Dive the Galápagos Islands

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The Galapagos Islands are at the center of Charles Darwin’s famous “Origin of the Species” study because of the unique collection of land and sea animals that are found in this archipelago of volcanic islands gathered around the equator off Ecuador’s coastline. Included on the CEDAM list of the Seven Wonders of the Underwater World, diving in the Galapagos provide an opportunity to observe a broad variety of sea life, including some species found nowhere else on the plants, such as Sea Lions, Sea Turtles, Galapagos Penguins, Eagle Rays, Moray Eels, Marine Iguanas, Whale Sharks, White-Tipped Reef Sharks, Hammerhead Sharks, King Angelfish, Yellowtail Surgeonfish, Blue-Chin Parrotfish, Bumphead Parrotfish, Galapagos Groupers, Galapagos Sheepshead, Harlequin Wrasse, Grey Grunts, Tuna, Barracuda among Coral and Tubes. The marine life scattered about the islands is extremely docile and unafraid due to the lack of human interaction as compared to other parts of the world. Many of the species are found only in the Galapagos Islands. The most popular ways to experience the wonders of diving or snorkeling in the Galapagos Islands are from Live-Aboard yachts that are either owned, chartered with guides and crews or engaged for a bareboat adventure offering an extreme amount of flexibility; Land based diving excursions that can include a series of directed dives or snorkel trips over any number of days; Guided diving and snorkel cruises that move about the islands for days or weeks with a set itinerary. Many of the tour operators provide rentals of virtually every piece of equipment necessary, including underwater cameras. Dive conditions present water temperatures ranging between 13C and 23C with the average being 18C. Air temperatures often exceed 30C due to the proximity of the islands to the equator. Divers are apt to encounter strong currents and changeable conditions making previous experience a must. Among the best spots for diving or snorkeling are Gordon's Rocks, with its school of hammerhead sharks, the Darwin & Wolf Islands, only accessible for SCUBA divers and the very popular dive spots near Punto Espejo and Leon Dormido. A breakdown of what to see on each island: Santa Fe Island: Swim with eagle rays and stingrays, garden and moray eels, turtles, sea lions and perhaps a white-tip reef shark or a hammerhead around this island formed by basaltic lava rocks – including an impressive underwater arch. The four dive sites have mild currents. Floreana Island: View significant coral colonies, such as pebble coral and endemic black coral, around Floreana, one of the best places to dive with sea lions. Catch a current with some sea horses, long-nose hawk fish, barracudas, or one of three types of sharks – white-tip reef, Galápagos and hammerhead. The nine dive sites have generally calm waters. Gordon Rocks: Dive into this underwater aquarium, where you're likely to see a variety of rays, sea turtles and especially hammerhead sharks, which swim in large schools at Gordon Rocks. The rock walls run deep at this famous diving location, including four dive sites. North Seymour Island: View turtles, fur seals, yellow-tailed grunts, and a variety of sharks – including a possible Galápagos shark sighting. The uplifted lava flow supports a huge amount of varied species per square foot of sandy bottom, as well as a large garden eel colony. Currents can be strong at the five dive sites. Cousins Rock: See amazing young black corals as well as frogfish, fur seals, sea turtles, sea horses, and usually, hammerhead sharks at this islet. With a wall dropping from the surface into the deepest depths, Cousins Rock has sloping rock plates and sometimes has strong currents. Daphne Island: Dive around a shelf of boulders at about 60 feet, or swim near the vertical walls of an isolated cone to see Galápagos sharks, schools of pelagic fish and multi-colored sponges on the rock wall. The currents and surge can be strong at this site. Your dream of Diving or Snorkeling in one of the most unique places in the world may be fulfilled by making a trip to the Galapagos Islands to pursue your passion. Add this trip to your list today and begin fantasizing about meeting some of the most unusual animals on earth, face to face.

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