Nestled in the Pacific Ocean, about 600 miles from the Ecuadorian mainland, the Galapagos Islands are a unique archipelago comprising 13 main islands, 6 smaller islands, and numerous islets and rocks. Known for their stunning landscapes and diverse ecosystems, these islands are a UNESCO World Heritage site that boasts some of the most spectacular scuba diving experiences on the planet. With its unique ecosystems, this archipelago is a haven for marine life, offering divers an extraordinary underwater adventure that blends thrilling encounters with pristine natural beauty.
These islands were used by Charles Darwin during his research visit back in 1835 as prime examples for the theory of evolution through natural selection. For divers, Galapagos has been a well known top diving destination for dacades, where every plunge into the water reveals a vibrant tapestry of marine life, each season offering a unique experience.
Diving in Galapagos is more than just a hobby—it's an adventure into a living laboratory of evolution. The waters here are rich in nutrients due to the confluence of several ocean currents, which makes the marine life abundant and diverse. Expect temperatures to vary from 18°C to 28°C (64°F to 82°F) depending on the season. You'll dive among spectacular underwater landscapes, from volcanic formations to lush coral gardens, teeming with an array of species that make this destination one of the most coveted in the world for scuba enthusiasts.
Marine Life Encounters by Season :
There are two seasons in the Galapagos Islands, however, they fade into each other so there is no strict dividing line but they can be generally characterized as :
December - June (The Warm/Wet Season):
This is the ideal time for those looking for warmer waters. These months are characterised by warmer overall conditions: air temperatures go up a few degrees and water temperatures also get from 22°C to 27°C around the islands. Despite the warmth – visibility during these months is also usually the best Galapagos has to offer.
Expect to encounter:
Hammerheads (Individuals, small schools, large schools, and even the possibility of running into a solid wall of hammers)
All types of rays : schools of mobula rays, spotted eagle rays, golden rays, cow-nosed rays, marble rays and of course the giant mantas.
Green sea turtles are often spotted feeding on the abundant sea grass, making for enchanting close-up encounters.
June to November (The Cool/Dry Season):
Diving during this period offers the thrill of spotting some of the Galapagos' most iconic species. The water is cooler, ranging from 16°C to 24°C (61°F to 75°F) and sea is choppier, especially on the journey across the islands of Darwin and Wolf, but the experience is worth it! Experienced divers will find this season particularly exciting, as the cooler waters attract larger pelagic species.
Expect to encounter:
Whale Sharks are can often be spotted around Wolf and Darwin Islands, particularly from June to November but are seen occasionally throughout the warm season as well.
Galapagos Sea Lions often join divers in the water, darting around and showcasing their agility.
Mola Mola (Ocean Sunfish) are occasionally spotted in deeper waters, this unusual fish can weigh over a thousand pounds and is a remarkable sight for divers.
The Galapagos fur seals and the charming Galapagos penguins can be seen basking on the rocks or swimming in the cooler waters, making encounters especially memorable.
Liveaboard Diving areas
All of our dive liveaboard trips will visit the famous Wolf and Darwin, which are both relatively small rocky pinnacles where almost anything can come out from the blue. Both are renowned for its thrilling dive experiences with hammerheads, whale sharks, diverse fish life and large pelagics.
Diver's requirments
Please Note : Galapagos is an advanced diving destination due to its strong currents, varying visibility and cold water. Divers must be comfortable in these conditions, as well as have very good buoyancy and be able to do negative (sometimes rapid) back-roll entries/descents from small boats.
Recommended requirements are : 50 -100 open water dives, experience in currents, ability in removing gear in water and ability in getting into small boats in choppy seas.
All divers should have Nitrox certification. Divers without Nitrox certification will not be able to complete all dives on the 3 days spent at Wolf and Darwin islands due to depths and time lengths of dives and recreational non-decompression limits. Or you will risk to miss a few dives.
