Santa Cruz Island

Our Galapagos diving cruises in a combination with the islands hotels,are the best option to enjoy overnight, cruising the islands you can enjoy whale watching,and diving galapagos along the best dive sites.

Santa Cruz island

Supports one of the largest human populations of the four inhabited islands. Some 25,000 residents are distributed between the cattle farming communities in the lush highlands and the coastal town of Puerto Ayora. Here you can visit the Charles Darwin Research Station to see the huge land tortoises, which once flourished in the islands. The populations were decimated in the early 1800's by the whaling ships that stopped in the
islands to fill their holds with fresh meat. A bus ride into the highlands takes you to Los Gemelos, two deep pit craters situated in the scalesia forest with lots of interesting bird life, or for a trek through the gigantic lava tubes, or to the Tortoise Reserve to search for large tortoises in their natural habitat. On the north shore of the island, accessible only by the sea, is an extensive mangrove lagoon called Black Turtle Beach. Here in the peacefulness of the mangroves turtles break the surface of the still waters, while fish, rays and small sharks cruise below.

Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island is full of gift and souvenir stores, as well as all sorts of Ecuadorian craftwork. Although the prices are much higher than stores on mainland Ecuador, they are cheaper than the cruise ships’ boutiques.Puerto Ayora is the place to be for nightlife in the Galapagos. In the center of the archipelago, Santa Cruz Island has a fair number of pubs and discotheques that stay open until late into the night.

BARTHOLOMEW

Location: East of Santiago island, a small island with the famous Bartholomew pinnacle, 2 dive sites. Sailing distance is 1-hour and a half from Itabaca Channel (North side of Santa Cruz island).
Site Conditions: Moderate currents. A platform is found at approximately 10 meters where a variety of reef fishes reside. On the edge of this platform there are underwater cliffs which start at about 15 meters deep; good probabilities to observe pelagic species.
Marine fauna: White tip reef shark, reef fishes, barracudas, turtles, mobulas, stingrays, variety of invertebrates.

COUSINS

Location: Northeast of Santiago island near Bartholomew island, 1 islet, 2 dive sites located an 1 hour and a half from Itabaca Channel (North side of Santa Cruz island). Site Conditions: Normally there are no strong currents at this site; this is partly a reef dive, partly a wall dive where the endemic black coral is found.
Marine fauna: sea horses, barracudas, sea lions, Galapagos sharks, white tip reef shark, turtles, reef fishes, sting rays, eagle rays, variety of invertebrates. At surface interval penguins can be observed.

NORTH SEYMOUR

Location: North of Santa Cruz island, 2 dive sites located 30 minutes from Itabaca Channel (North side of Santa Cruz island).
Site Conditions: For all levels of divers, although sometimes there can be strong currents, platform reefs with a diversity of species
Marine fauna: sea lions, Hammerheads, Galapagos sharks, white tip reef shark, hammerhead shark, mobulas, turtles, reef fishes, sting rays, eagle rays, Galapagos eel, barracudas, variety of invertebrates.

BEAGLE

Location: South of Santiago island, 3 exposed rocks, 2 dives sites located an 1 hour and a half from Itabaca Channel (North side of Santa Cruz island).
Site Conditions: Normally there are no strong currents at this site, reef dive with many corals and sponges.
Marine fauna: sea lions, Galapagos sharks, turtles, reef fishes, stingrays, eagle rays, barracudas, variety of invertebrates, manta rays and probably solitary hammerhead sharks.

DAPHNE

Location: North of Santa Cruz island, an exposed rock, one dive site located 30 minutes from Itabaca Channel (North side of Santa Cruz island).
Site Conditions: Normally there are no strong currents at this site, rocky and sandy bottom.
Marine fauna: here we find a small cave (this is NOT a cave dive) where white tip reef sharks rest, additionally there is a pinnacle where we find a diversity of rays, Galapagos shark, turtle, ref. fishes, barracudas, black coral walls and variety of invertebrates.

