The Best Dive Sites in the Galapagos Islands

Best dive sites in the Galapagos Islands

With dozens of dive sites peppered across the Galapagos Islands, each offering something a little different, it can be hard to decide which ones to visit. Much will depend on your level of experience as a diver, your comfort levels, how many days you have available, and whether you want to dedicate your visit entirely to scuba-diving or add a few dives to your Galapagos Land-Based Safari.

If you are unsure, our Guide to Scuba-Diving in the Galapagos, is a good place to start.

Dive Sites: Table of Contents

Best Dive Sites in the Galapagos: Central Islands

There are some excellent dive sites in and around the central Galapagos Islands that you can either add to a Galapagos cruise (to replace whatever tour/activity had been scheduled on that day) or, add as additional days on an land-based tour.

Our Dive Safari allows you to fully customize your Galapagos vacation, so you can add as many dives as you want, while ensuring you don’t miss out on any of the tours and activities on land.

Regardless of the base you choose, be it a liveaboard, cruise or Safari Camp, all dive boats have to adhere to fixed itineraries and timetables, approved in advance by the Galapagos National Park. These schedules determine the days and times that specific boats can visit each dive site. The National Park revises the boats itineraries on an annual basis (from 1 March each year).

At Galapagos Safari Camp we work with a scuba-diving company that has been operating in the central islands for more than 20 years. The dive sites they offer are those that receive the best feedback over the years. They currently include:

Dive Sites near Santa Cruz Island

Punta Carrion

Located at the northeastern tip of Santa Cruz, Punta Carrion features a cliff that drops to over 30 meters, surrounded by boulders from natural erosion. The site is situated near the entrance to Itabaca Channel, the corridor of water that separates Santa Cruz from Baltra Island, with depths ranging from 12 to 14 meters, providing a calm and safe diving environment.

Depending on the wind, the waters surrounding this eastern corner of Santa Cruz can sometimes be choppy with mild to moderate currents. The area is known for its thermoclines, which attract diverse marine life.

Divers may encounter white tip sharks, stingrays, eagle rays, scorpion fish, turtles, and playful sea lions. Schools of reef fish such as grunts and ojones are also common. This vibrant marine life has established Punta Carrion as a popular dive site in the central islands.

This dive site is combined with Gordon Rocks.

Academy Bay (For Night Dives)

This one-tank night dive takes place in the calm, shallow waters of Academy Bay, on Santa Cruz’s southern coast. The dive site is only a 15-minute boat ride from Puerto Ayora, making it an easy and convenient way to experience the mysteries of the underwater world after the sun goes down. Note that the boat used for this dive is a little smaller to the day time boats, and does not have a bathroom on board.

After descending to a sandy bottom at a depth of 12m you will explore the rocky reef. Keep an eye out for lobsters, reef sharks, sea turtles, baby white-tip reef sharks, sea stars, eels and rays. The underwater torch lights can also attract the attention of curious sea lions.

A fun exercise is to cover your torch light (as agreed / indicated by your guide) to witness the dazzling bioluminescence. The production of such light emissions by living organisms is one of nature’s many marvels and one of the great thrills of night dives.

The dive lasts approximately 45 minutes. Upon returning to Puerto Ayora your car will take you back to Galapagos Safari Camp in time for dinner.

Dive Sites near North Seymour Island

Some of the best dive sites in the Galapagos central islands are found near North Seymour, the island that sits directly north of Baltra (the airport island north of Santa Cruz). From Itabaca Channel on Santa Cruz Island, the boat navigation takes around 30 minutes. At North Seymour, we recommend the following two dive sites:

North Seymour (Point)

The dive descends to a rocky bottom at a depth of around 12m. Here you will explore its many crevices, where you can sometimes find striped turtles and resting sharks. The currents can get quite strong here and you will drift towards the blue to look for the large pelagic animals.

Towards the end of the dive, you may spot white-tip reef sharks swimming against the current. There is also a chance of seeing hammerheads, black-tip reef sharks, barracudas, sea lions, mobulas, turtles, reef fish, garden eels, devil manta rays and a variety of invertebrate molluscs.

This dive site is often combined with North Seymour (Channel). On the way, look out for the many frigate birds that inhabit North Seymour.

North Seymour (Channel)

The dive descends to around 10m and follows a sandy sea bed which sharks often use as a cleaning station, including white-tip reef sharks and hammerheads. A scattering of large rocks and boulders means there are plenty of nooks and crannies to explore, often with colorful reef fish hiding in the crevices.

This dive site is often combined with Mosquera (North)

Mosquera

The little sandy islet of Mosquera sits between Baltra (the airport island) and North Seymour Island. It is one of the closest dive sites to Galapagos Safari Camp. There are the following two dive sites at Mosquera:

Mosquera (North)

The boat leaves from Itabaca Channel on the north coast of Santa Cruz. The journey to the northern end of Mosquera takes approximately 25 minutes. On approaching the islet, look out for the sea lions that are often seen sunning themselves on its sandy shores. Be aware that the dive site is on the opposite side of the islet to the sandy beach. For this reason, it is unlikely that you will see the sea lions underwater.

