepare your meals, but don’t expect to spend less than 2,500 USD . For this amount, I just counted 2 diving day trips. Liveaboards are obviously excluded at this budget level. If you want to do both a scuba diving liveaboard and day trip tours around the islands like I did, you are looking at a total budget of a minimum of 5,000 USD. Don’t be surprised if your wallet empties fast when diving in the Galapagos. The truth is, in my case, I’ve never been happier to do so. For a trip of a lifetime, I was suddenly in a “take my money” mode.

How to go island hopping in the Galapagos?

Before getting to the Galapagos Islands, you must get to Ecuador first. There is no direct international flight to the Galapagos Islands at all . The islands have a semi-autonomous status with specific migration rules (tourists can only stay for a maximum of 60 days over a 12-month rolling period). There is some paperwork to do in Quito or Guayaquil airport before your domestic flights to Baltra Airport or San Cristobal Airport. Make sure to have already your return flight. The transit card costs 20 USD.

Be careful when booking your flight to the Galapagos Islands, it is sometimes not so clear, but you have to book the most expensive fare . Only Ecuadorian citizens and residents can book the cheaper options. If you fail to do this, you will pay a 150 USD fine each way at the airport . To make the most of your time, I recommend flying to Baltra Airport and then back from San Cristobal Airport. To find the best prices on flights, I highly recommend checking out  Kiwi.com because the cheapest company is not always the same.

Once at the airport, on Baltra Island or San Cristobal, this is where you pay, in cash only, for the entrance to the National Park (100 USD for foreigners) . Baltra Island is a small island north of Santa Cruz. They make you pay 5 USD to take the airport bus to the Itabaca Channel, where you pay 2 USD to cross it by boat (only 5 minutes). Then to reach Puerto Ayora, you can choose between the bus (5 USD) or a taxi (25 USD). Luckily, speaking Spanish, I met locals on my plane to Baltra, and they offered to join them in a cab and share the cost. I paid the same as the bus, but it was quicker and more comfortable, plus I got dropped off at my hostel.

You can choose between flying between islands or taking “ferries” . Obviously, the small planes will be more expensive than the boats. Each flight is about 100 to 150 USD. The ferries were at 30 USD at the time of my visit in the summer. Due to the increased cost of gasoline, their price has already increased to 35 USD each way.

While everyone calls them ferries, please be aware we are talking of speed boats . It’s 2 hours each way minimum, whether between Santa Cruz and Isabela or Santa Cruz and San Cristobal. It’s only 1 hour from Santa Cruz to Floreana. In any case, it’s a bumpy ride, worse if you sit at the front. At the back, the boats are open, and you’ll likely get wet. The problem is depending on where you are in the queue on the pier, you might not be able to choose. So remember: be there early to queue and take a seasickness pill, you’ll thank me!

Following a recent “ferry” accident involving casualties, be aware you should absolutely have a life vest with you on board. If you don’t see any, ask for one. If there’s none, contact the travel agency you book your trip with (you can’t book the ferries directly). This is why it’s essential to have a local SIM card on your phone to contact people on Whatsapp , which is common practice in Ecuador. And then ask to rebook on another boat. If some passengers don’t have a seat, this is a big red flag which means the boat is exceeding its capacity.

Where to stay in the Galapagos?

If you decide to stay on the islands after a scuba diving liveaboard or if your budget only allows for diving day trips, in each case, you may want to find budget accommodation. It took me three trials on Santa Cruz, but I was right on the first one on Isabela and San Cristobal. Below you’ll find my favourite hostels in the Galapagos that offer private rooms at a very reasonable price .

It was one of the biggest surprises I had in the Galapagos. You can find budget accommodation in private rooms with ensuite bathrooms at a price generally similar to what I found later on the mainland of Ecuador , between 20 and 35 USD a night. Many of these places have a kitchen for the guests, and you can buy food at the local farmers’ markets for a reasonable price. So definitely, this part of my trip was surprisingly affordable (thankfully, given how much money I spent on my liveaboard and my day trips).

Best accommodation on Santa Cruz island

My third hostel in Santa Cruz was finally my favourite guesthouse in all the Galapagos Islands. I loved the Hostal Vista Al Mar (which doesn’t have a sea view but a lovely garden) so much that I stayed an entire week there to slow down and recover from all my adventures.

Thanks to the guest kitchen and the large communal table in the garden with hammocks around, it’s easy to meet other travellers and share tips and experiences to organise your daily adventures. They also have their own travel agency, and if I had known them before I would have booked everything with them: at 9 pm, they found me a day trip to Floreana with a 40 USD discount.

For 35 USD, I had a private double room with my bathroom and even a desk where I could do some work. Outside my room, I had a string between two trees to dry my scuba diving gear , so it was perfect! I made good use of the kitchen, and Santa Cruz’s market was only 10 minutes walking away, so I saved a lot of money this way. They also offer dorm rooms if you want even to save further.

For those who need more luxury and are ready to splurge, you should have a look at the Hotel Solymar !

Best accommodation on Isabela island

No kitchen for guests, but at 25 USD a night at the Hostal Sandrita , including breakfast, my double room with ensuite bedroom was perfect for the 2 nights I stayed there. One tip, try to get a room on the third and last floor near the terrace . The view is fantastic, and you’ll have space to dry your diving/snorkelling gear.

For those who need more luxury and are ready to splurge, you should have a look at the Hotel Volcano !

Best accommodation on San Cristobal island

It was much smaller than my Santa Cruz hostel, but I felt good at the Hostal Gosen . For 23 USD a night, I had a small private double room with a tiny bathroom and access to a shared kitchen.

The garden was lovely, but due to its small size (it’s more like a courtyard), it was trickier to dry my scuba diving gear . While I did my best not to spread my things all over, the owner was friendly and never complained. He even offered me a water hose to rinse my gear in the street!

For those who need more luxury and are ready to splurge, you should have a look at the Opuntia Hotel !

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• Category: Diving America , Diving in Ecuador , Shark diving

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Diving in the Galapagos Islands

The Galapagos Islands were chosen by Rodale's Scuba Diving as the world's top all around dive site for the year 2000. The Islands were also chosen for the top spot in "Best Fish Life", "Best Big Animal Dive", "Best Advanced Diving" and scored among the top as the "Healthiest Marine Environment", and "Best Value".

Most people book their Galapagos diving trip as a complete package on a live-aboard boat, although trips based out of Puerto Ayora offer consistent quality guides and safety standards.

Galapagos Master

Galapagos Sky

Humboldt Explorer

Tiburon Explorer

Aggressor III

Nortada Yacht

Galaxy Diver II

Danubio Azul

8D/7N   hotel-based & diving

7D/6N   hotel-based & diving

6D/5N   hotel-based & diving

5D/4N   hotel-based & diving

4D/3N   hotel-based & diving tour

3D/2N   hotel-based & diving tour

View frequently asked questions about Diving Tours

Wonders of the Underwater World

Named one of the Seven Underwater Wonders of the World by CEDAM international, the Galapagos waters will make you wish that you could somehow shout out through your regulator to your diving partners all the wonders you see.

Imagine a realm where penguins swim in equatorial seas, no one bats an eye at four-eyed fish, and iguanas are found eating their algae meal submerged in the saltwater. Imagine dolphins leaping about in phosphorescent water and becoming the new friend of a playful sea lion pup. Open your eyes... you are imagining diving the Galapagos.

Marine Fauna

The sharks that patrol these waters are timid and by no means dangerous, the sea lion pups that you see basking and awkward on the beaches are graceful and playful in the water; and spotted rays glide past you in the azure environment. One in every four marine species is endemic, making the varieties of angelfish and even chub in the water a marine biologist's jackpot. And after all, where else can you observe equatorial penguins diving with marine iguanas?

Mutable Waters

Diving in the Galapagos is not recommended for first-time divers. Recently noted in one diving magazine as one of the world's 10 most difficult recreational dive sites, many dive operators in the Galapagos take their clients on an easy initial dive to take note of their ability and let them orientate to the sometimes unexpected waters. Diving is often straightforward but the strong currents and the low visibility, surges and cold water they bring make for some demanding changes in the water. Bringing your PADI card and dive logs with you to the Galapagos is an excellent idea.

Despite their position at the Equator, the waters surrounding the Galapagos Islands are cool. The Humboldt current, coming south from deep upwellings, brings water as cold as 10 degrees C. This then mixes with the five warmer currents and they create an average temperature of 18 degrees year round with lows of 13 degrees C. The warm season, between about December and March, often has warmer waters of 23 degrees C.

If you are brining your own equipment, taking water temperatures into account, you are advised to bring a warm wetsuit. However, for surface snorkeling, most are quite comfortable in a swim suit. Keep in mind that the Galapagos are at equator and the above water temperatures often exceed 30 degrees C. The best spots for diving are Gordon's Rocks, with its school of hammerhead sharks, and Darwin & Wolf Islands, is only accessible for SCUBA divers. Other very popular spots are Punto Espejo and Leon Dormido.

» Read more about the Humboldt Current

Galapagos Diving Tours

• Large Whale Sharks
• Huge Schools of Hammerheads
• World's 2nd largest Marine Reserve
• Swim with lizards and penguins
• “One of the Seven Underwater Wonders of the World ”  CEDAM

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24 BEST DIVE SITES IN THE GALAPAGOS 2024 DIVING GUIDE

Home > Galapagos > 24 Best Dive Sites in The Galapagos

• Last Updated: July 9, 2024

If you always dreamed of diving in Galapagos, this is the best compilation of dives you can do while in this marine paradise. From Liveaboards to land-based diving tours through all the islands. 

Here I’ll list the 24 best dive sites on the archipelago. Some of the dives I’ve done them myself and I’ve written detailed articles about them, which I will link together. You will see hammerhead sharks, Galapagos sharks, eagle and manta rays, turtles, sea lions, marine iguanas, and with luck whale sharks!

There are 7 dive sites starting from San Cristobal island, 9 from Santa Cruz, 1 from Isabela, and 7 only doable as part of liveaboard experiences (diving in Fernandina island, the upper part of Isabela, and the famous Darwin & Wolf islands).

Table of Contents

Travel guide, itineraries, map, local tips.

Get access to my curated list of all the best viewpoints,  hiking trails, secret waterfalls, diving spots, wildlife  tours, accommodations, and more, that will make your trip to Ecuador and The Galapagos unforgettable.

All of this, in an interactive guide featuring a mobile-friendly map, pre-designed itineraries, all my favorite photos, and helpful travel tips to guide your journey in this amazing unexplored country.

If you want personalized advice write me in-app and we can plan it together.

DIVING IN GALAPAGOS

General info.

All the Galapagos islands are part of the Galapagos National Park, and therefore there are a number of things you should know:

• Most of the activities have to be done on a tour with a Naturalist guide.
• All the agencies have the same prices (although you can barter if you book more than one tour).
• Most beaches have opening and closing times (turtle nesting reasons).
• You should book your tour at least one day in advance (or you might risk not having a place on the best ones).
• Bring Seasickness Medication for the tours on the water.
• Always use strong sunscreen (Sun in the Equator line burns more).
• Have mosquito repellant with you, especially at sunset. There are horseflies in the Galapagos.
• You can’t fly a drone here unless you have a special permit from the National Park.
• You can’t rent a motorcycle or a car, everything has to be done by taxi, bus, boat, bicycle, or on foot.
• You can’t and shouldn’t touch the animals on the island.

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DIVING IN GALaPAGOS

San cristobal island, 1. kicker rock.

If you always wanted to try scuba diving, diving in Galapagos might be the coolest place to start. Kicker Rock is the most famous dive in San Cristobal and the second most famous one in the entire archipelago (only topped by Darwin and Wolf’s liveaboard).

It’s not a beginner’s dive site but you can do some of the other dives I recommend underneath to start your adventure. Here, if you’re lucky and you’ve good visibility you can find dozens of hammerhead sharks, eagle and manta rays, Galapagos sharks, turtles, everything literally.

If you’re not a diver or you’ve little experience with currents, you can go for a cheaper price on the same boat as your friends and snorkel here. The snorkeling group on my tour actually saw more things than we did. So it’s a spectacular tour in both ways.

View the full blog post here: DIVING IN KICKER ROCK

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2. CARAWA SHIPWRECK AND TIJERETAS BAY

Discover the wonders of Carawa SS Wreck, an Australian transport ship that found its resting place in 1920, stretching approximately 100 meters in length. 

