Diving in the Galapagos Islands

For those in the know, the Galapagos Islands are one of the world's number one diving destinations. The Islands are the crossroads for the Equatorial Counter Current and the colder Humboldt Current. This provides an area rich with nutrients, able to support numerous and varied species of marine life, where 17% of fish and 35% of marine invertebrates are endemic. Such is the unusual mix of species that penguins swim with tropical fish whilst iguanas feed underwater.

You can dive in the Galapagos in one of two ways. You can choose a "livaboard" dive boat which is specifically equipped for diving. You will dive up to 4 times daily including night dives. These trips are usually for one week but can be booked for up to 10 days. The boats go out to the remote islands of Wolf and Darwin, famous for their schools of Hammerhead Sharks, giant Manta Rays and Whale Sharks. Alternatively, you can choose a boat which offers occasional diving where you can dive instead of snorkelling.

The marine animals exhibit the same bold curiosity and lack of fear characteristic of the terrestrial wildlife. You will frequently see white tip reef sharks, turtles, stingrays, Galapagos sharks, large schools of jacks and tuna, moray eels marbled rays and even the odd golden ray. As the numbers of dive operators, boats and divers are strictly controlled within the Galapagos Archipelago there is little chance of seeing another boat at the same site.

Diving in Galapagos is not for the inexperienced. As a general rule you must have more than 50 logged dives and be of at least Advanced Certification. The currents are strong and thermaclines frequent. In the colder months a 7mm wet-suit is necessary along with more weights than most divers are used to, so for inexperienced divers buoyancy can be harder to control.

Water temperatures will vary from approx. 70-80°F during Dec-Apr and 65-75°F during May-Nov when seas can also be rougher. However it is during this colder season that divers have experienced the most frequent whale shark sightings at Wolf & Darwin. No time is a bad time to dive Galapagos!

For more details on boats which offer diving facilities please contact the office.

Last Updated: Tuesday May 13 2008