Diving the Galapagos IslandsFirst established in 1936 the Galapagos National Park is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are 14 large, and 6 smaller, islands in the group plus numerous islets, rocks and reefs. The waters around the Galapagos Islands themselves, for 40 nautical miles, was made a Marine Reserve in 1998 to control activity, including fishing, in these waters.
The Galapagos archipelago is truly oceanic, 960 Km from the mainland they rise 900 metres above the Galapagos platform which in turn is surrounded by seas over 3,000m deep. Two deep currents, the Cromwell and Humbolt, collide here resulting in an upwelling of cold, nutrient rich, waters. North of the islands they also meet the warm tropical Panama Current, which results in the diving around the northern most islands, including Wolf and Darwin, being notably warmer.
The Galapagos' wealth of unique shoreside wildlife is equalled beneath the waterline. The mixing and upwelling currents create ideal conditions for an explosion of marine life including both tropical and temperate species. Unlike other tropical destinations Galapagos waters are too cold for the main hard, reef building, corals with only a few species thriving here alongside sponges and algae clinging on to the rocky base.
Diving Galapagos offers a rare opportunity be in the water with Sea Lions and, the less common, Fur Seals. The amount of shark action, in terms of size of individuals and schooling numbers, is also a major draw for many divers. Schools of Scalloped Hammerheads, particularly around the northern group of islands, pus White-Tips and Galapagos sharks are common. Between dives its possible to snorkel with penguins and the endemic marine iguanas. Seasonally whales are a common sight, including the distinctive, melon headed, Humpbacked and Pilot whales that migrate to Ecuador's coastline. Whale sharks also congregate in large numbers feeding in these plankton rich waters. Mantas and Eagle Rays are common year round.
The conditions that make diving the Galapagos Islands special, colder waters and current, also make the diving more demanding and having a few dives under your belt is an advantage to get full enjoyment from the diving here. Diving is more comfortable in a semi dry with hood and gloves. Visability is normally 12-18 metres with highs of 25 metres. At times, particularly during the rainy season, conditions can reduce viz to 5 metres! Water temperature around the Northern Islands can be up to 26ºc, whilst at the Central and Southern groups its 21º to 25ºc and in the west it can be 16° to 23°c. These can only be guides as changing season and thermoclines also play a role and during an El Niño, once every few years, water temperatures can rise to 30°c.
While diving in the Galapagos islands is year round there are distinct seasons. January to March is the rainy and warm season Visibility tends to be reduced between February to April. Access to the Northern islands can be more reliable November to March as the winds are lighter. April to June can be rainy and is the start of the cold season. Between July and December the winds can produce surface chop, particularly July to October. The cooling effect of the Humboldt current is most strongly felt and can result in some misty weather with a fog like rain called Garúa. This is also the best season for Whale Sharks.
Diving Holidays in the Galapagos Islands
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