Before delving into the intriguing depths of the wreck, divers begin their journey with a check dive at Tijeretas Bay, a natural lagoon boasting crystal-clear waters and inhabited by playful sea lions and graceful green sea turtles.

View the full blog post here:  DIVING IN CARAWA WRECK AND TIJERETAS BAY

3. WHALE ROCK

Another possible diving tour you can do on San Cristóbal is to Whale Rock whose name comes from its similarity to a whale coming to the surface.

It’s a little less exciting than Kicker Rock but you can still find pompano fish, jacks, stonefish, sea turtles, anemones, rays, and sometimes sharks.

Check the Whale Rock dives on Planet Ocean Galapagos’s website.

4. PUNTA PITT

If you’ve done the 360 Tour then you probably recognize this place. It’s where you do the birdwatching on that tour. It is the northeasternmost point of San Cristóbal and the turning point from the wild to the calm sea (protected by the island). It is therefore packed with marine life and birds.

On this tour, you have two dives or you can snorkel if you aren’t a certified diver. In the end, you go to Cerro Pitt hill for some birdwatching and inland exploring or just stay at the beach relaxing.

Check the Punta Pitt dive/snorkel trip on Wreck Bay’s website.

5. NIGHT DIVE IN SAN CRISTOBAL

A night dive in the Galapagos. This would also be on my top 3 list of dive sites in San Cristobal if I had known of its existence. Imagine all the life you see during the day here, in the water, diving in Galapagos, and multiplied by 100.

During the night the animals are much more active than during the day so you have the most chance of encountering special and rare animals on night dives. You will also see their true and vibrant colors due to your flashlight.

It’s amazing to dive at night. If you like diving this is definitely a thing you should do in San Cristobal.

Check the Night Dives on Planet Ocean Galapagos website.

6. ESPAÑOLA ISLAND

Española Island is home to many endemic species in the Galapagos. They only exist on this island. This is not one of the dive sites in San Cristobal but in Española island, however, you must depart from San Cristobal to come here.

It’s a day tour and it’s the only big island (not counting Santa Cruz island) you can visit on a day trip from San Cristobal.

Here you can find a special marine iguana with green and red coloration, a waved albatross colony (it’s their only breeding site in the world), the Española mockingbird, the Española lava lizard, sea lions, blue-footed boobies, and many other unique species.

There is also a part of the tour where you snorkel or dive in Gardner Islet and find many underwater wonders.

Check the Española dive on Wreck Bay’s website.

7. CAVE DIVE IN BARRANCO CAVE

And to conclude this list a cave diving in Galapagos. For all diving aficionados, it’s another type of dive you can do in San Cristobal.

According to their website, you will see nudibranchs, many different types of fish, sea stars, and lobsters and you will dive from 23 meters to 34 meters deep (specific certification required probably).

In any case, do contact them if you’d like to try it as I think you can do it as a specialty course.

Check the Cave and Wall Barranco dive on Planet Ocean Galapagos website.

SANTA CRUZ ISLAND

8. gordon rocks.

The dive in Gordon Rocks is the best of the dive sites in Santa Cruz if you want to see hammerhead sharks. If you’re looking into diving in Galapagos and you’re in Santa Cruz, Gordon Rocks is the place to go. It is the third most famous dive site in the entire archipelago. Only slightly shadowed by the liveaboard experience of Darwin and Wolf’s islands, which cost a small fortune, and the Dive in Kicker Rock , starting from San Cristobal island.

It’s one of the top dives in the world and it’s on the bucket list for many underwater aficionados. As a diver myself, if I’d leave the Galapagos without seeing a hammerhead shark I would be disappointed. This is where I saw my first ten hammerheads and my first manta rays.

View the full blog post here: DIVING IN GORDON ROCKS

To book this tour: Check the local company Macarron Scuba Diver’s website , or book it online on Viator here: Daily diving tour in Gordon Rocks

9. PUNTA CARRION

This dive site is just one hour east of the Itabaca channel. It is located on the northernest point of Santa Cruz island and it’s the only dive you can do, from the dive sites in Santa Cruz, that is literally located on the island. Here there are usually no strong currents and for that reason, it is a very nice site for divers from all levels. You have a great chance of diving together with playful baby sea lions and with a tad of luck, you will find sea turtles, eagle rays, hammerheads, and dolphins.

To book this tour: Check the local company Macarron Scuba Diver’s website

10. NORTH SEYMOUR ISLAND

The North Seymour dive site is usually combined together with other islets in the near like, Mosquera or Daphne Minor. If you want to continue diving in Galápagos after the main Kicker and Gordon Rocks dive then I advise you to try this one. North Seymour island is located on the north part of Santa Cruz island, over Baltra island (aka South Seymour island). From the dive sites in Santa Cruz, I’ve done this one together with Mosquera islet and Gordon Rocks.

Both North and South Seymour Islands were named after the British royal navy officer of the late 18th century, Admiral Lord Hugh Seymour. In North Seymour, you can find an eel garden, some reef sharks resting on the sandy bottom, and morays. If you’re lucky some eagle and manta rays, and some Hammerhead sharks might pass near (i saw a hammerhead there). North Seymour is usually the check dive before the other islets where strong currents are more common.

View the full blog post here: DIVING IN NORTH SEYMOUR AND MOSQUERA

11. MOSQUERA ISLET

Mosquera islet is located north of Santa Cruz island, in between the North and South Seymour islands. The name “Mosquera” comes from the Spanish and it is the name of a flower in the daisy family, the yellow fleabane flower. It is a dive where there are usually strong currents.

In Mosquera, you will for sure see a reef shark cleaning station and a sea of starfish. If you’re lucky you might spot hammerhead sharks, green turtles, eagle rays, manta rays, golden cownose rays (we saw a group of 15), giant puffer fish, king angelfish, blue and gold snappers, razor surgeonfish, and other beautiful fish. Totally a dive you should do if you’ve already done the Gordon Rocks dive and you want to keep diving in Galapagos. Here you will have a lot of diversity and fun.

12. BARTOLOMÉ ISLAND AND COUSIN ROCK

Bartolomé Island is the most iconic photo you can have of the Galapagos islands and it is located northwest of Santa Cruz island. Bartolomé is a volcanic tuff islet on the east side of Santiago island. The journey there takes 90 minutes by speedboat and two hours by sailing boat (like on the day land tour).

The name of the island comes from Charles Darwin’s friend Bartholomew James Sullivan who was the principal surveyor and second lieutenant aboard the HMS Beagle. As in the land tour, you could spot some penguins, here you might swim with them and also spot some starfish.

Here as in many places in the Galapagos, you will be able to see reef sharks, and tropical reef fish such as the yellow-tailed surgeonfish, with luck you might spot some mobula rays, seahorses, and other sharks. It is a great tour to do a two-in-one check, the only hiccup is not climbing to the viewpoint for the most iconic perspective of the island. On this tour, you will also dive at the Cousin Rock dive site.

13. DAPHNE ISLANDS

There are three main dive sites in the Daphne islands, Daphne Mayor (10-40m depth), Daphne Minor (5-30m depth), and Bajo de Daphne (5-25m depth). The diving tour in Daphne Islands is usually combined together with a dive in North Seymour or Mosquera islet.

Depending on your dive site you might find a small cave (not a cave dive) with reef sharks, a pinnacle with a variety of rays, Galapagos sharks, green turtles, tropical fish, and schools of barracudas, among other animals. If you are not a certified diver there is also a snorkeling tour available where you fish your own lunch and can spot many seabirds fishing with sea lions.

14. FLOREANA ISLAND

On Floreana, you can scuba-dive in four different sites, Punta Cormoran, Enderby islet, Devil’s Crown islet, and Champion islet.

At Punta Cormoran the main attractions are batfish, golden rays, Galapagos sharks, barracudas, eagle rays, and green turtles. In Enderby, the dives take place at the extreme edge where the currents hit the reef and if you’re extremely lucky you might find Whale sharks. In Devil’s Crown, the highlight is to see an endemic coral, the cleaning station, Galapagos sharks, and white-tip reef sharks. At the Champion islet, you’re accompanied by a large group of sea lions during the entire dive.

If apart from diving in Galapagos you’re interested in the day trip and land tour to Floreana island the article underneath might help you.

View the full blog post here:   FLOREANA ISLAND TOUR

To book this tour:  Check the local company  Macarron Scuba Diver’s website

15. PLAZA ISLETS

These are two of the many uninhabited islets in the Galapagos. They were formed by an uplift of the seabed giving it its flat but very unique shape and  are located on the northeastern side of Santa Cruz island.  Apart from diving in the Plaza islets you can also do a land-based tour with snorkeling .

Here the dives are usually between 15 and 18 meters in depth, you can see an eel garden and bigger pelagic species like rays, sharks, and green turtles. The dive is fit for all kinds of level as there isn’t usually strong currents on site. If you’re lucky you will also able to dive with playful sea lions.

16. SANTA FÉ ISLAND

And to conclude the list of dive sites in Santa Cruz here’s another one that takes you all the way to Santa Fé island,  one of the biggest islands in the Galapagos, that it’s located just 20 km away from Santa Cruz.

Santa Fé has three different dive sites, the Tip, the Arc, and the Cliff. The visibility is usually over 10 meters and it can get to 20-25 meters. Here the waters are of gorgeous turquoise color and are usually very calm, for which it is a good recommendation to do your diving certification here.

ISABELA ISLAND

17. tortuga island.

Tortuga Island dive tour is the most famous and only tour you can do on Isabela island that doesn’t depend on a cruise. So if you’re land-based, only have time for Isabela island, want to have a deep experience while diving in Galapagos, Tortuga island is your place. If you want to be surrounded by hammerheads and manta rays, this is the spot.  

This is a small islet located in the southeast of Puerto Villamil town, roughly 45 minutes away by speed boat and it has a shape of a half-moon clearly being the crater’s rim of an extinct volcano.

To book this tour: Check the local company Pahoehoe Galapagos  and Galapagos Isabela Dive Center (they have mostly good reviews, but since I didn’t do any tour with these companies I would recommend you take your own conclusions).

18. CAPE MARSHALL

Cape Marshall dive is a wall dive on the northeastern coast of Isabela island. This dive and the next two are usually done after diving in Darwin and Wolf islands on a liveaboard and you can’t do them from Puerto Villamil, but they are still dive sites in Isabela, Galapagos therefore I’ve listed them here.

There is usually moderate to heavy current, and the dive is done as a drift dive following the coast. Here as usual in the Galapagos, you have a great chance on seeing hammerhead sharks and manta rays. 

To book this tour: Check out the Cape Marshall dive site page on the company Galapatours’s website (they have mostly good reviews, but since I didn’t do any tours with them I would recommend you take your own conclusions).

19. PUNTA VICENTE ROCA

The dive in Punta Vicente Roca or Vicente Rock Point is usually done on your way back from Darwin and Wolf islands on the liveaboard and it’s located on the northwest of Isabela island. It is a cold and steep, deep vertical wall covered in coral, sponges, and black coral. You have a great chance of seeing mola molas, sea horses, bullhead sharks, batfish, sea lions, whales, and blue-footed boobies fishing.

Due to its cold currents, it’s an amazing site to watch the feeding frenzies of all these amazing species. 

To book this tour: Check out the Punta Vicente Roca dive site page on the company Galapatours’s website (they have mostly good reviews, but since I didn’t do any tours with them I would recommend you take your own conclusions).

20. ROCA BLANCA

Roca Blanca or White Rock dive site is located on the Southeast coast of Isabela island and according to Galapatours, it’s the secret mecca of the Galapagos, here you can see six different species of shark, manta and eagle rays, sea lions, morays, lobsters, and many tropical fish.

To book this tour: Check out the Rosa Blanca dive site page on the company Galapatours’s website (they have mostly good reviews, but since I didn’t do any tours with them I would recommend you take your own conclusions).

21. COWLEY ISLET

The last dive on this list is the dive in the Cowley Islet (also part of a live-aboard experience).

It’s located on the East coast of Isabela island between Isabela and Santiago islands and you’ll probably find here different shark species, sea lions, stingrays green turtles, penguins, and manta rays. 

To book this tour: Check out the Cowley Islet dive site page on the company Galapatours’s website (they have mostly good reviews, but since I didn’t do any tours with them I would recommend you take your own conclusions).

CRUISES & LIVEABOARDS

22. fernandina island.

The dive site of Fernandina Island is called Cape Douglas and it’s located on the northeast side of the island.