The dive follows a sandy seabed at a depth of around 15-18m to a series of large rocks, before reaching a sharp drop off into the big blue. It’s usually at this point where you can often spot the silhouettes of sharks circling the deeper waters. Black tip reef sharks also use this area as a cleaning station. Other species often spotted on this dive include sea lions, turtles, barracudas, snappers, creole fish, garden eels, a variety of rays, reef fish, sea stars and invertebrates.

As with every dive site in the Galapagos, you should expect a little current.

This dive site is often combined with North Seymour (Channel)

Mosquera (South)

The dive descends to a sandy bottom at a depth of around 10m. From there you will follow the reef that sits along the top of a cliff wall at around 18m. You have a good chance of seeing hammerheads, Galapagos Sharks, white-tip reef sharks, devil rays, tuna fish and a wide variety of reef fish.

This dive site is often combined with Daphne Minor.

Daphne Minor

Daphne Minor is a small islet set approximately 5 miles / 8km west of Mosquera. If you’re lucky, dolphins may even trail the boat as you navigate between these two dive sites.

This dive follows the steep sides of the islet. Look out for the multi-coloured benthic organisms that inhabit these underwater walls. Seahorses and eels are also found amidst the black corals, and it’s not unusual to see a variety of sharks, sea turtles, rays and other pelagic species. It is also a good site for diving with sea lions. Once they see the bubbles, they often want to come and play!

The waters at Daphne Minor can feel a little cooler than at other dive sites and currents are generally moderate to strong. You will be diving at depths of around 10-18m.

This dive site is often combined with Mosquera (South).

Dive Sites near Floreana Island

Floreana Island is located approximately 30 miles / 50 km south of Santa Cruz, and is one of the four islands in the archipelago inhabited by humans. However, due to the strict regulations of the National Park passengers are not allowed to disembark on the island during a dive trip.

The navigation to Floreana takes between 1h 40m and 2 hours, depending on the conditions of the sea. It tends to be faster (1h 40m) during the warm season (Dec/Jan to May) when the ocean is calmer, and slower (up to 2 hours) during the cooler months (Jun/Jul – Nov) when the ocean can be quite choppy.

At Floreana we recommend the following two dive sites.

Champion (Floreana)

The first dive site is at an islet called Champion, located just off the northeast coast of Floreana. Named after Andrew Champion, one of the many whalers who used the archipelago as a hunting base in the 18th and 19th centuries, it is one of the more popular dive sites in the Galapagos due to its abundance and variety of wildlife, as well as the opportunity to dive with sea lions.

The dive starts on the sandy seabed at a depth of about 8 to 10m. From here you will follow the rocky wall of the islet, which eventually opens up to a large reef that descends to depths of 12 – 20m.

Look out for the endemic red-lipped batfish and the unique (and very odd-looking!) Galapagos Sea Robin that has fins, wings, and legs! You may also see white-tip reef sharks, turtles, sea lions, Galapagos sharks, stingrays, eagle rays, marbled rays, barracudas, tuna fish, reef fish, black coral (although it looks green!), and invertebrates such as octopus.

This is a lovely drift dive, and depending on the strength of the current you will cover about 180 degrees of the islet.

On surfacing, you can enjoy a hot cup of tea and a light snack, while the boat slowly navigates to the second dive site, Punta Cormorant, following the shoreline of Floreana so you can see some of the island’s wildlife from afar.

This dive site is often combined with Punta Cormorant (Floreana).

Punta Cormorant (Floreana)

Punta Cormorant (Cormorant Point) marks the northernmost tip of Floreana Island and much like Champion, starts with a sandy bottom at a depth of around 8-10m. The reef descends to 20m but most of the dive will likely stay between 7-15m where most of the life can be found.

After descending your guide will be looking for the red-lipped batfish, as well as sea turtles, moray eels, seahorses, blenny fish, nudibranchs (sea slugs), and sharks. Both white-tip reef sharks and hammerheads have been sighted here.

Again, this is a drift dive and if the current is strong, you may end up in front of ‘Devil’s Crown’, an eroded volcanic crater just off the point, which is considered one of the best snorkeling sites in the Galapagos. However, it’s worth noting that divers are not permitted to enter the crater as it is reserved for snorkelers only.

The return journey goes ‘with the waves’, so you can expect a slightly faster and smoother ride.

This dive site is often combined with Champion (Floreana).

Dive Sites near Plaza Islands

Gordon Rocks

1.8miles / 3km off the east coast of Santa Cruz, and a little north-east of the Plaza Islands, are three protruding rocks. One large, one medium and one small. Known collectively as Gordon Rocks, their surrounding waters are one of the best places to dive in the Galapagos central islands. There is an estimated 80% chance of seeing sharks.

Often referred to as ‘The Washing Machine’ the dive site has challenging currents and upwellings, making it only suitable for experienced divers. (Divers need a minimum of 25 logged dives for this tour).

