Eastern Pacific, Ecuador

Diving in the Galápagos

Diving the Galápagos is about current and cold-water upwelling rather than coral scenery: volcanic pinnacles, walls and plateaus sitting in nutrient-rich water that draws scalloped hammerhead schools, whale sharks, Galápagos and silky sharks, mobulas, marine iguanas and sea lions found nowhere else. Most of the reserve is boat-access only, and the productive northern sites demand real comfort with strong current and drift diving.

What you can see

Know before you go

Best season

A trade-off rather than a single best month: June–October brings the biggest hammerhead schools in colder, greener water, while December–May is calmer, clearer and warmer with more scattered sharks.

Conditions

Two seasons: roughly 24–28°C with the best visibility December to May, dropping to 16–24°C with reduced visibility and sharp thermoclines June to November as upwelling intensifies. A 5–7mm suit or drysuit for the cool season; 3–5mm in the warm season.

Getting there

Fly via Quito or Guayaquil to Baltra or San Cristóbal — liveaboards cannot be boarded from mainland Ecuador, since the crossing takes days. On arrival you pay the national park entrance fee plus a transit control card, and complete a biosecurity declaration. Darwin and Wolf itineraries typically embark at Baltra.