Such as most of the dives on Isabela island, this dive can only be done while on a cruise. Since there is only one spot on the island where you can dive it won’t have an entire category of Fernandina dive sites here on the blog.

On this dive, one of the best attractions is diving with marine iguanas that went feeding under the rocks. You also be able to spot on the surface flightless cormorants and Galapagos penguins. If you’re lucky you might spot red-lipped batfish, bullhead sharks, mola mola, and if you’re in the season you might find sometimes Baleen Whales.

To book this tour: Check out the Cape Douglas dive site page on the company Galapatours’s website (they have mostly good reviews, but since I didn’t do any tours with them I would recommend you take your own conclusions).

23. DARWIN ISLAND

And finally the two most famous places, and the dream dive of all the scuba divers in the world who come diving in Galapagos, Darwin Island. Named after the famous Charles Darwin. On this island, you have two main dive sites. One is called Darwin’s Towers (previously Darwin’s Arch) and the other is Darwin’s Main Island dive site.

Darwin and Wolf’s islands are the most remote islands of the Galapagos archipelago. They are located 160 km (100 miles) northwest of Isabela island, and they are most famous for diving expeditions.

The most famous characteristic of these islands is the huge amount of hammerhead sharks you can find underwater due to the remote location and currents passing through these islands the hammerheads just delight themselves in their surroundings. 

Apart from the massive amount of hammerheads, you will also see many rays, eagles, and manta rays, and there’s a great chance of seeing whale sharks too.

This is without a doubt one dive site on my bucket list that I will for sure do before I die.

On Galapatours’s page, the prices of liveaboards range roughly from 4000 to 7000$ USD and last between 8 and 11 days respectively.

To book this tour: Check out the Darwin Island dive site page on the company Galapatours’s website (they have mostly good reviews, but since I didn’t do any tours with them I would recommend you take your own conclusions).

24. WOLF ISLAND

Wolf Island is, together with Darwin island, the most remote group of islands of the archipelago and a Mecca for diving in Galápagos. Here you have 6 different dive sites. The Cave, The Landslide, The Shark Bay, The Pinnacle, North Islet, and The Anchorage.

Most of the dives on the liveaboard are done on Wolf Island. This island was named after the German geologist Theodor Wolf. Apart from the sights that you also have under Darwin Island, like hammerheads and rays, here there’s a great chance of seeing whales, dolphins, and whale sharks.

On land, you will be able to spot sea lions, frigate birds, different boobies, marine iguanas, and the famous vampire finch.

To book this tour: Check out the Wolf Island dive site page on the company Galapatours’s website (they have mostly good reviews, but since I didn’t do any tours with them I would recommend you take your own conclusions).

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San Cristobal Island  – The easternmost island of the Galapagos, the “Isla Bonita”

Santa Cruz Island  – The island with the best tourism infrastructure.

Isabela Island  – The most adventurous and less explored island of the main three.

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Galapagos Liveaboard Diving

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Liveaboard Diving in Galapagos

Experience world-renowned diving in Galapagos and see a spectacular array of sea life and underwater geomorphological formations.

Liveaboard diving in Galapagos captures the imagination like nowhere else. It is a paradise for anyone passionate about nature. The islands famously inspired Charles Darwin´s theory of evolution and are home to a vast number of animals and birds that can only be found in the Galapagos. The Marine Reserve is no exception, with Galapagos sharks, marine iguanas, and Galapagos penguins. No surprise then that the Galapagos Marine Reserve is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site and subject to the strictest protection. Most divers who venture to Galapagos want to visit the spectacular Darwin and Wolf islands, which are only accessible by liveaboard. On these isolated islands, divers can find huge schools of scalloped hammerheads, silky sharks, manta rays, and whale sharks.

Liveaboards in Galapagos are small in number and of a very high standard. Most take no more than 16 guests and have fully catered facilities. They feature purpose-built dive decks with charging stations and camera storage areas. An opportunity to dive into one of the most unique and breathtaking places in the world in complete comfort. Trips are year-round, and visiting Galapagos is always a good time. Trip itineraries range from 7/10 days to a full 14-night cruise. Longer cruises tend to visit smaller additional sites with the most liveaboards, prioritizing Punta Carrion, Darwin, and Wolf. Cruise prices are usually around 400 to 600 euros per night.

Liveaboard Dive Sites of the Galapagos Islands

Punta Carrion on the west of Santa Cruz is the first stop for most liveaboards in the Galapagos. It is a thrill for naturalists with Galapagos sea lions dipping down to play with divers and shoals of eagle rays passing by. Underwater photographers will enjoy ample opportunities with white tip reef sharks which are numerous and very unwary of divers. If you are lucky you might also catch a glimpse of hammerheads and dolphins in the blue.

The current here is usually fairly mild by Galapagos standards making it a fairly easy dive. Visibility is variable all over the Galapagos but expect around 10 meters/33 ft. at Punta Carrion. Like most dives in Galapagos, Nitrox is highly recommended. The maximum depth is around 33 meters and you will definitely want to stay down as long as possible!

Liveaboards that offer dives in Punta Carrion are Galapagos Aggressor, Galapagos Master, Humboldt Explorer and the Nortada.

Wolf and Darwin islands are the most isolated of the Galapagos Islands and an overnight sail is required for liveaboards. These tiny islands arehome to unique birdlife and land visits are not permitted. Very few boats are allowed to stop at Wolf and Darwin meaning you will likely only have to share the site with research boats there to tag and study the large pelagics.

The underwater area around these islands are a highway for scalloped hammerheads heading for the Cocos. Silky sharks and Galapagos sharks and mantas are also passing by. You also have a chance to see pods of dolphins, spotted eagle rays and even orcas on occasion. There is also the chance to see the biggest fish in the world, the whale shark, between June and November.

Sea conditions in Wolf and Darwin can be rough with high swell and strong currents. Currents can be so strong that some dives might be drift dives. Most liveaboards require divers to have 50 + dives and be minimum advanced open water. Most of the dives are around the 30-meter mark meaning for enjoyment and safety, Nitrox is probably a wise choice.

Liveaboards are the only way to access Darwin and Wolf due to their isolated position. Galapagos Aggressor, Galapagos Master, Humboldt Explorer, Galapagos Sky, Astrea and Nortada all offer several days diving at Darwin and Wolf as part of their 7, 10 and 14 night cruises.

Cabo Douglas is on the eastern side of Fernandina Island. The dives are shallow mostly above 26 meters with much of the interesting wildlife around the shore. Here you can see marine iguanas, a species unique to Galapagos. These iguanas can dive for up to ten minutes, feeding on algae growing on the rocks. There are also flightless cormorants, Galapagos penguins and sea horses around Cabo Douglas. It is ideal for those who want to dive with unique animal species and underwater photographers will have ample subjects with good light.

Cousins Rock is a tiny rocky island on the north of Santiago Island. On land it is inhabited by sea birds and sea lions. The underwater landscape is perfect for underwater photography with black coral, sponges and sea fans. It is also a prime spot to see mantas passing by. Liveaboards that offer dives in Cousins Rock are Galapagos Aggressor, Galapagos Master, Humboldt Explorer, Galapagos Sky, Astrea and Nortada.

Best time to dive in the Galapagos Islands

Diving in Galapagos is fantastic all year round but there are two distinct seasons.

The warm season is December to May with water temperatures around 23-25°C/75-80°F. The conditions are calmer and currents are less at this time of year. It is a great time to see huge numbers hammerheads, silkys and Galapagos sharks.

The cooler season is June to November with water temperatures dropping to 16-18°/60-65°F. Rougher sea conditions and strong currents make the diving more challenging. The cool season is all about whale sharks which are around the islands of Darwin and Wolf at this time. There are still large schools of hammerheads and occasional silkys and Galapagos shark around the islands.

Visibility is generally between 10 and 21 meters (30 to 70 feet) and conditions can be challenging because of the surges and currents common in the area.

Top tips for liveaboards in Galapagos

• Diving in Galapagos can be cold especially in the cool season, and most liveaboards offer 3-4 unmissable dives per day. 7mm wetsuits and hoods are recommended for comfort.
• The water is about 6 percent saltier, so adjusting your weights to compensate for greater buoyancy is necessary.
• Gloves or a reef hook are a necessity. Strong currents mean holding onto rocks, which are almost always covered in sharp barnacles.
• Bring lots of extra memory for cameras and GOPROs, you won’t want to miss a thing.
• Most liveaboards offer the opportunity to do land visits. These offer a unique insight into one of the world´s most biodiverse ecosystems.

Galapagos Liveaboard Departures

Liveaboards in Galapagos all depart from Baltra Island making it most convenient to fly here. You can also fly to neighbouring island San Cristobal and take a ferry to Baltra but flights are less frequent and more popular with island residents than tourists. Most liveaboards and hotels will arrange to pick you up from the airport and transfer you across the canal

Getting to the Galapagos Islands

Getting to Galapagos from Ecuador is relatively easy. Most flights are around a 2-hour transit from Guayaquil and Quito which both have international airports. The most frequent flights are with airlines LAN, Tame and Avianca. Be sure to give a few days extra when flying from Quito, volcanic activity around the city can cause delays.

Due to the highly protected nature of the Galapagos National Park visitors should bear a few things in mind before travelling. Before departure you will have to pay $20 for a departure/arrival card and have your bags be checked for biological contaminants.

Bringing any plants, seed or biological goods is forbidden and signing the card confirms this. If you are bringing hiking boots, make sure they are clean and have no plant material or seeds on them. These rules are to stop invasive species which are one of the biggest threat to the unique ecosystem of the islands. You will also have to pay $100 national park fee on arrival.

Galapagos Diving Reviews

• Verified Reviews
• 6.8 Review score

The Galapagos dives are the best I have ever experienced. Every dive expectation was met. We saw once in a lifetime marine wildlife that I will never forget. I highly recommend this location for any diver. Diving Galapagos in July on the Nortada

• 9.6 Exceptional

Fantastic overall, max time in the water and in the right spots to see the unique things Galapagos has to offer. Diving Galapagos in July on the Calipso Dive

• 10.0 Exceptional

excellent Diving Galapagos in July on the Galaxy Diver II

5 stars, no doubt Diving Galapagos in July on the Galaxy Diver II

All the diving was incredible. The water was ~80F in early December and a 3mm shorty was perfect. Diving Galapagos in December on the Humboldt Explorer

Dives were better than land experience. I liked the first walk on the uninhabited island but the the walk to see the turtles was kind of lame. I loved the turtles but you can see them on the side of the road. The walk around the park could have been replicated by walking on any street. Diving Galapagos in December on the Humboldt Explorer

Some of the best I've ever done with pelagics nowhere else to match. Diving Galapagos in November on the Galapagos Aggressor III

Excellent diving amazing location to dive - great memories Diving Galapagos in September on the Tiburon Explorer

Phenomenal diving with some cooler temps 25° and strong currents. Diving Galapagos in August on the Humboldt Explorer

• 8.4 Very good

Really interesting and diverse place to dive, expectations were met Diving Galapagos in August on the Calipso Dive

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Aggressor Adventures™

• Indo Aggressor ®

Dive with playful Sea Lions, schooling hammerheads and travel to the famous Darwin and Wolf Islands on our Galapagos Islands liveaboard scuba diving trip.

In 2016, Ecuador created a marine sanctuary in the area of Darwin and Wolf that includes 15,000 square miles as off limits to all fishing to conserve the sharks that congregate there and the ecosystem on which they rely. 32% of the waters around the Galapagos islands will now be protected from fishing.

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Our Galapagos Islands liveaboard scuba diving trips offer a brand new itinerary in compliance with the Galapagos National Park regulations which requires companies with permits to follow the exact itinerary below.

• Charter runs Thursday to Thursday.
• Charter includes: 4 dives a day, 2 morning and 2 afternoon. In addition, 2 land excursions per week are offered.
• Depth Range:  40 – 130 ft (12m – 40m)
• June - November average water temperature: 60-75F, 16-24C (Cooler water and Whale Shark sightings are greater.)
• December - May average water temperature: 70-86F, 21-30C (Warmer, clearer water, larger schools of Hammerheads, Manta Rays & Eagle Rays.)
• 5 - 7mm wetsuit recommended. See Captain's Logs to get exact water temperatures.
• All dives are made from two 8 ft x 20 ft dive tenders. The Galapagos Aggressor III does not offer night diving.

