Snorkeling and diving in the Galapagos

Snorkeling and diving in the Galapagos

Sea Lions • Sea Turtles • Hammerhead Sharks

from AGE ™ Travel Magazine
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Animal highlights in paradise!

The famous island world of the Galapagos National Park is synonymous with special animal species, the theory of evolution and untouched nature. Dreams come true here, even under water. Swimming with sea lions, snorkeling with penguins and diving with hammerhead sharks are just a few of the highlights of these extraordinary islands. Here you can drift with sea turtles, watch marine iguanas feeding, admire manta rays, eagle rays and cownose rays and even see mola molas and whale sharks on liveaboards. Whether you are a diver or like to snorkel, the underwater world of Galapagos will take you on a fantastic journey of discovery. Around fifteen different Galapagos Islands offer certified diving and snorkeling sites that are worth exploring. Immerse yourself in one of the most beautiful paradises on earth and follow AGE™ on an adventurous journey.

active holiday • South America • Ecuador • Galapagos • Snorkeling and diving in Galapagos • Galapagos underwater 

Snorkeling in the Galapagos


Diving and snorkeling in the Galapagos National Park. The best dive sites. Tips for your diving holiday
Galapagos Islands - Snorkel on your own
On the inhabited islands, you can occasionally snorkel on your own, provided you bring your equipment. The beaches of Isabela and the public snorkeling spot Concha de Perla are nice excursion destinations. Also the coast of San Cristobal offers variety and a rich wildlife. on Floreana you can snorkel at Black Beach. Santa Cruz, on the other hand, has public bathing areas, but is less suitable for a private snorkeling experience.

Diving and snorkeling in the Galapagos National Park. The best dive sites. Tips for your diving holiday
Galapagos Islands - Snorkel tours
On day trips to uninhabited islands like North Seymour, Santa Fe, Bartholomew or espanola In addition to going ashore, a snorkeling stop is always included. This is often a great opportunity to Swimming with sea lions. Pure snorkeling trips are offered, for example, to the island of Pinzon, to Kicker Rock and to Los Tuneles. Of the Kicker rock is a great backdrop with sea turtles and the special feeling of snorkeling in the Deep Blue. On a clear day, you can even spot hammerhead sharks while snorkeling. the tunnels In addition to lava formations, it also has whitetip reef sharks and seahorses to offer. In addition, you can often do this here Watch sea turtles.

Dive sites in the Galapagos


Diving and snorkeling in the Galapagos National Park. The best dive sites. Tips for your diving holiday
Galapagos Islands - Diving for beginners
The coastal diving areas of the islands North Seymour, San Cristobal and espanola are also suitable for beginners. These dive sites are protected and therefore offer calm waters. All three locations offer divers a rich fish world as well as good chances for white tip reef sharks and that Swimming with sea lions. Espanola also has small rock caverns to explore. The maximum diving depth is only 15 to 18 meters. That too Shipwreck on the north coast of San Cristobal is suitable for beginners. The already badly crumbled and overgrown boat is a bizarre sight. The calm waters of San Cristobal are great for your first diving course. Beginners can even take part in a night dive in the harbor basin of San Cristobal. Here you have a good chance of meeting sea lions and young reef sharks in the light of the flashlight.

Diving and snorkeling in the Galapagos National Park. The best dive sites. Tips for your diving holiday
Galapagos Islands - Advanced diving
Known dive sites for Diving with sharks like Kicker Rock (Leon Dormido) and Gordon rock are only recommended for advanced users. An Open Water Diver license is sufficient, but you should have logged a few dives and have experience. Both dive sites offer good chances of spotting hammerhead sharks and are therefore very popular with divers. It is also possible to see Galapagos sharks, rays and sea turtles, for example. Kicker Rock is off the coast of San Cristobal. As part of a day tour, steep wall diving in the deep blue and diving in the flow channel between the two rocks is possible here. Both require experience. Gordon Rock is approached from Santa Cruz. The dive takes place in open water and between the rock islands. Depending on the weather, the diving spot is known for stronger currents.

