Diving in the Galapagos Islands

Diving in the Galapagos Islands is a dream come true for divers at all levels. It’s often featured high on adventurous divers’ bucket lists. Whether you’re a beginner seeking gentle waters teeming with marine life, or an experienced diver craving thrilling encounters with sharks and rays, the Galapagos Islands always has something extraordinary to offer.

Renowned as a living laboratory of natural history and biodiversity, diving in Galapagos has an extra dose of adventure. Therefore, divers from around the world plan their trips to the Galapagos to descend through crystal clear waters and encounter unique wildlife.

With each dive, the Archipelago offers a spectacular array of marine wonders. From impressive species of sharks patrolling the depths to vast schools of colorful fish, marine invertebrates, and magnificent flora, the experience will dazzle all types of divers.

A Guide to Diving in the Galapagos Islands: Discovering Its Underwater Secrets

Galapagos Islands offers diving opportunities for all levels of divers. Even if you’re a beginner, there are plenty of locations where you can explore the ocean for hours. You’ll be able to dive into calm and shallow waters, perfect for divers who want to gain confidence. At the same time, you’ll be able to swim close to playful sea lions, graceful turtles, and so many different types of colored fish you’ll be dazzled.

And, if you’re a more experienced diver, Galapagos is the perfect place for you. You’ll be challenged to discover slightly stronger currents and deeper depths. So, if you’re planning your next epic dive, check the guide Rebecca Adventure Travel has created for you:

Do you need a PADI Open Water certification?

Yes! A PADI Open Water certification is a requirement for diving in the Galapagos Islands. If you don’t have one, don’t worry, because Rebecca Adventure Travel offers a tour dedicated exclusively to taking the course and obtaining the certification.

When is the Best Time for Diving in the Galapagos?

Galapagos is a year-round destination. There’s no “best” or “worst” time for visiting the Archipelago. When you plan your trip, you need to determine what activities you want to do and what you want to see. When it comes to diving, the best time to see unique animals is during the dry season, from June to November.

During this period, waters are cooler, offering enhanced visibility and increased opportunities to spot hammerhead sharks, giants mantas, rays, and turtles, among others. Galapagos’ weather depends on the ocean currents. Three currents converge on Galapagos:

1. Cromwell Current
2. Humboldt Current
3. Panama Flow

These currents play a crucial role in shaping the marine environment of the Galapagos, creating a thriving ecosystem that divers can explore.

Guests diving with Manta Ray in the Galapagos.

Equipment

To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience when diving in the Galapagos, it’s essential to have the right equipment. Here’s a list of what you’ll need for your underwater adventure:

• Mask, snorkel, and Fins: These essentials provide clear vision underwater and enable you to move swiftly through the water.
• Wetsuit and Hoods: Waters can be chilly, so a wetsuit and hood will keep you warm and comfortable.
• Regulator and Dive Computer: The regulator is a vital device that connects to the air tank, allowing you to breathe effortlessly underwater while reducing the air’s intense pressure. The dive computer tracks the depth, dive time, and decompression limits, helping you to dive safely.
• Buoyancy Control Device (BCD): The BCD is an inflatable vest that helps you control your buoyancy underwater.

Levels of difficulty while scuba diving in the Galapagos

Galapagos offers a wide range of dive sites. When you plan your Galapagos diving tour, it’s crucial to understand the levels of difficulty to suit your needs. They are categorized as follows:

• Beginner Dives: These dives are suitable for all types of divers. In Galapagos, beginner dives feature calm waters and minimal currents. Typically, they offer shallow depths, abundant marine life, and are safe for all levels.
• Intermediate Dives: Intermediate-level sites encompass stronger currents and deeper depths. Divers need experience with buoyancy control and be comfortable in open water conditions.
• Advanced Dives: Only experienced divers can access the advanced dive sites in the Galapagos. Divers must feel comfortable with challenging conditions, such as strong currents, deeper depths, and limited visibility.

Featured Tours

Rebecca Adventure Travel’s Galapagos diving tours are thoughtfully crafted by Rebecca for diving enthusiasts and nature lovers who want to discover the underwater world of the Archipelago. Guided by knowledgeable instructors, scuba diving in Galapagos is an opportunity to explore the crystal-clear waters of one of the best diving locations in the world.