Galapagos Itinerary

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Galapagos Diving by Liveaboard, Land or Cruise

Many clients ask us “can you Scuba dive in the Galapagos?” Yes, Galapagos diving is world class. The three best ways to go scuba diving in the Galapagos are:

• On a Galapagos liveaboard diving cruise
• A Galapagos diving tour by land
• Aboard a nature cruise

In this post we outline the best scuba diving in Galapagos for your level of experience and style of travel. Our experts provide advice and outline the benefits of Galapagos liveaboard cruises, scuba diving land tours and rendezvous diving on nature cruises. Find the best time for Galapagos Islands diving and get insight on what you will see while diving in the Galapagos.

IN THIS POST – Galapagos Diving : Galapagos Diving Highlights Galapagos Liveaboard Cruises Galapagos Diving Land Tours Scuba Diving on Galapagos Nature Cruises What Will You See? How Difficult Is Galapagos Diving? Galapagos Diving Seasons Best Scuba Diving in Galapagos

Galapagos Diving Highlights

Galapagos Islands scuba diving is unique in the world. Experience large marine wildlife encounters such as sea lions, sea turtles, spotted eagle rays, manta rays, reef sharks, hammerhead sharks, and whale sharks. Of course, there are also schools of colorful fish, starfish, sea cucumbers and other conventional undersea inhabitants. Unusual encounters may include sea horses, marine iguanas and even penguins. Galapagos scuba diving trips are truly exceptional.

Galapagos Liveaboard Cruises

For experienced divers, the best way to scuba in the Galapagos Islands is aboard a dedicated liveaboard dive cruise. Liveaboard cruises spend the entire week focused on scuba diving. Expect three to four dives each day in remote locations not accessible on land-based tours or nature cruises.

Most Galapagos Islands diving liveaboard cruises visit the isolated islands of Darwin and Wolf. These islands are not included on nature cruise itineraries and are out of reach of land-based diving programs.

Divers at Darwin and Wolf islands encounter large schools of hammerhead sharks year-round. Seasonal encounters with whale sharks and manta rays are also a highlight. Darwin and Wolf Islands are rated among the best dive sites in the world and the highlight of any Galapagos liveaboard cruise.

Cruise aboard custom-designed yachts specially outfitted for scuba diving. They offer upscale accommodations with excellent service and are outfitted with experienced dive masters and guides. Another advantage of a Galapagos liveaboard diving cruise is that they offer night dives (conditions permitting). Galapagos night dives are also available on land tours but not available on nature cruises.

Galapagos liveaboard cruises will offer a very limited number of landings and hikes on the Galapagos Islands, because the primary focus is on scuba diving. Liveaboard diving is for advanced divers only with some locations requiring as many as 50 or more logged dives in similar conditions.

Galapagos liveaboard cruises are dedicated to scuba diving and discounts are not provided for non-divers. Galapagos diving cruises typically include accommodations, transfers, meals, tanks, weights and all guided dives. Dive equipment is not included but is available for rent.

Due to advanced conditions it is highly recommended that liveaboard divers bring their own gear; 7mm wetsuits are recommended. Dive accident insurance is required, and travel insurance is highly recommended. Dive certification cards must be shown upon check in. Snorkeling is regulated by the National Park and is not allowed at most dive sites.

Galapagos Liveaboard Diving Cruises:

Galapagos Sky Liveaboard

The 16-guest Galapagos Sky, launched in 2001, is the most experienced liveaboard in the Galapagos. Spend 3 days of diving at Wolf and Darwin Islands on every cruise.

Calipso Liveaboard

Designed with the comfort of divers in mind, the 16-guest Calipso is fresh and modern. Stay on board to combine a Galapagos dive cruise with a nature cruise back to back.

Galapagos Diving Tours

Another way to experience scuba is to book a Galapagos diving land tour package. Based from the comfort of a Galapagos hotel or lodge , guests take fully guided day trips to nearby sites. Galapagos scuba diving packages can range from a couple days to a week or more. Learn more about the difference between Galapagos cruises and land tours .

On a Galapagos land-based diving tour day boats access dive sites within reach of towns. Galapagos dive tours on land offer plenty of flexibility to select sites based on your ability and interests. Tour boats may spend 1-2 hours getting to dive sites and another 1-2 hours returning. They typically include two dives each day. Choose as many days of diving as you wish or combine dive days with guided naturalist excursions to nearby islands. Night dives are an option.

Land based diving tours are suitable for all ability levels and can be customized based on your level of experience. Most sites are suitable for divers with 10-25 logged dives. More advanced sites may require proof of 25 or more logged dives in similar conditions. Galapagos diving tours typically do not include visits to Wolf and Darwin Islands, as these are beyond the reach of day boats. Our experts will work with you to create the perfect Galapagos diving tour.

For the most complete experience we highly recommend combining a Galapagos Islands scuba diving land tour with a naturalist cruise for a complete experience. Because you cannot fly immediately after diving, we encourage our clients to book a Galapagos Islands diving land tour prior to their cruise. All of our Galapagos diving holidays are customized to each client so contact us if you would like to combine a Galapagos land-based dive trip with your nature cruise.

Galapagos land-based diving packages typically include accommodations, transfers, meals and guided diving excursions (or optional naturalist excursions). A range of hotel and room options are available. Dive equipment is typically included in the price.

Galapagos Diving Land-Based Tours: 

Discovery Dive Package

The Galapagos Discovery Dive package is the perfect choice for travelers interested in Galapagos diving, but who still want to experience the magic of the Islands.

Galapagos Dive Safari

Experience the Galapagos Islands surrounded by breathtaking views and wildlife. Scuba dive and explore ashore in discreet luxury and at your own pace.

Galapagos Diving Island Hopper

The Galapagos Diving Island Hopper is a lodge-based adventure that travels between islands by small plane and speedboat. Dive and actively explore a variety of islands.

Diving on Galapagos Nature Cruises

For casual divers, another way to experience scuba in the Galapagos Islands is rendezvous diving aboard a nature cruise. Rendezvous diving means a dive boat meets your small ship or yacht at a select location. Professional dive operators then take a group of divers out for the day. These are traditional Galapagos cruises that offer scuba diving as an added option. 

The focus of a Galapagos nature cruise is to experience as many islands and as much wildlife as possible. Naturalist guides lead twice-daily shore hikes, snorkeling and explorations by small craft. Learn more about nature cruises and how to choose the best Galapagos cruise . Some scuba diving experience is required. Most sites visited are considered beginner or intermediate. Travelers should have at least 10-25 documented dives in order to participate.

Nature cruises with scuba diving are an excellent option for couples, families, and groups where some members want to scuba dive and others do not. While the divers are out for the day the other guests are enjoying the scheduled hikes and snorkeling. Participating in diving means guests miss the regularly scheduled activities for that day. 

Galapagos Islands scuba diving aboard nature cruises must be arranged in advance and may be subject to a minimum number of guests, usually two people. Week-long cruises typically offer one day of optional diving that includes two dives. Scuba diving is at an additional cost and paid for upon arrival on board or directly with the dive operator. All diving equipment is provided. Dive experience and certification is required.

Many travelers will ask “is it worth it to book rendezvous scuba diving on a naturalist cruise?” The snorkeling on nature cruises is outstanding and most of the undersea life in the Galapagos is accessible to snorkelers. While rare encounters with hammerheads or whale sharks are possible on rendezvous dives, they are not the norm. Consider diving on a nature cruise as an added experience or to boast that you went diving in the Galapagos. Do not expect to have the same encounters as divers on a liveaboard cruise.

Galapagos Nature Cruises with Scuba Diving:

National Geographic Dive Cruises

The 96-passenger Endeavour II is the only Nat Geo ship to offer diving (San Cristobal to Baltra departures only). Renowned expedition leaders and naturalist staff from National Geographic.

Origin & Theory Dive Cruises

The Origin & Theory 20-guest luxury yachts are a leader in eco-friendly, sustainable travel. Explore up close and in style with a glass-bottom boat and stand-up paddleboards.

Aqua Mare Dive Cruises

Experience the Galapagos with the feeling of your own private yacht. The luxurious 16-guest Aqua Mare is lavishly appointed with spacious suites for an upscale experience.

Galapagos Diving vs Snorkeling – What Will You See?

Undersea life in the Galapagos is incredibly accessible. Many of the most common animals are easily seen either scuba diving or snorkeling. Snorkelers routinely swim with sea lions. They’ll view sharks and rays. Snorkelers can encounter iguanas and penguins and of course will see tropical fish. Scuba diving in the Galapagos is the best way to ensure pelagic wildlife encounters such as whale sharks, manta rays and hammerhead sharks. Common animals viewed while snorkeling and/or scuba diving in the Galapagos include:

How Difficult Is Galapagos Diving?

While there are beginner and intermediate dive sites, the Galapagos are most appropriate for advanced divers with experience diving in cold water and strong currents. This is especially true during the cool season from June through November, when waters are colder and currents are strongest.

Galapagos liveaboard dive depths can range from 30 feet to over 110 feet (10 to 34 meters) with most sites on the deeper end. Galapagos scuba diving from naturalist cruises will focus primarily on beginner and intermediate sites with depths in the 30-60 foot (10-18 meters) range. Travelers with limited experience should focus on naturalist cruise rendezvous diving or land-based diving trips between December and June, when waters are warmer and calmer. Galapagos liveaboard dive cruises are only for advanced divers with experience in deeper depths, cold water and currents. 

Scuba diving in the Galapagos Islands is not typical tropical diving. Dives are always conducted from small inflatable skiffs, or pangas as they are known in the Galapagos. Whether you dive from a liveaboard, on a land tour or rendezvous diving from a nature cruise, you will enter and exit the water from a panga. There are no shore dives. Due to the currents and out of respect for the marine environment, pangas do not anchor. Therefore, it is not possible to dive down an anchor chain and come back to the anchored vessel. Descents and ascents are usually done free (without a line) and most dives are done “drift-style.” The panga follows the divers’ bubbles and picks them up at the end of the dive.

The Galapagos are a mid-ocean island group, and dive sites are commonly affected by moderate to strong currents and occasionally by rough surface conditions. Experience in colder water, wall diving and diving in currents is strongly recommended. A 7-mm wetsuit is commonly used which can be restrictive. Strong currents can be disorienting or distressing for divers unfamiliar with these conditions.

All divers must present PADI or SSE certification. Many sites have a minimum number of required dives. Beginner and intermediate sites typically require around 10 logged dives. Advanced sites may require 20, 50 or even 100 logged dives. 

Best Time to Dive – Galapagos Diving Seasons

Scuba diving is excellent year-round in the Galapagos. The best time to scuba dive in the Galapagos is from December to May, during the warm season. For more details and a month-by-month guide to weather and wildlife see the best time to visit Galapagos . 

Galapagos Warm Season Diving

During the warm season from December though may, the water is warmer and calmer with visibility up from 40-100 feet. Galapagos water temperature below the surface ranges from 70-75 degrees Fahrenheit (21-24 Celsius). This is the best season to view manta rays and hammerhead sharks.

Galapagos Cool Season Diving

During the cool season from June through November, the water is colder and currents are stronger. Visibility is reduced to 30-70 feet, although still excellent by most standards. Galapagos water temperature below the surface ranges from 62-68 degrees Fahrenheit (17-20 Celsius). This is the best season to view whale sharks. 

Choose Your Best Scuba Diving in Galapagos

So, what is the best diving in the Galapagos? The best Galapagos diving will depend on your ability and style of travel. For advanced divers the best option is a Galapagos liveaboard cruise. Combining a Galapagos diving land tour with a cruise is also a terrific option to experience the best of land and sea. Scuba diving on a nature cruise is an option for travelers who want to test the waters. Not sure what scuba style is best for you? Contact our experts to learn more about scuba diving options in the Galapagos Islands. 

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Written by Scuba Divers ~ DIVEIN.com’s Complete Guide to:

The best scuba diving in the galapagos islands.

By: Katt Andryskova

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The best scuba diving in the Galapagos Islands—where does one start when planning a trip to one of the world’s most incredible island chains, both topside and underwater?

The Galapagos Islands are on just about every single diver’s bucket list due to their isolation , incredible biodiversity, and magnificent flora and fauna. Not to mention, the Galapagos are where Darwin first hypothesized his world-changing Theory of Evolution.

The Galapagos Islands are located 600 miles (1000 km) west of Ecuador, are spread out over 17,000 square miles, and would require many trips to visit all the incredible dive sites available. There are 17 main islands that make up the archipelago. The water temperatures range from a chilly 55 F (12 C) in the south, to highs reaching 79 F (26 C) in the north. There are two main seasons for scuba diving in the Galapagos, with the year split into two—whale shark season and manta ray season.