Diving and snorkeling in the Galapagos National Park. The best dive sites. Tips for your diving holiday
Galapagos Islands - Diving for experienced
Diving cruises to the remote islands Wolf and Darwin are still an insider tip among divers. These islands can be explored on a liveaboard safari. Most diving ships require a certification as an Advanced Open Water Diver and, in addition, proof of 30 to 50 dives in the logbook. Experience with drift diving, drift dives and wall diving is important. The diving depth is usually only about 20 meters, as most of the animals stay there. Dives to a depth of 30 meters are also rarely carried out. Wolf and Darwin are known for their large schools of hammerhead sharks and there is also a chance to meet whale sharks in the fall. If your ship is also the dive site Vincent de Roca starts at Isabela's, then with a little luck you can see a mola mola.
active holiday • South America • Ecuador • Galapagos • Snorkeling and diving in Galapagos • Galapagos underwater 
AGE™ dived with Wreck Diving in the Galapagos National Park in 2021:
The PADI diving school Wreck Diving is located on the Galapagos island of San Cristobal near the harbor. Wreck Diving offers day trips including lunch for divers, snorkelers and explorers. Experienced divers can look forward to the well-known Kicker Rock with steep wall diving in the deep blue and good chances for hammerhead sharks. Novice divers can complete their diving license (OWD) offshore among friendly sea lions. The trip to the uninhabited neighboring island espanola offers a great combination of shore leave & snorkeling or diving. Wreck Diving was super reliable! The excursions even took place for small groups and the crew was always highly motivated. A dive computer was available for each diver and included in the rental equipment. We had a wildlife-rich and exciting time underwater as well as above water and enjoyed the friendly atmosphere on board.
AGE™ was in 2021 with the motor glider Samba in the Galapagos National Park:
The Motor sailor Samba offers Galapagos cruises of 1-2 weeks. Due to the small group size (14 people) and the particularly rich daily program (active several times a day: eg hiking, snorkeling, exploratory trips with the dinghy, kayak tours), the Samba clearly stands out from other providers. The ship belongs to a local family and the cordial crew was also staffed with locals. Unfortunately, scuba diving is not possible on the Samba, but 1-2 snorkeling trips are planned every day. All equipment (e.g. mask, snorkel, wetsuit, kayak, stand up paddle board) was included in the price. We were able to snorkel with sea lions, fur seals, hammerhead sharks, sea turtles, marine iguanas and penguins, among others. The focus of the Samba is clearly on the holistic experience of the Galapagos Islands: underwater and above water. We loved it.

Snorkeling & diving experiences in Galapagos


Sightseeing vacation recommendation travel experiences A special experience!
Animal kingdom, original and breathtaking. Those who want to see large marine animals such as sea lions, turtles and sharks will find the destination of their dreams in the Galapagos. The interaction with the wildlife of the Galapagos is hard to beat.

