WhenToDive
Eastern Pacific · Ecuador · 0.40°S 91.00°W

Galápagos

The Galápagos archipelago is one of the world's great big-animal dive destinations. The cold Humboldt and Cromwell currents bring nutrient upwellings that feed a food chain unlike anywhere else — hammerhead schools at the northern islands of Darwin and Wolf, whale sharks between June and November, turtles, marine iguanas feeding underwater, and playful Galápagos sea lions on almost every dive. Conditions are genuinely demanding: cold water, strong currents, surge, and deep profiles. Almost all diving is on liveaboards with dedicated shark itineraries to the northern islands.

Skill
advanced
Budget
high
Airport
Baltra (GPS)
Visa
Tourist card on arrival, 90 days

The Galápagos archipelago is one of the world's great big-animal dive destinations. The cold Humboldt and Cromwell currents bring nutrient upwellings that feed a food chain unlike anywhere else — hammerhead schools at the northern islands of Darwin and Wolf, whale sharks between June and November, turtles, marine iguanas feeding underwater, and playful Galápagos sea lions on almost every dive. Conditions are genuinely demanding: cold water, strong currents, surge, and deep profiles. Almost all diving is on liveaboards with dedicated shark itineraries to the northern islands.

The year at a glance

Jan 4
Feb 4
Mar 4
Apr 4
May 4
Jun 5
Jul 5
Aug 5
Sep 5
Oct 5
Nov 5
Dec 4
Score 1–5 · water, visibility, conditions, species 1 2 3 4 5
Jan 4/5
Water
22–26 °C
Viz
15–25 m
Sea
calm
Rain
moderate
Feb 4/5
Water
22–26 °C
Viz
15–25 m
Sea
calm
Rain
moderate
Mar 4/5
Water
22–26 °C
Viz
15–25 m
Sea
calm
Rain
moderate
Apr 4/5
Water
22–26 °C
Viz
15–25 m
Sea
calm
Rain
moderate
May 4/5
Water
22–25 °C
Viz
10–20 m
Sea
moderate
Rain
low
Jun 5/5
Water
20–23 °C
Viz
10–20 m
Sea
moderate
Rain
low
Jul 5/5
Water
20–22 °C
Viz
10–20 m
Sea
moderate
Rain
low
Aug 5/5
Water
19–22 °C
Viz
10–20 m
Sea
moderate
Rain
low
Sep 5/5
Water
19–22 °C
Viz
10–20 m
Sea
moderate
Rain
low
Oct 5/5
Water
20–23 °C
Viz
10–20 m
Sea
moderate
Rain
low
Nov 5/5
Water
20–24 °C
Viz
15–25 m
Sea
calm
Rain
low
Dec 4/5
Water
22–25 °C
Viz
15–25 m
Sea
calm
Rain
moderate

Signature dive sites

The sites you'll hear about in every briefing.

  • 01

    Darwin's Arch

    Remote northern seamount famous for hammerhead schools and whale sharks.

  • 02

    Wolf Island

    Paired with Darwin on liveaboards; Galápagos sharks, hammerheads, and eagle rays.

  • 03

    Gordon Rocks

    Central-archipelago site from day trips; reliable hammerheads in upwelling season.

What you'll see

Top species with their April status.

Galápagos Shark

Galápagos Shark

Carcharhinus galapagensis
April · Peak
JFMAMJJASOND
Seals & Sea Lions

Seals & Sea Lions

Families Phocidae & Otariidae (Pinnipedia)
April · Peak
JFMAMJJASOND
Scalloped Hammerhead

Scalloped Hammerhead

Sphyrna lewini
Present
JFMAMJJASOND
Reef Manta Ray

Reef Manta Ray

Mobula alfredi
Present
JFMAMJJASOND

Marine life by month

Peak Present Rare

Species
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Notes
Galápagos Shark
Resident reef shark throughout the archipelago
Seals & Sea Lions
Galápagos sea lions on nearly every dive; fur seals at Wolf
Scalloped Hammerhead
Massive schools at Darwin and Wolf during cold season
Reef Manta Ray
Whale Shark
Large pregnant females at Darwin Arch
Ocean Sunfish (Mola Mola)
Tiger Shark
Silky Shark

Getting there

Gateway

Fly into Baltra (GPS). Visa: Tourist card on arrival, 90 days.

Best months

Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec

Open larger map →