Scuba diving in the Galapagos

Scuba diving in the Galapagos tends to be best for advanced divers, who are comfortable in deep water and changing conditions. There are many dive sites that have varying conditions, and strong currents can occur. Some of the southern dive sites also have cold water, strong currents, surges, and occasionally poor visibility, which could be dangerous for novice divers.

Whale sharks visit the Galapagos Islands when there is more plankton in the water, and the waters range from 60–75 F. It is common to see several of these enormous fish swimming around per dive during the months of June through to November.

Manta ray season is roughly from December until May, when the temperatures are generally warmer, and the rays arrive in large numbers. The schools of rays that gather around the islands include schools of mobulas, spotted eagle rays, golden rays, cow-nosed rays, and marble rays.

However, throughout the year, the amount of iguanas, sea snakes, sea turtles, and massive variety of shark species  makes diving any time during the year unforgettable!  Because the islands are so spread out and many are unreachable via shore dives, a liveaboard dive trip is one of the best ways to dive the Galapagos.

GOT QUESTIONS ABOUT DIVING IN GALAPAGOS ISLANDS? ASK US HERE!

Due to the isolations of the Galapagos islands, getting there is slightly complicated. You will first need to travel to Ecuador from where you can book a flight to Quito or Guayaquil to Baltra Island or San Crostobal on the Galapagos. The best way to see most of the islands, is to hop onto one of the many liveaboards which do tours around the islands

The 15 Best Dive sites in Galapagos Islands?

Darwin’s arch.

• Most famous dive site in the Galapagos due to the schooling hammerheads
• Strong current bringing together massive schools of sharks
• Whale sharks frequent this dive site during whale shark season

What you will see:

What won’t you see? Manta rays, sea turtles, dolphins, eagle rays, whale sharks, and more are all frequently spotted at this dive site. The iconic images of hundreds of hammerheads schooling in the strong currents are also taken at this dive site. You also have the chance to spot hammerheads, Galapagos sharks, silky sharks, blacktip sharks, and whale sharks.

Shark Point

• Strong currents which attract many sharks
• Popular dive spot for whale sharks during the months of May to November
• Large groups of hammerheads are also seen here

During whale shark season, these graceful giant fish frequent this dive site regularily. Their incredibly thick back skin, unique spotted camouflage, and impressive 32ft (10m) length makes them unforgettable. There are also many other sharks which can be seen including hammerheads, Galapagos sharks and black tip sharks.

Gordon Rocks

• World famous dive site for hammerhead sharks
• Impressive underwater topography featuring a volcanic crater
• Enormous variety of megafauna

On top of the opportunity to see the massive schools of hammerhead sharks, this dive site attracts a variety of other megafauna. Keep your eyes in the deep blue to see if you can spot white and blacktip reef sharks, sting rays, eagle rays, schools of barracuda, manta ray, or more! Sea turtles and sea lions are also common residents in the area, and while occasionally shy, they do make excellent photography models.

Tijeretas Hill

This fantastic dive site offers good visibility, minimal currents, and conditions that even novice divers can enjoy themselves. The consistent great visibility means it’s a prime location to take photos, and underwater photographers enjoy the challenge of capturing the myriad of marine life.

• Great dive location appropriate for beginners
• Sea lions enjoy playing with divers
• Consistently good visibility and mild currents

This dive spot features an extraordinary amount of sea life swirling around the blue water. You will be able to spot Galapagos Garden Eels, massive schools of fish twirling in the light, angel fish swimming around the rocks, rays in the deep blue, and green sea turtles having afternoon snacks. The highlight of Tijeratas hill, is the curious dogs of the sea. Sea Lions are attracted by bubbles and movement and will often swim up to investigate divers for a play. If you want to keep the sea lion’s attention, keep blowing bubbles and dance around in the water with them!

Daphne Manor

• Spectacular wall dive well suited for all dive levels
• Magnificent array of sharks and pelagic fish
• Healthy and thriving coral reef

The wall side of the dive has extensive cavern and slope structures hidden amongst the boulders, rocks, and coral growths. These usual topographic features provide ample hiding spaces for masters of camouflage, eels, invertebrates, and more! Grab your torch and see what critters you can find hiding in the deep cracks in the rock. The deep blue on the other hand, gives you the opportunity to spot Galapagos sharks, white tipped reef sharks, eagle rays, and the occasional passing manta rays swimming past divers!

• Easy drift dive around the famous Whale Rock
• Common dive site to spot plenty of sea turtles
• Massive schools of fish congregate at whale rock and swim in the current.

Whale Rock attracts massive schools of fish such as grunts, snapper, and pelagic species which swim into the current. There are also plenty of rays swimming in the deep blue or hiding below on the rocky bottom under ledges. Turtles are commonly spotted in this dive site, so keep your eyes peeled for the graceful creatures flapping through the moving water.

Bartholomew Point

• Opportunity to swim with penguins
• Extraordinary variety of marine species swim around here
• Chance to spot hammerheads and manta rays in the deep blue

Along with the usual suspects of massive schools of fish, sea turtles, and rays, there are also chances to spot some white tipped reef sharks, Galapagos sharks, and silky sharks. If you turn your gaze into the blue, the majestic manta ray and occasional passing hammerhead can also grace you with your presence.

Cape Marshal

• Sea lions are often spotted playing beneath the waves at Cape Marshal
• The largest bony fish in the world occasional makes an appearance (Mola Mola)
• Strong currents mean this dive site is best for advanced divers

Beneath the waves of the volcanic Isabela Island, the Sunfish, Hammerhead sharks, Galapagos Sharks, Marbled Rays, Mobula Rays, and massive schools of fish. Large aggregations of Black-striped Salema can be found in this area. Sea lions, sea turtles, and the occasional Manta Ray also make an appearance.

Wolf Island located many miles northwest of San Cristobal Island is a triangular island that will give you everything you have ever dreamed of in the Galapagos. There are three distinct dive sites at wold island, with The Caves featuring some of the best options. Unfortunately, the water around wolf island tends to be quite choppy with strong currents, therefore extensive experience is required.

• Extraodinary marine biodiversity and beautiful diving
• Strong currents and choppy surface conditions
• Can explore underwater caves

The waters around wolf island area teaming with just about every creature which calls the Galapagos their home. Whale sharks, Galapagos sharks, hammer heads, eagle rays, sting rays, manta rays, and even bottlenose dolphins can all be spotted. The topography underwater also makes it a dive site where sea lions like to play, eels hide, and the barnacle covered rock walls provide ample camouflage for other reef dwellers.

Camaño Islet

Another easier dive site better suited for divers with fewer dives. It is a shallow dive, however, provides great visibility up to 49ft.

• Great spot for an opportunity to see Galapagos Marine Iguanas
• Easy shallow dive site for novice divers
• Consistently good visibility between 33-49ft

This dive site is the home to many species of grouper, batfish, sea horses, frolicking sea lions, angel fish, and more. If you are lucky you will be able to spot the famous marine iguana’s who dive beneath the waves to search for their food. These extraordinary marine dweller’s bodies shrink in size due to low food availability to decrease their energy expenditure! This was never seen before in such a fashion and is just one of the many examples of how remarkable the Galapagos are.

Tortuga Island

Tortuga Island is located a short distance off of Isabela Island, and is a great dive site for advanced divers with deep dive certification. The wall at the dive site descends to 40 meters, and the strong currents will whisk you along giving you plenty of opportunity to see a variety of sea creatures.

• Deep wall dive
• Opportunity to see hammerheads and other sharks
• This dive site has been known to have passing orcas

This Galapagos dive site is the home to plenty of native species including Galapagos sharks, Galapagos sheep head, Galapagos Groupers, along with plenty of mantas, stingrays, and more. There are also passing hammer heads, white tipped reef sharks, sunfish (Mola, Mola), and more! Some divers have also had the enormous luck of seeing a passing Orca.

Punta Vincente Roca

• Cold waters throughout the year with diverse marine life
• Large variety of native Galapagos sea creatures
• An incredibly unique dive site worth visiting

These chilly waters attract the Ocean Sunfish, the rare Galapagos bullhead shark, and plenty of penguins, sea lions and more. If you are patient, you might be able to spot some sea horses hidden amongst the sea grass along with slipper lobsters, spider crabs, and moray eels.

Punta Carrion

• Shallow dive site with plenty of sea life
• Great Beginning dive for the start of your adventure
• Located between Baltra and Santa Cruz Island

The reef flat has plenty of creole fish, striped sea slugs, nudibranchs, invertebrates, and other reef fish. The shallow waters also often have groups of sea lions playing in the chilly waters, who love to check out divers and their bubbles. If you cast your gaze into the deep blue water, there are reef sharks, hammerhead sharks, and Mobula crays cruising past the dive site almost constantly.

Santa Fe Island

• Great dive site for novice divers
• There is a shallow cave to explore – Sea Lions frequently frolic around this island

This shallow dive is teeming with sea lions, turtles, eels, and the occasional white tip reef shark. The sea lions hunt and play in the area and are often fascinated by divers and will stop by to check you and your bubbles out.

Cousin’s Rock

• Moderate current commonly occurs on this dive site
• Great spot for macro photography

What will you see:

There are plenty of Galapagos sharks, reef sharks, along with massive schools of barracudas and ray species gliding through the water. Sea lions also frequently swim in these areas and can be spotted hunting Salema fish for their dinner.

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It really depends on the trip you’re going for. I’d recommend you do the refresher from home and do diving once you’re there.

We would like to do a fresher course one day, and a two tank dive to Darwin the next. Is this offered?

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Galápagos Diving Cruises

Our curated selection of the best scuba diving cruises in galápagos, tipp: how to pick the best galapagos diving cruise.

Below you'll find all diving cruises in Galapagos. When looking at your options, try to find a route that offers a good balance of diving spots. While Darwin and Wolf are considered some of the best spots in the world, we would recommend picking a route that also goes elsewhere, for example to Fernandina or Isabela. A superb spot to look out for is "Vicente Roca Point", where you can see the incredible Mola-Mola.

It's also important to consider the seasonality of the animals you want to see. For example, if you want to see whale sharks, you should plan your trip between June and November. Contact us to plan your perfect Galapagos diving adventure. We're divers, too, and would love to help!

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Do you offer scuba diving cruises in Galapagos?

In a word, yes! Galápagos is one of the top dive sites in the whole world, and we are enthusiastic divers too. We have handpicked the best Galápagos diving cruises for you in our dedicated liveaboard and diving cruise selection. Because we deal direct with the dive operators and dive boat owners, we are not only able to bring you the best prices - guaranteed - but also ensure that we only recommend scuba diving cruises that we have personally tested. The diving in Galápagos is quite simply stunning, and you will be able to swim with iconic species such as hammerhead sharks, rays, Galápagos sea lions, the remarkable Galápagos marine iguana, and many more . All of our Galápagos diving cruises are operated by fully qualified and highly experienced dive masters and crews, and many of our dive vessels offer enhanced equipment including nitrox as well as high-quality diving gear hire. All our curated diving cruise itineraries include visits to the remarkable Wolf and Darwin dive sites - rightly regarded as being among the top 5 sites in the entire world!

What species can I expect to see on a Galapagos diving cruise?

The Galápagos is renowned as a year-round diving paradise. Sitting on the convergence of warm and cold water currents the archipelago is teeming with marine life, making a Galápagos diving cruise a "bucket list" adventure for divers from around the world! Our handpicked diving cruise itineraries all give you the best chance to swim with a great range of species, including some that can only be found in Galápagos and nowhere else. You can enjoy encounters with Galápagos sea lions , marine iguanas , many species of ray , hammerhead sharks by the thousand, turtles , Galápagos penguins , and a huge range of pelagic fish. Choosing a Galapatours liveaboard diving cruise to the Galápagos will ensure you have a first-class experience both under the water and on board. Call us today for the latest deals on our scuba diving cruises!

What can I expect from a diving cruise in Galápagos?