What are the Best Diving Spots in Galapagos

Scuba diving in the Galapagos Islands is an unforgettable underwater experience because of its impressive array of dive sites. Each location boasts its own topography, marine life, and beauty. For an extraordinary diving adventure, Rebecca Adventure Travel recommends exploring some of the best Galapagos dive sites, including:

1. Kicker Rock

Kicker Rock stands tall as a magnificent rock formation, soaring nearly 153 meters /500 feet) from the ocean’s depths. This renowned site is a diver’s dream, offering a fantastic opportunity to encounter schools of hammerhead sharks, eagle rays, sea turtles, and tropical fish, among others.

This spectacular spot is located about an hour and a half to the northeast of San Cristóbal Island. Beyond diving, there’s also the option of snorkeling and wildlife observation around the rock.

2. Santa Fe

Santa Fe Island, situated southeast of Santa Cruz, is a bay surrounded by calm and clear waters. It’s an ideal place for less experienced divers. Compared to other areas in the Galapagos, Santa Fe is a secluded dive site making it a more intimate and immersive experience.

Diving with sharks

3. North Seymour

North Seymour Channel is located to the north of Santa Cruz Island. Descending to a depth of approximately 10 meters (32.8 meters), divers will find themselves on a vast sandy bottom teeming with marine life.

The site is also adorned with marine life. Lucky divers may be able to spot different types of sharks, such as hammerhead sharks, Galapagos sharks, and White and Black tip reef sharks. Also, there are colorful reef fish, and turtles, sting rays, eagle rays, barracudas, among many more.

4. Mosquera

Mosquera, a rocky islet nestled between Seymour and Baltra Island, lies just north of Santa Cruz Island. Beneath the waves of Mosquera, and if you’re lucky, in the islet you can see:

• Hammerhead and black-tip reef sharks.
• Sea lions.
• Turtles.
• Sting rays.
• Eagle rays.

5. Floreana

Floreana, one of the oldest islands in the Archipelago, offers a variety of diving sites making it suitable for all types of divers. Also, is an amazing place to snorkel and encounter:

• Galapagos and white-tip reef sharks.
• Marine turtles.
• Rays.

Diving with sea turtles.

6. Beagle Rocks

Named after the iconic shop that carried Charles Darwin to the Galapagos Islands, Beagle Rocks stands as one of the world’s most fascinating diving spots. You’ll be able to see:

• Stations of fish.
• Galapagos sharks and hammerhead sharks.
• Turtles.
• Reef fish.
• Rays.
• Barracudas.

7. Cousins Rock

Situated northeast of Santiago Island, Cousins Rock is a unique triangular-shaped islet. With depths of 12 meters (40 feet), is an ideal dive for beginners. Here, the marine life flourishes, offering a spectacular view of biodiversity.

Rebecca’s Favorite

Discover the captivating depths with an adventure of a lifetime: Immerse yourself in Rebecca’s personal favorite diving tour, and be mesmerized by vibrant marine life, and intricate underwater landscapes.

Dive into Wonder: The Enchanting Underwater World of Scuba Diving in the Galapagos Islands

Galapagos is a legendary archipelago scattered across the Pacific Ocean. It’s a world-renowned diving location because of its unparalleled biodiversity and unique wildlife. Why is diving in Galapagos so legendary?

An Aquatic Paradise of Biodiversity:

The Galapagos is a stunning haven for marine life. One of the biggest thrilling attractions of Galapagos Islands diving is the breathtaking encounter with schools of hammerhead sharks, giant manta rays, and massive colorful fish painting the ocean in vibrant hues. And, if you’re very lucky, whale sharks!

Pristine Waters:

Did you know that the Galapagos Islands hold the distinction of being one of the largest protected areas on Earth? With more than 3,000 marine species, the Galapagos Marine Reserve has been protected since 1998. Even so, in a remarkable step towards conservation, in 2022, the Ecuadorian Government expanded its protected waters to 198,000 km2. As a result, the expansion made the Archipelago home to the second-largest marine reserve in the world.

World-Class Dive Sites:

Galapagos has an impressive collection of dive sites. There are shallow and calm sites for beginners and challenging places with strong currents for experienced divers. What’s amazing about scuba diving in Galapagos is that even in serene and safe waters, there’s an array of marine life for all types of divers to explore!

Combining Nature and Adventure:

Galapagos offers a perfect blend of natural beauty and adventure. Divers from all levels enjoy the awe-inspiring marine world.

Plan your Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands trip today!

Diver with a marine iguana.

Build Your Own Trip

If you want to create a personalized and customized trip, contact us. One of our Destination Experts will be happy to assist you organize the Galapagos diving tour of your dreams!