The best diving destinations in the Galapagos Islands /

Do you consider yourself an adventurous person? If your answer is yes, the Galapagos Islands are the perfect destination for you and adventurous people looking for activities such as snorkeling and kayaking. In particular, scuba diving is an activity sought after by most tourists visiting the archipelago, it is the perfect choice to discover the wonders of the underwater world and see fauna and flora that captivate with their beauty. Once underwater you feel that the ocean is yours alone.

It is estimated that about 250,000 visitors arrive at the “Enchanted Islands” each year, most of them from the United States, Germany, Switzerland, France, and other European countries.

Today there are several offers of programs and cruises to do this activity in depth, dedicating the visit in whole or in part to diving, with different levels of complexity and many destinations. Do you want to see what the best destinations in Galapagos are for diving? We mention them below.

Leon Dormido (Kicker Rock)

Located 17 km from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno on San Cristobal Island, Leon Dormido is an iconic feature of the geology of the Galapagos Islands and is one of the most photographed and popular sites in the archipelago. At an altitude of 18 meters, a wonderful destination for tourists, you will find colonies of playful sea lions thanks to its ideal location, which you can see up close while diving. The water around Leon Dormido has a depth of about 80 meters. Tourists can practice these activities only with a guide from the national park, they can choose to dive around the rocks and in the channel between the two rocks.

This visitor site is an international attraction that is considered unique in the world. It is an ideal place for children of all ages and adults and for divers of all levels (certified). The diversity of the site allows you to see sharks, rays, sea lions, turtles and many sea birds such as blue-footed boobies, Nazca and pelicans that use Leon Dormido as their home.

North Seymour Channel

It is an island of volcanic origin with an altitude of 28 meters located north of the island of Baltra, it has a length of 2.1 kilometers and a width of 1.2 kilometers. The area has a sandy bottom making it ideal for diving.

It is a good site for both beginners and experienced divers. The current can be moderate to strong at times. Diving at the bottom of this sandy channel offers the opportunity to see whitetip sharks, sea turtles and even the rare hammerhead shark. Schools of barracuda and snappers hide among the rocks, providing an excellent environment for divers to search for camouflaged octopuses. But the biggest attraction is the eagle rays gliding through the water, sometimes accompanied by mobulas or manta rays.

Pinzon

Also called Duncan Island, it is surrounded by deep water and has been isolated from all other islands for millions of years. The name is a tribute to the Pinzón brothers, who commanded the caravels La Nia and La Pinta during Christopher Columbus’ explorations. Due to the 100 meter high cliffs surrounding it and the island’s collapsed volcano, it is uninhabited. Scientists and researchers can occasionally land on Pinzón because it is outside the national park’s visitor restrictions.

The character of the island offers something for everyone, from beginners to experienced divers. Playful sea lions, sea turtles and the elusive batfish can be seen. The deep wall is recommended for more experienced divers and is a good place to spot seahorses, rays, several species of sharks and lobsters. In the warm season (December to May), manta rays and pods of dolphins can be seen.

Gordon rocks

One of the best dive sites in the Central Islands is Gordon Rocks, located on the east coast of Santa Cruz Island and 40 minutes from the Itabaca Channel. Gordon Rocks has a distinctive and charming style as it was created from an ancient crater by three pinnacles rising above the sea.

It certainly combines very well an interesting marine environment with a landscape formed by volcanic formations. Divers will have the chance to interact with a variety of marine life, including hammerhead sharks, blacktip sharks, whitetip sharks, green sea turtles, barracudas, eagle rays, mobula rays, reef fish and more.

Daphne Minor

Daphne Minor is located 32 km north of Santa Cruz Island and is classified as an extinct volcano. The water currents are moderate to strong making it ideal for both novice and advanced divers, the water temperature is 18°c to 29°c. One of the dive sites at Daphne Minor is a platform with a small cave about 6 meters deep where we can see white tip sharks and sea turtles.

During the tour you can go through a pinnacle 20 meters deep, where you can usually see beautifully colored fish and the giant manta ray or Manta birostris. There are additional dive sites at Daphne Minor, which are vertical walls that descend to a depth of more than 40 meters and are covered with sessile organisms of various sizes, shapes and colors. Do you want to experience this adventure?

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT:

If you are reading this article anywhere other than A Luxury Travel Blog, chances are this content has been stolen without permission.

Please note the web address above and contact A Luxury Travel Blog to notify them of this issue.

Thank you for helping us fight content theft.

Some suggestions for your diving activity

• Try to go in small groups.
• If you are a beginner diver, prepare your trip a few days in advance to take a scuba diving course and get your certification.
• Keep your diving certificates (PADI, OWD, AOWD and more options) up to date.
• Take motion sickness pills if you need them.
• Breathe easy on your adventure.
• Never take anything off the seabed.
• Be sure to wear a wetsuit and goggles.

Now you have 5 promising options for diving, in each of them you will find different species and marine ecosystems. At any time of the excursion, visitors can take with them an unforgettable postcard, a unique approach to nature.

December, January and February are considered the best months for this activity, so you have the perfect time to plan a trip to the Galapagos Islands.

Marcel Perkins is CEO of Latin Trails. Latin Trails is an inbound destination management company specializing in customized travel with a focus on providing unique experiences throughout Ecuador, the Galapagos Islands and Peru.

If you would like to become a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog to boost your profile, please contact us.