A wonderful time! Having said that, it's not for beginners due to the somewhat challenging conditions that you can encounter diving in Galápagos because of currents, swell, temperatures and the rugged underwater terrain. Most Galápagos scuba diving cruises will expect you to have completed at least 30 logged dives and have gained your Advanced Open Water qualification, with experience of diving in swell and currents. If you meet those basic criteria then you are going to experience some of the best diving the world has to offer! All diving in Galápagos is from the cruise boat's dive platform or inflatable tender (known locally as a panga). Getting in and out of the panga's can be tricky, so we can't recommend the Galápagos for divers with mobility restrictions. Once you are under the water you will be in a diver's paradise, and led by some of the best and most experienced dive guides to be found anywhere. Out of the water we have made sure that all our Galápagos diving boats and liveaboards offer you comfortable surroundings with all the additional equipment you need to enjoy your once-in-a-lifetime diving adventure.

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Galapagos-the sharkiest place on the planet. science says so., yes you can help save marine wildlife, liveaboard comparison chart, this is why you want to dive the galapagos.

Scuba Dive Galapagos | 5 Important Things You Need to Know

• The Scuba Page

A world of wonder for scuba divers

Scuba diving Galapagos is on almost every divers bucket list. It is where Charles Darwin came up with his theory of evolution, and where innumerable mammals, reptiles, and birds thrive. Located off the western coast of Ecuador in the Pacific Ocean, the Galapagos Islands are a national park and marine reserve.

A world of wonder

Little has changed in these islands since Charles Darwin came up with his theory of evolution. Countless mammals, reptiles, and birds still thrive. Marine mammals are friendly here, with sea lions coming close to you to say hello. The waters surrounding the Galapagos Islands are a world of wonder for scuba divers from around the globe.

Whether you are looking to explore Galapagos from a liveaboard or with a land-based dive operator a trip to The Galapagos Islands will be an amazing experience and a true adventure because these remote islands in the Pacific are one of the most pristine areas left to dive on the planet.

Interested in diving into the waters of Galapagos? Continue reading to learn all you need to know to plan a scuba trip of a lifetime to Galapagos.

1. Galapagos is an Archipelago

Only a few of the islands listed have accommodations for visitors and those are generally in what is called the central area. Many of the other islands are visited only by liveaboards. Whether you are booking a liveaboard scuba trip or a land-based dive trip, The Galapagos Islands are, without a doubt, one of the most pristine areas left to scuba dive on the planet.

The 17 main Islands that make up the Archipelago are:

• North Seymour Island
• Pinzón Island
• PintaIsland
• San Cristóbal Island
• Santa Cruz Island
• Santa Fe Island
• Santiago Island
• South Seymour
• Wolf Island

We have multiple partners in Galapagos that offer Scuba Dive packages including accommodation, training, and guided trips. Feel free to check out our listings:

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2. When is the best time to dive Galapagos?

Dive the Galapagos Islands year round, but the water temperatures vary depending on the time of year, the dive site you choose and the depths you dive.

September through November

Surface temperatures range from 18-30 degrees Celsius, or 64-86 degrees Fahrenheit, with September through November being the coldest months and February through April offering the warmest temperatures.

In terms of when you should book your Galapagos dive trip, you can expect colder water between September through November . Many divers prefer to explore the underwater world of Galapagos between June and September. In terms of air temperatures, the cooler season in the Galapagos runs from June through December, when the conditions are also drier.

January through May

January through May is the warmer, wetter season. From January through May , water temperatures average around 24 to 28 degrees Celsius, or 75-82 degrees Fahrenheit.

June through December

From June through December , you can expect water temperatures to be around 17-20 degrees Celsius, or 62-68 degrees Fahrenheit.

When diving in Galapagos , expect medium to strong currents, and this is why experienced divers, or at the very least, mid-level scuba divers should explore these waters.

3. Who should dive Galapagos?

Typically, diving the Galapagos archipelago is more appropriate for advanced divers, those who feel comfortable in deeper waters with varying currents and conditions. The Galapagos Islands offer drift dives, deep dives, reef dives, and, of course, the famous hammerhead shark dives.

Many sites throughout the Galapagos experience colder water, strong currents, surges, and low visibility, and often beginners are not ready to deal with these conditions yet. Unexpected currents, including dangerous downdrafts, do occur, so you need to know how to handle such a situation safely.

It is also not unusual for divers to hold onto rocks preventing of being swept away by the strong currents. In general, visibility can range anywhere from 10 to 21 meters, or 30 to 70 feet. However, this visibility can be worse if the conditions are rougher than normal.

Open Water divers (OWD) and those looking to learn to dive in Galapagos are not totally overlooked. There are many dive sites around the central islands that are perfectly suitable for beginners and training.

However, do not expect to dive the more advanced dive sites where the largest pelagic animals can be found. You will still be able to dive with many shark species, turtles, sea lions and visit dive sites with abundant marine life.

Doing your  open water diver course in Galapagos is awesome, and I cannot think of a more exciting destination to learn to dive.

4. How to get to Galapagos?

To get to the Galapagos Islands, you will need to travel to Ecuador. Once you are in Ecuador, you can book a flight from either Quito or Guayaquil to Baltra Island or San Cristobal on Galapagos.

There are three daily flights per day from Guayaquil and Quito to Baltra and San Cristobal. Flights take approximately 3 hours. Expect to pay $300 to $500 USD per person for a round-way ticket depending on the time of year you fly. While planning your visit and your flights, remember the 24-hour fly rule after diving.

5. What you can expect to see when diving Galapagos

Because the Galapagos Islands are influenced by deep currents and are a part of a marine reserve, you are guaranteed to see an abundance of marine life. The animals that live here have not evolved with a sense of fear for humans, so when you are in the water with them, you are in their territory, but they do not mind at all. In fact, you will find that most of the marine life in these waters are surprisingly friendly and curious.

You may be able to catch a glimpse of one of the unique marine iguanas that swim underwater or spot some yellow-bellied sea snakes. Sea lions and dolphins are playful while huge sea turtles glide by with ease.

28 Shark Species

There are 28 different shark species that call these waters home. You may encounter:

• Blacktip sharks
• White-tip reef sharks
• Scalloped hammerhead sharks
• Galapagos sharks
• The massive yet gentle Whale Sharks (depending on the season)

Rays are also a common sight here, especially eagle rays and if you are lucky you run into a manta ray or even a school of Mobula rays.

Although Hammerhead sharks can be seen in all dive sites of Galapagos the best place to see the famous schools of hundreds of Hammers is at the remote Islands of Wolf and Darwin. These Islands can only be visited and dived from a liveaboard though and should only be dived by experienced and advanced divers.

A scuba divers dream! Diving with hammerheads in the Galapagos Islands

Also read: When you should visit Galapagos to dive with Hammerhead Sharks?

More fish species

More fish species of all shapes, colors, and sizes than you can imagine are abundant here. Surround yourself by massive schools of fish, thanks to the hundreds of species drawn to the area by its various currents. Commonly seen species include:

• Water jacks
• Yellowfin Tuna

Other species

Other species seen in the area include:

• The bloody frogfish
• Red-lipped batfish (only in Galapagos!)
• Rainbow basslet
• Galapagos clingfish
• Rock mover wrasse

And even the Pacific seahorse, to name a very small fraction of the different types of fish that can be found in these water. See a variety of crabs, starfish, and a host of invertebrates during any dive trip here.

The awesome Red-lipped batfish

Key takeaways about scuba diving Galapagos

• The Galapagos Islands are a remote Island group part of Ecuador. You reach the islands by plane from Quito or Guayaquil
• Scuba diving the Galapagos Islands can be done year round but most people prefer to travel between June and September because between September through November the waters are colder.
• Diving Galapagos can be done by novice divers, but Galapagos is known as an advanced dive destination because of the sweeping currents and often colder and deeper waters. Novice divers will stick to the more shallow sheltered dive sites.
• Galapagos is a true shark dive destination and sharks can often be seen on every dive. The famous scenes of hundreds of schooling hammerheads can normally only be seen at the remote islands of Darwin and Wolf, which are only accessible by liveaboard.

Would you like to explore the entire globe instead of just the Galapagos islands? Feel free to check out our Scuba Dive partners anywhere in the world for packages, training or guided trips:

This article is written by Rutger and published by The Scuba Page, the online magazine for Scuba Dive lovers around the world. The Scuba Page is part of RUSHKULT : the online booking platform for adventure sports. Visit the RUSHKULT platform to book your next Scuba Dive training, guided trip, and accommodation.

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Shark diving Galapagos | 7 Impressive Sharks You Will Encounter

5 of the best dive sites in bali you should dive before you die, here is when you should go diving with tiger sharks in the bahamas, privacy preference center, consent management.

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6 Days | Dive Galapagos Islands

Galapagos Diving Experience

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6 –  Day Dive Galapagos Islands

This 6-day Galapagos Dive trips  is part of our  Dive Galapagos Islands Tour Experience,  a land-based itinerary ideal for scuba divers looking forward to a land and sea Galapagos journey! Within 6 days you can scuba dive on various spots around Santa Cruz Island and still have time to visit the Charles Darwin Station or Tortuga Bay on your last day.

You can also customize it with a day trip to Bartolomé, North Seymour or Santa Fe or just have a free day to move around on your own on Day 6. Check details below.

Start Date: Every day. Visiting:  Santa Cruz + 4 Diving Sites. Activities:            Diving, Hiking, Snorkelling and Wildlife Viewing Trip Style:           Landbased Diving Trip. Diving Level :    Certified Beginners – Intermediate – Advanced

Short Itinerary

• Day 1:  Am: Arrive in Baltra Island Airport (GPS) – Pm: Transfer to Santa Cruz Island
• Day 2: Santa Cruz Island: FULL DAY DIVING  (2 immersions).
• Day 3: Santa Cruz Island: FULL DAY DIVING  (2 immersions).
• Day 4: Santa Cruz Island: FULL DAY DIVING  (2 immersions).
• Day 5: Santa Cruz Island: Free day OR Full-guided tour (EXTRA COST).
• Day 6:  Am: Transfer out to Baltra Island airport (GPS).

For the complete itinerary click on the tab Itinerary above ⇑ .

Essential Trip Information

• General Information  

Important Remarks

* Sites and visiting dates as regulated by the Galapagos National Park * *NOTE:  Diving sites are fixed daily and depend on availability.  Itinerary subject to change due to National Park dispositions or to circumstances beyond our control (force majeure).

Important data

*NOTE:  Diving sites are fixed daily and depend on availability. Itinerary subject to change due to National Park dispositions or to circumstances beyond our control (force major).

INQUIRE MORE HERE

Arrive in baltra - tranfer to santa cruz island: highlands visit (tortoise).

Our English speaking guide will be waiting for you at the airport in  Baltra Island Airport , who will then take you to the port of  Puerto Ayora  (Santa Cruz Island). Afterwards, we will take a short rest before making our way to the Highlands of Santa Cruz.  Here we will have the amazing opportunity to observe the famous  Galapagos Giant Tortoises,  also known as  Galapagos , in their natural environment. 

It is from these that the Islands get their name from. Get the chance to observe Galapagos Finches, Bird Wizards, and endemic vegetation such as Escelacias forests and Matazarnos. 

Return to Puerto Ayora towards the Dive Center to try on the diving gear and hear some instructions.

Accommodations in the hotel class of your choice.

Santa Cruz Island: Full Day Diving (2 Immersions)

The Galapagos diving sites depend of the day of the week.

After breakfast, meet at  Scuba Dive Center  at 7:20AM or the hour established the day before. You will hear some last instructions before departing via sea and land to the diving site. 

After a weight check you will go for the  first immersion  (20 – 25 m deep). A surface interval for one hour is scheduled to have snack-lunch and enough energy for the  second immersion  (depth 15 -23 m). 

Depending on the dive site,  you will be able to observe:  sea lions, Galapagos sharks, white tip reef shark, hammerhead shark, mobulas, turtles, reef fishes, sting rays, eagle rays, Galapagos eel, barracudas, sea horses, barracudas, sea lions, variety of invertebrates and coral walls . 

Some wildlife can be observed during surface interval as well. We will have a snack before returning to Puerto Ayora around 16:30pm to get ready for our diving next day.

Santa Cruz Island: FREE Day OR Option 2

In your last day you can either choose a  FREE DAY  or ask us to arrange for a guided visit to Charles Darwin Station in the morning and Tortuga Bay in the afternoon or a navigable tour, for an extra cost. 

Option 1:  In the Charles Darwin Research Station you will find a large variety of tortoise’s species coming from each island on the archipelago. You can also listen about the ongoing conservation efforts directed at preserving the Giant Tortoises, as well as the environment of the archipelago as a whole. 