It is the currents that bring the plankton to the surface, attracting large numbers of pelagics. It is one of the best places to find Hammerhead sharks, which are often seen in large schools here, as well as the weird and wonderful Oceanic Sunfish (Mola Mola). You also have a good chance of seeing white tip reef sharks, black tip sharks, sea turtles, mobula rays, sting rays, golden rays, eagle rays, giant manta rays, devil manta rays, panamic green moray eels, Galapagos eels, barracudas, tuna fish, lobsters and a variety of colorful reef fish. There is also an opportunity of diving with sea lions although they tend to remain above the water on the rocks.

The navigation from Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz is around one hour and is ‘with the waves’ so not too rough.

Your Dive Master will plan the dives upon arrival, according to the conditions at the site. The rocks are positioned in a semicircle and the dives take place either within this crater or along its outer wall. Depending on where the activity takes place, the dive can reach depths of 30m, although it aims to stay within 18-20m.

The two dives take place in the same area. If the wildlife was very good on the first dive, you may repeat it for the second.

This dive site can also be combined with Punta Carrion.

Dive Sites near Santiago Island

Bartolome

Named after Sir Bartholomew James Sulivan, a naval officer on the HMS Beagle and a friend of Charles Darwin, the small island of Bartolome sits off the eastern coast of Santiago Island. From Santa Cruz, it takes about 1.5 hours to reach by dive boat.

The dive site is off the island’s southwestern coast. It is worth noting that it is not near the site where the Galapagos Penguins are usually found. That visiting site is closer to Pinnacle Rock on the eastern side of the island, which is not accessible to divers. The boat does pass close to Pinnacle Rock later in the day, offering divers the chance to view these diminutive creatures from above the water.

The dive starts with a gentle descent down the boat’s anchor line. Incidentally, this is the only site where boats are permitted to use an anchor. The line reaches a sandy seabed at a depth of 6-8m. These shallow, calm waters make this dive site a good option for divers with less experience. Although, as with all dive sites in the Galapagos, be prepared for moderate currents.

You will follow the sandy bottom to a little cliff where you should look out for soft corals, sea turtles, white-tip reef sharks, moral eels and manta rays. (It’s particularly good for devil mantas, which are sometimes seen in schools, with as many as fifty). You may also spot the odd hammerhead, although more likely solitary here, as opposed to within a large school.

Upon surfacing you can enjoy a hot cup of tea and snack while the boat navigates to Cousin’s Rock. On the way you will pass the famous Pinnacle Rock where Galapagos Penguins are often spotted. Note that dive boats do not have the required permits for snorkeling, but you should be able to get close enough in the boat to get a good look.

This dive site is often combined with Cousin’s Rock.

Cousin’s Rock

Cousin’s Rock is north of Pinnacle Rock, off the north-eastern coast of Santiago Island. It is a beautiful site that consists of a series of jagged ledges that work their way down like steps to the sea floor.

These rocky ledges are home to a wide variety of creatures, both big and small, including soft corals, sponges, sea horses, scorpion fish, moray eels, octopus, frogfish, hawkfish and nudibranchs (sea slugs known for their clown-like colours and bizarre forms).

It is also a good site for diving with sea lions. As you drift along the reef you can also look out for various rays, sea turtles, large schools of yellow-tailed surgeon fish and white-tip reef sharks.

This dive site is often combined with Bartolome.

Best Dive Sites in the Galapagos: North-West

The islands in the northwestern corner of the archipelago include not only some of the best dive sites in the Galapagos, but some of the best dive sites in the world. Owing to the strong currents and cold water temperatures here, these dive sites are best for experienced divers. Some liveaboards may only accept divers with an Advanced Certification.

Wolf & Darwin Islands

The most famous dive sites in the northern islands are around Wolf and Darwin. These two tiny islands are some of the best places in the world to see large schools of sharks and rays. They are also the most remote. Sat some 200km north of Isabela’s northernmost tip, they can only be accessed on a liveaboard cruise dedicated to scuba-diving. Given the distances involved, Wolf and Darwin are usually found on 8+ day itineraries.

There are many dive sites dotted around both islands, including Darwin’s Arch on the eastern side of Darwin which Scuba Dive Mag ranks as one of the Top 10 Dive Sites in the World.

Common sightings at these dive sites include hammerhead sharks, silky sharks, blacktip sharks, Galapagos sharks, manta rays, eagle rays and turtles. During the Cooler Season (July to Dec), when the Humboldt Current is at its strongest, you may see whale sharks and other migratory species as they congregate to breed. In 2021 the Galapagos Marine Reserve was officially expanded to protect the migratory corridors for these critically endangered species.

It is worth noting that visitors are not allowed on these islands.

As liveaboard cruises in general do not combine land tours with diving tours, you may want to add a pre or post-cruise safari to explore some of the Galapagos’ terrestrial wildlife.

Best Dive Sites in the Galapagos: South & East

There are also a number of dive sites dotted around San Cristobal and Espanola in the south-eastern corner of the islands. These dive sites all offer similar wildlife experiences to those in the central islands, and can either be reached on a liveaboard or can be included in a land-based itinerary from San Cristobal.

Plan Your Dive Safari

To start planning your diving vacation in the Galapagos, see our Dive Safaris.

Best Dive Sites: More Resources

Guide to Scuba Diving in the Galapagos

PADI Courses in the Galapagos