Diving in Galapagos
Diving in the Galapagos is done in one of two ways. You can choose a "livaboard" dive boat which is specifically equipped for diving (see Skydancer). On these boats 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 often go out to the remote islands of Wolf and Darwin, both famous for their schools of Hammerhead Sharks, giant Manta Rays and Whale Sharks. The other way would be to base yourself on one of the islands and go on 'day trips' to various dive sites.
The marine animals exhibit the same curiosity and amazing lack of fear characteristic of the terrestrial wildlife. You should 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. The numbers of dive operators, boats and divers are strictly controlled within the Galapagos Archipelago, so there is little chance of seeing another boat at the same site.
Diving in Galapagos is not for the inexperienced diver. As a general rule you must have more than 50 logged dives and be of at least Advanced Certification. The currents are strong, visibility can be poor and thermaclines frequent (not to mention the presence of large marine wildlife!). 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 rough. 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!
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For more details on boats which offer diving facilities please contact the office. There are many diving boats available in the Galapagos and it is not possible to feature all of them. However, we are able to book most boats and so if there is a particular one which you have heard about or has been recommended to you, then please do let us know.
Click here for a You Tube video of diving in the Galapagos.