The afternoon hike to Tortuga Bay beach could be the perfect ending to your trip. Abundant wildlife inhabits the place and the view is astounding as it is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in Galapagos.

Option 2: A full-day navigable tour.  The destination can be  Santa Fe, South Plazas, North Seymour or Bartolomé Island . The activities will include hiking, snorkeling, swimming and breathtaking sightseeing. After land and sea excursions, we will return back to the hotel in Santa Cruz.

NOTE:  If you choose either Option 1 or 2,  PLEASE let us know before booking your trip.  This way we can arrange and check availability in order to arrange your itinerary in the best way possible.

Transfer out Baltra airport

After Breakfast, the guide will pick you up to take you to Baltra Island airport for your flight back to mainland to either Quito or Guayaquil. Goodbye Galapagos!

*NOTE:   Diving sites are fixed daily and depend on availability.  Itinerary subject to change due to National Park dispositions or to circumstances beyond our control (force majeure).  The Galapagos diving sites depend of the day of the week.

NOTE: Hotels depend on availability, we may not always use hotels listed below, but we will always stick to the class you selected.

First Class Hotels

Hotel solymar (santa cruz island) - details here.

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Swimming pool and jacuzzi on terrace. Air-conditioning and hot water. Wireless internet. Located new Charles Darwin Research Station. Completely remodeled in 2006. Private bathroom.

Tourist Superior Hotels

Hotel fernandina (santa cruz island) - details here.

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Swimming pool and jacuzzi. Air-conditioning and hot water. Internet. Relaxing garden. Private bathroom.

Tourist Class Hotels

Economy class hotels, hotel peregrinas (santa cruz island) - details here.

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Private rooms. Private bathrooms. Hot water and air-conditioning. Centrally located with a charming garden area.

Please be aware that the prices vary consistently due to promotions and Galapagos last minute deals, so in order to GET THE BEST PRICE for the dates you desire please fill out the request form below. After doing so, we will send you the absolute best prices for the dates that you indicate.

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Galapagos Scuba Diving Day Trips | Academy Bay Diving

2-Tank Daily Dives in the Galapagos Marine Reserve

Scuba Diving in Santa Cruz: Galapagos Diving Day Tours to the Best Dive Sites

Join us on a Galapagos diving tour to explore the plethora of dive sites in this legendary archipelago. Our extraordinarily diverse wildlife is world-famous and our fantastic staff is always eager to show keen divers the best of this magical place!

Our day trips from Santa Cruz, Galapagos, leave at 7am each day and return at approximately 3pm.

Bookings can easily be made via our WeTravel booking page . Alternatively, you can book your preferred dive site and day by choosing below.

Scuba diving in Santa Cruz is a truly unmissable experience! If you have any pre-booking questions for us, please don’t hesitate to get in touch

If you want to combine your dive bookings with accommodations and other fun activities, take a look at our variety of Galapagos diving packages for inspiration!

Floreana – Punta Cormorant & Enderby or Champion (Mondays)

From USD$240

Santa Fe: The Arch & Punto del Miedo (Tuesdays)

North Seymour Canal & Mosquera South (Wednesdays)

Gordon Rocks (Thursdays a & Sundays)

Mosquera & Daphne (Fridays)

North Seymour Point & Mosquera North (Saturdays)

Scuba diving galapagos: diving day trips.

Dive more, save more! Book a week of daily dives from Santa Cruz and save nearly 15% or book just a single diving day from only USD$240. Secure your place on our Daily Dive Tours via our WeTravel booking page.

Learn More About Scuba Diving from Santa Cruz

Daily dive trips from Santa Cruz allow us to reach a wide variety of dive sites easily. The Galapagos Marine Reserve includes diverse options, from extinct volcanic craters to beautiful rock reefs to small caves and more.

Read about the best dive sites in Galapagos to get inspired for your upcoming trip!

Our Scuba Diving in Galapagos Day Trips Include:

• Experienced guides bilingual in English and Spanish
• Check dive (check weight and gear) 5-10 minutes
• All dive equipment – Wetsuit 5 & 7mm, BCD, regulator, booties, fins, Hood, tanks
• Lunch and snacks and drinking water
• Pictures and video taken by the guide

Please plan your diving tour start date with your dive experience in mind.

Gordon Rocks is a very popular site in Galapagos, but can have strong currents. If your dive experience is limited or you have not been diving for a number of years, please try to arrange your dates so you will not be diving at Gordon Rocks for your first day.

If you are booking a package or multiple dive days, we strongly advise that you arrive in the Galapagos for Day 1 on a Sunday or Wednesday so you have 2-3 days of diving before Gordon Rocks.

If you are unsure of your experience levels, please contact us before confirming your flights. Academy Bay Diving reserves the right to cancel reserved diving for Gordon Rocks should our guides feel your experience level is not sufficient and the dive would therefore be unsafe.

We can also arrange Galapagos diving packages exclusively for diving or incorporate various other non-diving activities for you to experience other aspects of Galapagos at your own pace.

We know a trip to the Galapagos can be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so we’re here to help you make it the best it can be!

DIVING TOURS IN GALAPAGOS

One-day diving tours in the Galapagos Islands, The best dive sites in the archipelago are: Gordon Rocks, Seymour, Mosquera Islet, Daphne, and Kicker Rock. Under crystal-clear waters, you can swim with hammerhead and whitetip reef sharks, sea lions, golden cownose rays, sea turtles, colorful fish, and a wide variety of marine life. During night dives, you will be able to see the ocean and its life from a unique perspective.

Diving tours departing from Santa Cruz Island

If you are staying on Santa Cruz Island, you can visit Gordon Rocks, Seymour, Mosquera Islet, and Daphne. You will also get a chance to dive at night, in Puerto Ayora Bay.

Gordon Rocks Diving Tour

This eroded crater is one of the favorite sites for experienced divers, where you can see schools of hammerhead and whitetip reef sharks, whitetip sharks and sea turtles. Price: $245

Diving tour for beginners

Dive for the first time and enjoy what the Galapagos Islands have in their crystal clear waters, dive with colorful fish, sharks, manta rays, sea turtles, always accompanied by an instructor. Price: $255

Night Diving Tour

Get the sensation of diving in an environment completely different from what you see during the day and appreciate the various shades and colors of the animals that live in the depths. Price: $250

Diving Tour in North Seymour (Canal)

This diving tour is sometimes combined with a visit to Mosquera Islet or Daphne island. There are gradual steps to reach the reef and its sandy bottom, where you can see whitetip sharks, sea turtles, hammerhead sharks, and rays. Price: $245

Mosquera Islet diving tour

This diving tour is sometimes combined with a visit to Seymour Island. This islet made of sand and rocks is ideal for observing schools of golden cownose rays, eagle rays, hammerhead and whitetip reef sharks, and garden eels that are endemic to the islands. Price: $245

Diving Tour in North Seymour (Punta)

This diving tour is sometimes combined with a visit to Mosquera Islet or Daphne island. In the caves of the point, you will spot hammerhead and reef sharks, mobulas, octopuses and the fascinating blue sea dragon. Price: $245

Daphne Minor diving tour

This diving tour is sometimes combined with a visit to Seymour Island. You will dive along an underwater wall with a weak ocean current. You will be able to see Galapagos sharks, whitetip reef sharks, several schools of fish, and eagle rays. Price: $245

Diving tours departing from San Cristobal Island

If you are staying on San Cristobal Island, you can take a day tour to dive in the waters the Kicker Rock. This dive site is ideal for encounters with hammerhead sharks in shallow waters.

Diving Tour to the Kicker Rock

At the Kicker Rock, you will have the opportunity to snorkel around this volcanic formation, where you can see hammerhead sharks, sea lions, sea turtles and fish in shallow waters. Price: $245

Tell us your needs, tastes, preferences, and we will help you create a customized travel plan. We will take care of everything for you!

Recommendations.

We recommend the best places in the Galapagos for day tours, personalized travel packages, and interisland flights to make your trips more efficient and for you to enjoy them to the fullest.

Vacation packages

If you want to really get to know the Galapagos Islands, you must book vacation packages that range from 4-7 days, and that can be customized to match your expectations.

Explore the enchanted islands on day tours that include a variety of activities such as kayaking, snorkeling, hiking, and sailing.

Interisland flights

The best way to hop between all the Galapagos islands is by plane: these light aircrafts are very comfortable and will save you a lot of time.

Documents you must present to enter Galapagos:

• Valid passport or identity card • The "Transit Control Card" issued by the Galapagos Government Council (you can pay for it at the airport) • Entrance tickets to the Galapagos National Park

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I've visited all of the 13 main Galápagos Islands. Here are 10 things every first-time traveler should do.

• As a South American travel specialist, I've traveled to the Galápagos Islands several times.
• Travelers can expect to see species like the giant tortoise and the blue-footed booby. 
• Adventurous visitors can even hike to the rim of one of the world's largest volcanic craters.

I've worked as a South American travel specialist for eight years and have traveled to all 13 of the main Galápagos Islands.

Located 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador, the beautiful islands are mainly known for the many rare wildlife species that reside there.

Here are the top things I think every first-timer should do when visiting the Galápagos Islands.

See the islands' most famous residents up close

Many of the birds, reptiles, and mammals found on the Galápagos Islands are endemic, meaning they can't be found anywhere else in the world. Perhaps the most well-known species in the Galápagos is the giant tortoise, which can weigh over 500 pounds. 

In my experience, the best place to see them in the wild is in the highlands of Santa Cruz Island, where you can visit a private reserve like El Chato. You can also see the giant tortoise at the Charles Darwin Research Station's breeding facilities on Santa Cruz Island.

However, keep in mind that Galápagos National Park rules mandate that visitors must remain at least 6 feet (or 2 meters) away from all wildlife. If you get too close, the giant tortoises may hiss like enormous cats to warn you to step back. 

Hike to the rim of one of the world's largest volcanic craters

Visitors to Isabela Island can hike to the rim of the Sierra Negra Volcano, which measures 6 miles in diameter, making it one of the largest craters in the world.

The trailhead is a 45-minute drive from the town of Puerto Villamil, and the approximately 12-mile hike typically takes about five to six hours to complete.

Since the volcano is within the national park, all visitors must be accompanied by a licensed naturalist guide. 

See the blue-footed booby's mating dance

In my opinion, nothing is more entertaining and fascinating than experiencing the blue-footed booby's intricate and goofy multi-part mating dance.

These iconic birds can be found on the majority of the islands and their mating dances typically take place during the spring and summer months. 

Experience the underwater world while snorkeling or diving

The ocean surrounding the Galápagos has just as much action as the islands themselves, and snorkeling and diving are the most popular ways to experience it. The protected marine reserve surrounding the islands is home to endemic species like the Galápagos penguin, the only species of penguin found in the northern hemisphere.

 You may also be lucky enough to see the marine iguana, the only known swimming iguana in the world. 

Visit a coffee farm in the highlands of Santa Cruz

The rich volcanic soil of the Galápagos Islands is ideal for growing coffee beans. Because 97% of the islands are within the national park and only a small part can be used for agricultural purposes, coffee production is limited.

However, several coffee farms on Santa Cruz Island offer tours and tastings.

Experience local life in the town of Puerto Ayora

Only four of the 13 major islands in the Galápagos are inhabited by people. Puerto Ayora, located on the island of Santa Cruz, is home to the largest human population.  

I recommend stopping by the Santa Cruz Fish Market in the morning to watch the sea lions and pelicans patiently line up around the fish counter for scraps. In my opinion, this is one of the best ways to have a glimpse of local life and witness how the islands' human inhabitants coexist with the wildlife. 

At night, enjoy dinner at one of the many restaurants along Charles Darwin Avenue that use fresh, local seafood from the market.

Also check out the Galapagos Islands' first microbrewery, The Santa Cruz Brewery, which opened in 2015. One of its unique brews includes an English porter made with locally-grown coffee. 

While in Puerto Ayora, you can also hike or take a water taxi to Tortuga Bay. This wide, white-sand beach is popular for spotting iguanas and a variety of birdlife. You can also have some fun in the water with activities like kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, and snorkeling. 

Learn about the human history of the islands

Although the wildlife tends to be the star of the show, the Galápagos Islands have an interesting human history as well. 

Long before Charles Darwin visited in 1835 , the Galápagos Islands were frequented by pirates and whalers. Post Office Bay on Floreana Island is named after the islands' first post office. The office is a barrel placed by whalers on a small beach in the 1700s, where they would leave messages for other sailors to pick up and deliver. 

