 Introduction
The Galapagos is one of the great places in the world for diving. Radiant fish and bizarre animals populate the waters around the Galapagos and exhilarate divers and snorkelers. Swept by both the cold waters of Antarctica and warm currents from the tropical Pacific, the Galapagos’ colorful marine life embodies an unusual mixture of species. Here, penguins swim with tropical fish and iguanas feed underwater. The marine animals exhibit the same bold curiosity and lack of fear characteristic of terrestrial wildlife.
To conserve this wealth of sea-life, the Galapagos Marine Resources Reserve (GMRR), with waters totaling 27,000 square miles, was signed into law in 1986. The law protects marine life 15 nautical miles offshore. In 1998, the Special Law for Galapagos extended the off-limits restrictions for industrial fishing to 40 miles offshore.
Excellent diving in the Galapagos includes the renowned northern islands of Wolf and Darwin, famous for their schools of hammerhead sharks, giant manta rays and whale sharks.
 Galapagos waters are cool - the geographical location of the archipelago, straddling the equatorial line is often misleading. Cold water currents and upswellings in different parts of the archipelago can produce sea temperatures as low as 10°C although the average is nearer 18°C throughout most of the year. The warm season, between about December and March usually brings warmer waters of around 23°C. Divers must bring an appropriate diving suit. While a good wetsuit is adequate, dry-suits may provide more comfort underwater, although the dangers of overheating must be considered when out of water as air temperatures can exceed 30°C.
Galapagos is not the place to learn to dive. Diving is often straight-forward but strong currents, low visibility, large animals and cold water. Better qualified divers are more likely to enjoy the underwater experience (C.M.A.S. 2 star minimum qualification recommended).
Underwater Galapagos is for the wildlife lover - the paucity of wrecks excludes those interested in treasure, salvage and archaeology. For the photographer, Galapagos provides as many underwater surprises as it does on land. The sharks are friendly, the sea lions playful; and where else can you observe penguins diving with marine iguanas? The variety of underwater habitats and unpredictable conditions contribute to providing some of the most exciting and fascinating diving around.
Most people book their diving holiday as a complete package on a live-aboard boat, although a recent development offers land-based dive operations. All diving should be co-ordinated by a diving guide. The guide is licensed by the Galapagos National Park Service and the naval authorities to lead underwater excursions. (A guide should come automatically with a boat or diving trip). Though knowledgeable about the sites on offer, the guide might not necessarily be an instructor. You should carry with you your dive card (proof of qualification), evidence of medical fitness and insurance. You may be asked to sign a disclaimer.
There is no recompression chamber in Galapagos, the nearest being on the Ecuadorian mainland. Evacuation procedures are basic and may not be available for days. In-water recompression is not advised. Every diver must therefore bear in mind that safe diving practices are particularly crucial, and decompression dives are not recommended.
Isabela (Albemarle)
Punta Vicente Roca, a wall dive, takes you in and out of a shallow, undersea cave. Here, encounter the Port Jackson or Horned shark, a species of bottom shark. The wall shows an incredible variety of sponges, corals and other invertebrates.
Fernandina (Narborough)
Roca Redonda offers an advanced divers an excellent opportunity to see hammerhead sharks, groupers, jacks, reef fish, triggerfish, whales and dolphins. The first dive includes some rolling swells. Maximum depth is 80 feet. The second dive, tank intermediate, also contains rolling swells. Maximum depth is 60 feet.
Bartolome (Bartholomew)
At Cousins Rock, an intermediate dive, experience pelagic fish including white- tipped, hammerhead sharks, manta rays and eagle rays, An outstanding vertical wall showcases a profusion of black corals, sponges, reef fish and other invertebrates. Visibility varies. Maximum depth is 70 feet.
North Seymour (Seymour Norte)
The first dive reveals sea lions, reef fish, hammerhead sharks, giant manta rays, white- tipped reef sharks, and invertebrates. Occasionally, whale sharks, humpback whales or dolphins swim in this area. The second dive carries you to either Mosquera or Punta Carrion depending on the divers interests. In these water, if you are lucky, you may find the endemic fur sea lion. At Daphne Minor, a small island right alongside, we find white-tipped and hammerhead sharks, sea turtles, eagle rays, morays, black coral, tuna, schools of reef fish, lobsters, sponges and a volcanic cave. The current varies; maximum depth is 90 feet.
Santiago (James)
At Albany Islet, the current and visibility are unpredictable with some surge. Find sharks, groupers, reef fish and some corals.
Floreana (Charles)
Floreana’s individual offshore islets offer diving with reef fish, schooling fish, sea lions, invertebrates, rays, moray eels, white tip reef sharks, sea turtles, amberjack, red snapper and grouper and sometimes giant mantas, hammerheads, Galapagos sharks, whales, seahorse and the bizarre red-lipped bat fish. At the shallow sunken crater of Devil’s Crown encounter a brilliant array of colorful large schools of reef fish, black coral and sea turtles. Champion Islet, a little crater, yields nesting habitat for a colony of boobies, hideouts for sea lions, and an underwater labyrinth of rocky shelves, coral and reef fish. Enderby, an eroded tuff cone, often reveals manta rays, turtles, tunas, and sharks. Gardner Islet displays a huge natural arch like a cathedrals flying buttresses.
San Cristobal (Chatham)
Most check-out dive take place at Isla Lobos where sea lions are seen.
South Plaza (Plaza Sur)
Gordon Rocks, an advanced dive, is famous for white-tipped, hammerhead the Galapagos shark, large moray eels, spotted eagle rays, golden rays, sting rays, fur sea lions, sea turtles, Amberjacks, reef fish, sponges and black coral. Dive with wahoo, tuna, sailfish and other big pelagic fish. Divers consider the wall at Gordon Rocks one of the best dive sites in the Central Islands. The current is strong and the maximum depth is 100 feet.
Darwin
Experienced divers agree Wolf & Darwin offer some of the world’s best diving. At Darwin’s Northern Arch, the northern most point of the two Islands, schools of hammerhead sharks and groups of bottle nose dolphins often swim in clear view of divers. Divers often see whale sharks and giant manta rays.
Wolf
Experienced divers agree Wolf & Darwin offer some of the world’s best diving. At Wolf, the pinnacle, the reef and the south islet channel offer three different dive sites. The reef, the most consistent place to see hammerhead sharks, contains many warm water fish species found nowhere else in the islands. |
