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Diving the Galápagos
Schooling hammerheads, whale sharks, sea lions and marine iguanas: big-animal diving in one of the most unique places on earth.
1.4° N · 92.0° W
Ecuador: culture & experiences
The Galápagos are a living laboratory of evolution. On land you walk among giant tortoises, sea lions, blue-footed boobies and marine iguanas that have no fear of people.
We combine a Galápagos liveaboard with mainland Ecuador: colonial Quito, the Otavalo market, the cloud forest of Mindo or the volcanoes of the Andes.
Off the beaten track
- Giant tortoises in the Santa Cruz highlands
- Quito's colonial centre (UNESCO)
- Otavalo indigenous market
- Cloud forest in Mindo or the Amazon
Best-known dive spots
Darwin Island
Hammerhead schools, silky sharks, dolphins and whale sharks in season. Liveaboard only.
Wolf Island
Walls with hammerheads, Galápagos sharks, eagle rays and turtles in strong current.
Gordon Rocks
An eroded crater near Santa Cruz with hammerheads and rays, known for its currents.
Punta Vicente Roca
Mola mola, penguins, marine iguanas and sea lions in cooler water.
Marine life & encounters by season
Conditions and sightings vary year to year. We plan each trip around the best window for what you want to see.
- Jun – NovCooler, plankton-rich water: whale sharks at Darwin and Wolf, mola mola in the west.
- Dec – MayWarmer water, calmer seas, better visibility and mantas.
- All yearHammerhead schools at Darwin and Wolf.
- Jan – MarTurtles nesting and the warmest air temperatures.
Most Galápagos liveaboards require Advanced certification and at least 30–50 logged dives, with recent experience in currents.
Plan your dive trip to Ecuador
Tell us your dates, group and level, and we’ll design a trip combining the best diving in Ecuador with local culture and experiences.