If Post Office Bay is included in your itinerary, bring a postcard with you — visitors can still leave their own postcards in the barrel for other travelers to take and hand-deliver. Take a look through the pile to see if there's a postcard you can deliver when you return home.

Sail past Kicker Rock at sunset

Visitors who explore the Galápagos Islands on a cruise may see Kicker Rock on the itinerary. The ships often circumnavigate this massive rock monolith rising about 500 feet above the ocean.

It's also considered one of the top snorkeling spots on the islands. 

Explore the islands' naturally-formed lava tunnels

The highlands of Santa Cruz Island have ancient lava flows under the surface, which created tunnels that visitors can walk through. Galápagos Magic Camp , a tented safari-style lodge, has private lava tunnels where visitors can enjoy a candlelit dinner.

Learn about conservation efforts to protect the islands

In my opinion, the most important thing visitors to the Galápagos Islands can do is learn about the initiatives in place to help protect their fragile, unique ecosystems. 

For example, the Charles Darwin Research Station on Santa Cruz Island, and similar facilities on San Cristobal and Isabela Islands, raise endangered giant tortoises in breeding centers to eventually be released into the wild. 

IGTOA , the International Galapagos Tour Operators Association, is a non-profit organization made up of travel companies, tour operators, and conservation organizations that contribute to a variety of conservation projects. It's a fantastic resource for those looking for a conservation-minded professional to help plan an unforgettable (and sustainable) Galápagos adventure.

Correction: September 26, 2023   — An earlier version of this story misstated that the blue-footed booby is an endemic species to the Galápagos Islands. Although the islands are home to many, the blue-footed booby can be found along the Pacific coastline.

ON THE PALAU SIREN!

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M/V Tiburon Explorer (Explorer Ventures)

Destination: Galapagos

Darwin and wolf islands, cabo douglas, punta vicente rocas (7 nights) | from $870++/ night.

The M/V Tiburon Explorer is a spacious and luxurious liveaboard yacht in the Galapagos offering 7-night itineraries to exploring the top diving spots in the area, including Wolf and Darwin islands.

Accommodations - Facilities -  NEW!  Schedule, Rates & Availability  - Dive Info & Itineraries

Other Information - Booking & Inquiry - Underwater Gallery

Looking for more options? View all  liveaboards in Galapagos.

Dive Overview

The Galapagos Islands are an epic destination for divers in search of big animals like hammerheads and other sharks, mantas, turtles and sea lions. There’s also prolific schooling fish and endemic species like marine iguanas, giant tortoises, flightless cormorants and penguins, all in an isolated and unique environment.

[See: Galapagos Dive Travel Guide ]

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Accommodations

Types of cabins, amenities and photos, m/v tiburon explorer cabin details.

Large and spacious, the elegant M/V Tiburon Explorer features 9 air-conditioned staterooms (maximum passenger occupancy of 16) located on the main and lower decks; all with private bathrooms and ocean views. All nine cabins are outfitted with twin beds that can convert to queen beds, allowing for singles or couples in each cabin. 

Main Deck Cabins

Lower Deck Cabins

En-suite Bathrooms

 See how amazing the liveaboard is from our own visit there!

General Facilities

M/V TIBURON EXPLORER Boat Features

• Outdoor lounge area
• Partially covered sun deck
• FREE Starlink internet
• Ample seating
• Indoor lounge area with dining, bar and entertainment area

M/V TIBURON EXPLORER Dive Facilities

• Large dive deck with a bathroom
• Large camera table with charging station
• Individual storage area
• Rinse bins for cameras and another for gear
• Diving operations are conducted from two large pangas (tenders), easily boarded from the dive deck

M/V TIBURON EXPLORER Deck Plan

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Schedule, Rates & Availability

M/v tiburon explorer schedule & rates.

Prices are in USD, per person and do not include Galapagos National Park Fee, Chamber Support Fee, Tourist card, and fuel surcharge. Guaranteed Single Occupancy is billed an additional 80% of the retail stateroom price.  

[See also:  Inclusions & Exclusions ]

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• 7 nights/8 days aboard the vessel
• Up to 4 dives daily (weather permitting)
• 3 meals daily, except for last evening's meal
• Between-dive snacks
• Towels, linens, etc.
• Use of tanks, weights, and weight belts
• All air fills
• Transfers within Galapagos Islands for the same day arrivals & departures.
• Local alcohol and non-alcoholic beverages (premium alcoholic beverages available for an additional charge)
• Fuel tax included
• Mandatory :  Galapagos National Park Fee ($100 in cash), Chamber Support Fee ($35), Tourist card ($20 in cash) 
• Airfare to Galapagos Islands before/after cruise (available at additional cost)
• Land options before/after cruise  (available at additional cost)
• Last evening dinner
• Rental, instruction, nitrox and retail charges
• Crew gratuities
• Trip cancellation & dive accident insurance
• Premium alcoholic beverages

RATES & AVAILABILITY

For more information on other departure dates, rates, and on availability email us at  [email protected]  or call us at +1-310-915-6677 and we will gladly help you plan your dream dive vacation!

Dive Information & Itineraries

Liveaboard diving in the galapagos islands.

Your Galapagos Liveaboard diving adventures will encompass everything from sharks to nudibranchs, and more. The islands are best known for amazing shark diving around Wolf and Darwin Islands. These small and remote islands are best reached by liveaboard vessels for divers. Your diving experience here will generally include Galapagos sharks, silky sharks and lots of schooling hammerheads being cleaned by king angelfish. Seeing marine turtles, schools of tuna, eagle rays, and sea lions is very common and seeing a whale shark is very possible from June through November. All the islands you travel to are amazing sites for underwater photography.

Macro photographers will have their fill of seahorses, barnacle blennies, coral hawkfish, and many others. An abundance of rays are at many of the dive sites (including spotted rays, marble rays, golden rays, and stingrays) along with sea lions, sea turtles, schools of grunts and snappers. The variety of life in these water is unlike any other place, with thick schools of the native brown stripped salema, snappers, groupers, Chevron barracuda and huge sea turtles. There are also many unique things to view on land. Consider adding on some time to your trip to experience the land animals as well. And of course, a trip to the Galapagos would not be complete without taking time to watch their most famous inhabitants - the giant tortoise!

The weather in the Galapagos has water temperatures ranging from 65 -75 degrees F from December through May and 60 – 70 (F) June through November. Water temperatures are at the higher end of the scale in both Darwin and Wolf. Air temperatures range from 75 (F) or higher in the rainy season (December-May) to the mid 60’s (F) during the dry season (June – November), with nearly constant sea breezes.

Currents can range from 1 to 5 knots at the sites we visit, and visibility is generally between 30 and 80 feet. Most divers are comfortable with a 7mm wetsuit June – November with a hooded vest and gloves and a minimum 5 mm wetsuit December - May. Gloves and hood are strongly recommended.

Your Galapagos liveaboard dives will be done from the pangas with an easy backward roll into the water. After you dive, your tank will be lifted back into the panga and you will board via its stern ladders or with assistance from the side.

Sample Itinerary

Saturday: Baltra (1 Check Out Dive at Punta Carrion) -  Guests fly to the Galapagos Islands from Mainland Ecuador, arriving in the late morning. Dive guides meet the guests at the airport between 11:30 am and 12 pm and escort them to the Tiburon Explorer. Guests board the vessel, have lunch and listen to briefings. After the briefings, guests do a check out dive at Punta Carrion. After dinner, the vessel departs to the next scheduled destination.

Sunday : Balta North (2 Dives) -  6:30 and 9:30 dives.  Sightings include rays and schools of fish. In the afternoon, a North Seymour land visit is scheduled. Guests walk the path around North Seymour Island to see the large colonies of Blue Footed Boobies and Frigate Birds. Sighting of Sea Lions and Marine Iguanas are also common. Afterward, the vessel d eparts for Wolf Island (long transit).

Monday: Wolf Island (4 Dives) -  6:30, 10:30, 2:00 and 4:30 dives, along with a possible night dive. On these dives, s ightings often include hammerheads, whale sharks (in season), eagle rays, sea lions, Galapagos sharks, and silky sharks.

Tuesday: Darwin Island (4 Dives) -  6:30, 10:30, 2:00 and 4:30 dives.  Sightings often include hammerheads, whale sharks (in season) eagle rays, Galapagos sharks and silky sharks. After the dives, the vessel departs  to Wolf Island.

Wednesday: Wolf Island (3-4 Dives) -  6:30, 10:30, 2:00 and 4:30 dives.  Sightings often include hammerheads, whale sharks (in season), eagle rays, Galapagos sharks and silky sharks.
 Then, we move on  to Cabo Douglas (12 hours).

Thursday: Cabo Douglas (1-2 Dives) -  Sightings include marine iguanas. Afterward, we move on to  Punta Vicente Roca for  1-2 more dives.  Sightings here often include mola mola, turtles and macro life. Then, we move on  to Cousins Rock (10 hours).

Friday: Cousins Rock (2 Dives) -   6:30 and 9:30 dives.  These are great macro dives, with an excellent chance of seeing sea horses, sea lions, and eagle rays. Lunch will be served while transiting to Santa Cruz (3 hours). Afterward, we travel by bus to the Santa Cruz Highlands to visit the giant tortoises in their natural habitat. Following this is a transit to the town of Puerto Ayora. Guests have dinner on their own in Puerto Ayora, and return to the Tiburon Explorer at 8:30 pm.

[See: Galapagos Dive Travel Guid e ]

Other Information

Boat specifications.

• Length : 125ft (38 meters)
• Beam : 24.6 ft (7.5 meters)
• Maximum Speed : 12 knots
• Maximum guests: 16
• Number of cabins: 9
• Number of crews: 9 crew and 2 guides
• Safety Equipment : Life rafts (2), life rings/strobes, life vests/strobes, emergency position locator, flares, oxygen, and first aid equipment
• Air Systems : 2 electric Bauer compressors with nitrox membrane, producing 32% nitrox
• Tenders : Rigid hull inflatables (2), used for passenger transport and diver pickup

Practical Information

• Time Zone: UTC-6
• Local Currency: USD (US Dollar)
• Language Spoken: English & Spanish
• Electricity: 120 V
• Payment Onboard: Cash, Visa or MasterCard. Credit cards are subject to the 14% VAT plus 5% in bank fees.

Got Questions? Ready to Book?

Call us today at +1-310-915-6677 or email us [email protected]

And let us book your dream vacation!

UNDERWATER GALLERY 

 Photos courtesy of Explorer Ventures

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Reviews (2)

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I am one of the agents at Bluewater and I had the opportunity to do a trip on the Tiburon in December 2020. It was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. The cabins were very spacious with lots of closet space, the food was incredible, and I have never seen a crew work so hard to make everyone's experience perfect. I now recommend this to any client wishing to do the Galapagos on a luxury boat.

Three of us ladies took a trip of a lifetime in December. The Tiburon was very luxurious, and was a great spot to observe the mountains and sea around the island.

When we arrived, before we could even get unpacked, orcas were swimming around the yacht! We hopped in tenders to see them even closer. What a way together pumped for the trip.

Next day we got to experience our first day of diving nearby. The water was warmer than I expected and very clear. We saw clusters of white tip sharks resting here and there, along with the Pacific fauna we are not used to. Our trip included Drwin arch and Wolf Island, so we had two nights of 200 mile voyages. We were in the lower rooms, and the waves were large enough that we watched bioluminescent plankton " flow" by the windows. It was awe inspiring. The hammerheads at Wolf Island showed up like clockwork and we were there to witness. Divers were nestled in rocks as the sharks amassed beside us slowly against the current. Every now and then one would swim right over us, so we got good chances for photos. The dives were varied, ranging from sharks to corals of every color. Water visibility was good, and we wore 5mm wetsuits. The underwater landscape and creatures were more beautiful than I expected.

The Tiburon liveaboard was all one could ask for. A friendly, attentive crew, great food in beautiful surroundings, top notch dive tanks and dive deck. Spacious and modern rooms with comfy mattresses and linens. The captain stopped mid-trip coming back from the northern islands and bought fresh tuna from a fisherman, the chef used it to make sashimi and sushi for an "equator crossing party".

I has been a difficult year for Ecuador, yet our crew gave us their all in attention and detail.

PS: I must mention there nice little boutique we stayed in Puerto Arroyo, before the trip La Isla. I was convenient, lovely and very comfortable. It is family owned and new. The best ceviche I have ever eaten.

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