Offer Price Cost Admission Sight Travel How much does snorkeling and diving cost in Galapagos?
Snorkeling tours start at $120 and some scuba diving starts at $150. Please note possible changes and clarify the current conditions personally with your provider in advance. Prices as a guide. Price increases and special offers possible. Status 2021.
Snorkeling tours cost
More information and details about the offer. Prices and costs as well as entrance fees for sights, travel and activitiesSnorkel tours
Fees for day trips to uninhabited islands range from USD 130 to USD 220 per person, depending on the island. They include a shore leave and a snorkeling stop and offer you access to original places and animals that you could not see privately. On a half-day trip from Isabela to Los Tuneles or on a tour from Santa Cruz to Pinzon, the focus is clearly on the underwater world and two snorkeling trips are included. The fees here are around 120 USD per person. (As of 2021)
Cost of joint excursions for snorkelers and divers
More information and details about the offer. Prices and costs as well as entrance fees for sights, travel and activitiesJoint excursions for snorkelers and divers
For day trips to Espanola with shore leave and snorkeling, a dive can alternatively be booked (depending on the provider) for a surcharge. An ideal excursion if not all family members are divers. Even on a tour to Kicker Rock, some of the group can snorkel while the others go diving. The tour offers two snorkeling stops or two dives and an additional break at the beach. In the PADI diving school Wreck Diving the price is 140 USD for snorkelers and 170 USD for divers including equipment and a hot meal. (As of 2021)
Cost of diving day trips
More information and details about the offer. Prices and costs as well as entrance fees for sights, travel and activitiesDay tours for divers
Excursions from Santa Cruz with two tank dives without shore leave, for example to North Seymour or to Gordon Rock, cost between 150 and 200 USD per person including equipment, depending on the dive site and the standard of the diving school. A dive computer is usually not included with cheap providers. Tours from San Cristobal to Kicker Rock / Leon Dormido cost at the PADI diving school Wreck Diving for two tank dives approx. 170 USD including equipment with dive computer and a warm meal. (As of 2021)
Cost of cruise including snorkeling
More information and details about the offer. Prices and costs as well as entrance fees for sights, travel and activitiescruise
An Cruise on the samba offers a pleasant family atmosphere with only 14 people on board. Solitary shore leave, excursions with rubber dinghy and kayak as well as 1-2 snorkeling trips per day are part of the varied program of the motor sailer. For 8 days the price is around 3500 USD per person. Here you experience Galapagos like from a picture book and visit remote islands. Unique underwater animal sightings await you: marine iguanas, turtles, hammerhead sharks, penguins, flightless cormorants and, with luck, a Mola Mola. (as of 2021)
Cost of liveaboard
More information and details about the offer. Prices and costs as well as entrance fees for sights, travel and activitiesdiving Safari
A diving cruise to Wolf and Darwin costs between USD 8 and USD 4000 per person for 6000 days, depending on the ship. Usually up to 20 dives are planned. 1-3 dives per day depending on the schedule. The islands are particularly known for their abundance of sharks. Hammerhead schools and whale sharks in particular are on the wish list. (As of 2021)

Diving conditions in the Galapagos


What is the water temperature like when diving and snorkeling? Which diving suit or wetsuit suits the temperature What is the water temperature in Galapagos?
During the rainy season (January to May) the water is pleasantly warm at around 26 ° C. Wetsuits with 3 to 5mm are suitable. In the dry season (June to December) the water temperature drops to 22 ° C. Short snorkeling trips in sheltered bays are still possible in swimwear, but wetsuits are recommended for longer snorkeling tours. For diving, suits with 7mm are appropriate, as the water still cools down below. The waters at Fernandina and on the back of Isabela are also colder than the rest of the archipelago due to the Humboldt Current. You should keep this in mind when planning.

What is the visibility when diving and snorkeling in the diving area? What diving conditions do divers and snorkelers have underwater? What is the usual underwater visibility?
In the Galapagos, visibility is around 12-15 meters on average. On bad days the visibility is about 7 meters. Then the turbulence in the ground or layers of water with a sudden change in temperature make the conditions more difficult. On good days with calm seas and sunshine, visibility of over 20 meters is possible.

Notes on symbol for notes on dangers and warnings. What is important to note? Are there, for example, poisonous animals? Are there any dangers in the water?
When stepping onto the seabed, keep an eye out for stingrays and sea urchins. Marine iguanas are pure algae eaters and completely harmless. Depending on the diving area, it is important to pay attention to currents and to regularly check the diving depth using the dive computer. Especially in deep blue when no bottom is visible as a reference.

Diving and snorkeling Afraid of sharks? Fear of sharks - is the concern justified?
The shark abundance around Galapagos is remarkable. Despite this, the waters of the archipelago are considered safe. The sharks find good conditions with plenty of food. The "Global Shark Attack File" lists 1931 shark attacks for all of Ecuador since 12. The Shark Attacks database lists 7 incidents in 120 years for Galapagos. No fatal attack was registered. At the same time, numerous vacationers snorkel and dive every day and observe different shark species. Sharks are fascinating, graceful animals.

