Galapagos Diving

Off the west coast of Ecuador in South America lays a paradise for scuba divers known as the Galapagos Islands. Made up of 13 major islands and 45 islets, all volcanic in origin, the island chain provides incredible diving for all experience levels. The islands were made famous in 1831 as the inspiration for Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution. Offering a diverse selection of tropical wildlife, unique species and geologi-cal wonders; it is easy to see why Galapagos diving is considered among the world’s best.

Animals
Scuba diving in the Galapagos Island is a wildlife enthusiast’s dream come true. Unusual ocean currents create ideal habitats for thousands of animal species including a high concentration of “big animals.” The islands are renowned for creating these close encounters with some of the most impressive large marine species – notably penguins, sea lions, seals, giant sea turtles, dolphins, whales and hammerhead sharks. In these Crystal-clear waters, visibility ranges from 5 to 25 meters (16 to 82 feet) where countless species and colorful reef fishes and reef sharks can be viewed.

Diving Sites
Academy Bay is the ideal dive spot for beginners and intermediate divers. The site offers a diverse wa-terscape but has a milder current than the rest of the islands. Many diving programs require that each person spend a minimum of 1 day diving Academy Bay to get acclimated to the waters, wet suit and the visibility. The large bay has an array of diving sites, including big animals and impressive underwater creatures. At Punta Estra, you will usually see invertebrates, tropical fish, stingrays, green sea turtles with possible encounters with golden rays and some white-tip reef sharks. At Caamaño Islet you can swim and play with friendly sea lions and the Punta Nunez Cliffs offers wall diving with a cave. For shark and turtle spotting, you will want to check out El Bajo Solmar.

Outside of Academy Bay, the diving is world-class and suggested for only intermediate to experienced divers. One of the most magnificent dive sites is Floreana on Punta Ayora, where dolphins are often spotted during the boat trip to and from the islet. Once you arrive, sea lions and tropical fish can be seen by the thousands. Barracudas, black coral, and the endemic Galapagos Sharks are common sites here as well. Other notable dive sites include Gordon Rocks, North Seymour, Cousins Rock and Bar-tolomé.

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Other Island Attractions
Around the islands, there are incredible attractions and sites. Lonesome George, a Galapagos Giant Tor-toise, was declared the rarest creature on earth and is a beloved member of the islands. Darwin Bay is a great area for hiking. It is called “the bird island” because it is home to thousands of frigate birds, red-footed and masked boobies. Other popular island attractions include island cruises, sailing tours, snor-keling, and hiking.

Where to Stay
The best Galapagos hotel to stay at for scuba diving is the famous Finch Bay Hotel. It is eco-friendly and closed off from cars so is quiet and private.

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