MOSQUERA

Location: North of Santa Cruz Island between Seymour Island and Baltra island, this is an islet that emerges from the sea (sand bar), one dive site located 25 minutes from Itabaca Channel (North side of Santa Cruz island).
Site Conditions: Normally there are no strong currents at this site, sandy bottom between 15 and 18 meters with garden eels and pelagic species, there is also a wall that starts at 18 meters where we also find black coral and variety of invertebrates. Activity: Hammer head sharks, black tip reef shark, white tip reef shark, sea lions, turtles, barracudas, ref. fishes, sting rays, eagle rays, mobulas, Galapagos eel, variety of invertebrates

Isabela island

Sierra Negra volcanoe-Isabela Island

Created by the lava of six volcanoes that flowed together, this 1800 squared foot island is the largest in Galapagos. Graffiti dating back to the 1800's is written on the rocky cliff left over from bucanneers and whaling ships. The trails lead to a salt water lagoon and offers a great view of the lava fields and the ocean. A Panga ride reveals penguins, shearwaters and noody terns.

● To practice recreational dive activities the diver must be in good health and not under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Passengers who declare health problems will need a doctor’s authorization permitting them to dive. ● Our daily dive tours included 2 dives (except introductory y night dive), two dives, dive boat, divemaster guides, diving gear (complete wetsuit, regulator with octopus, BCD, mask, snorkel, fins, booties, gloves, scuba tuba, tanks and weight belt), lunch . Our dive boat complies with the Ecuadorian Marine security prerequisites and norms. Additionally, our first aid kit includes 2 oxygen tanks (one hour’s duration). We are affiliated to the hyperbaric chamber; our passengers are covered 80% specifically for dive accidents.

More diving info;

We offer a detailed briefing prior to each dive and a checkout dive to all new passengers in a calm environment. Guides are locals, trained in our dive center and have a minimum of 3 years experience. We provide a guide for groups of 4-8 passengers depending on their training level. For introductory dives the maximum depth is 12meters/40feet and it is required that a guide accompany one introductory diver at a time.  ● The depths and bottom time are planned and established according to PADI’s norms and depend on the divers’ level of experience. The maximum depth of the dives varies between 15mt (50 feet) and 30mt (100 feet), the maximum bottom time is of one hour and the minimum surface interval is one hour. ● Each diver will have to present his/her dive certification (PADI, NAUI, SSI, ACUC, DIVA, CMAS, FEDAS, YMCA, ETC...) and logbook. Also, the divers will have to sign the release of responsibility and expressed assumption of risk. For minors; their parents or legal guardians will have to sign (minimum age to dive is 12 years old). ● To practice recreational dive activities the diver must be in good health and not under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Passengers who declare health problems will need a doctor’s authorization permitting them to dive. ● Our daily dive tours included 2 dives (except introductory and night dive), two dives, dive boat, dive guides, diving tanks and weight belt), lunch. Our dive boat complies with the Ecuadorian Marine security prerequisites and norms. Additionally, our first aid kit includes 2 oxygen tanks (one hour’s duration). We are affiliated to the hyperbaric chamber;

Visibility:
Average visibility is from 8 to 10 meters (25ft to 35ft); on good visibility days it can reach approximately 18 meters (60ft).

Sea Conditions:
From July to December the sea is choppy, strong surge, strong winds. Sailing time is longer (by 30 - 40 minutes approximately) when comparing to calm season sailing time. Anti-seasickness medication is recommended.
From December to June the sea is calm with gentle breeze; sailing is easier.

Galapagos diving cruises.-services  ● The packages include: accommodation, breakfast and lunch , scuba tanks and weights, dive boat, dive guides, and 1 daily dive.  ● Itineraries can change depending on meteorological conditions, level and experience of divers.●

Average Water Temperature
January-June: 70°F-80°F (20C-26C)
July - December: 65°F - 75°F (18C- 23C)