Special features and highlights in the Galapagos diving area. Sea lions, hammerhead sharks, sea turtles and sunfish What does the underwater world in Galapagos offer?
Sea lions, schools of surgeonfish and black-striped salema, puffer fish, parrotfish and white tip reef sharks are frequent companions. In the right spots you have a good chance of spotting needlefish, barracuda, sea turtles, penguins, eagle rays, golden rays, seahorses and marine iguanas. In spring you can also see manta rays. Of course, sightings of moray eels, eels, starfish and squid are also possible. Hammerheads and Galapagos sharks are mostly found in deep water around free-standing rocks in the open sea. Very rarely you can also see a mola mola or a whale shark.
active holiday • South America • Ecuador • Galapagos • Snorkeling and diving in Galapagos • Galapagos underwater 

Localization information


Maps route planner directions sightseeing vacation Where is Galapagos located?
The Galapagos Archipelago is part of Ecuador. The archipelago is located in the Pacific Ocean, a two-hour flight from mainland Ecuador and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of South America. The national language is Spanish. Galapagos is made up of numerous islands. The four inhabited islands are Santa Cruz, San Cristobal, Isabela, and Floreana.

For your travel planning


Fact sheet Weather Climate table Temperature Best travel time How is the weather in Galapagos?
Despite its proximity to the equator, the climate is not typically tropical. The cold Humboldt Current and the southern trade winds influence the weather. A distinction is therefore made between a hot (December to June) and a slightly cooler season (July to November). The air temperature is between 20 and 30 ° C all year round.
Fly to Galapagos. Galapagos airports. Ferry connections Galapagos Islands. How can I reach the Galapagos?
There are good flight connections from Guayaquil in Ecuador to the Galapagos. Flights are also possible from Ecuador's capital Quito. South Seymour Airport is located on Balta Island and is connected to Santa Cruz Island by a small ferry. The second airport is on San Cristobal. A ferry runs twice a day between the main island of Santa Cruz and the islands of San Cristobal and Isabela. At times, the ferries run less frequently to Floreana. All uninhabited islands can only be reached by day tours while island hopping, on a cruise through the Galapagos or with a liveaboard.

Experience the Galapagos National Park underwater
Explore paradise with the AGE ™ Galapagos travel guide.
Experience even more adventure with Diving and snorkeling worldwide.


active holiday • South America • Ecuador • Galapagos • Snorkeling and diving in Galapagos • Galapagos underwater 

This editorial contribution received external support
Disclosure: AGE™ were offered discounted or free Wreck Diving services and a discounted cruise on the Samba as part of the report. The content of the contribution remains unaffected. The press code applies.
Copyrights and Copyright
Texts and photos are protected by copyright. The copyright of this article in words and images is entirely owned by AGE ™. All rights are reserved. Content for print / online media can be licensed on request.
Liability
Galapagos was perceived by AGE™ as a special diving area and was therefore presented in the travel magazine. If this does not match your personal experience, we assume no liability. The contents of the article have been carefully researched. However, if information is misleading or incorrect, we assume no liability. Furthermore, circumstances can change. AGE™ does not guarantee currency.
Source reference for text research
Information on site, as well as personal experiences with snorkeling & diving in the Galapagos February & March as well as July & August 2021.

Florida Museum (n.d.), South America – International Shark Attack File. [online] Retrieved on 30.04.2022/XNUMX/XNUMX, from URL: https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/shark-attacks/maps/sa/all/

Remo Nemitz (oD), Galapagos Weather & Climate: Climate table, temperatures and best travel time. [online] Retrieved on November 04.11.2021th, XNUMX, from URL: https://www.beste-reisezeit.org/pages/amerika/ecuador/galapagos.php

Shark Attack Data (until 2020) Shark attack data for Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. Timeline of unprovoked incidents since 1900. [online] Retrieved on November 20.11.2021, XNUMX, from URL: http://www.sharkattackdata.com/place/ecuador/galapagos_islands

Wreck Bay Diving Center (2018) Homepage of the Wreck Bay Diving Center. [online] Retrieved on 30.04.2022/XNUMX/XNUMX, from URL: http://www.wreckbay.com/

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