Galapagos

The Galapagos Islands, an archipelago of volcanic islands, are located in Ecuador. The archipelago’s massive size at 8,000 km2 of land spread over 45,000 km2 of ocean is about the size of the Aegean Sea. The archipelago, comprised of 18 main islands, 3 small islands and 107 rocks and islets, is located in the eastern Pacific Ocean off the west coast of South America on either side of the equator. The oldest islands are Espanola Island and San Cristobal Island. There are nine active volcanoes among the archipelago, with Isabela Island and Fernandina Island having five of them. The Galapagos and their surrounding waters form the Galapagos National Park, the Galapagos Province of Ecuador and the Galapagos Marine Reserve.
The islands are a highly sought-after destination for scuba diving vacations. The marine reserve is second in size to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, the archipelago itself is a whale sanctuary and UNESCO recognized the Galapagos as a World Heritage Site and a biosphere reserve.

Scuba Diving in Galapagos

Galapagos scuba diving is a wonderland of marine biodiversity. The islands are home to about 900 different mussels, sea snails and shells; over 500 fish species, including morays, angelfish, soldierfish, grouper and surgeonfish; more than 200 types of starfish, sea cucumbers, crayfish and sea urchins, and over 50 types of sharks and rays. Additionally, the Galapagos Islands are known for several species found nowhere else in the world. In fact, the high number of endemic species on the Galapagos were studied by Charles Darwin and led to his theory of evolution by natural selection. Exclusive to Galapagos Island diving are Galapagos penguins, Galapagos green turtles, Galapagos tortoises, colorful Galapagos marine iguanas, Galapagos lava lizards and Galapagos sea lions. The islands also have an abundance of marine turtles, fur seals, dolphins, whales, small sharks, tuna and manta rays. As such, the Galapagos are known worldwide as having the best scuba diving in the world.

Dive Spots Around the Islands
Some of the best scuba diving in the world can be found around the Galapagos Island and the waters of Machalilla National Park, known for migratory humpback whales. Rare endemic species sightings, which can only be experienced when liveaboard diving in Galapagos, include Galapagos sharks and Galapagos seahorses.
Live aboard cruises are the only way to experience all that the Galapagos Islands have to offer. By living on a diving boat, divers have quick and easy access to all the great dive sites around the islands.
Some of the best liveaboard diving in Galapagos is on the northern islands. Two islands in particular, Wolf and Darwin, are known for their diverse marine life and are only accessible via a Galapagos liveaboard.
Wolf Island is an isolated island where live aboard excursions feature trumpetfish, butterflyfish, dolphins and schools of hammerhead sharks. Exclusive to this island is the vampire finch, which feeds mainly on blood pecked from other birds. Some challenging Galapagos Island diving spots can be found on Darwin Island. Dive travel here features Darwin’s Arch, a natural rock arch under which scalloped hammerheads, manta rays, and silky and whale sharks swim, and Shark Bay, the best spot to see Galapagos sharks and hammerhead sharks. Other likely sightings when scuba diving in Galapagos include whales, sea lions, fur seals, seahorses, four-eyed fishes, marine turtles and marine iguanas.
Another highlight of Galapagos diving is Floreana Island, noted for Devil’s Crown with an underwater volcanic cone and numerous coral formations. Dive travel to this island features whale sharks and hammerhead sharks, manta rays, dolphins, whales, marine iguanas, sea lions and fur seals.
Liveaboards in Galapagos also visit the best dive spots on Santa Cruz Island, featuring Gordon Rocks, San Cristobal Island, with Whale Rock, Pitt Point, Kicker Rock and Tijeretas Hill, and Isabela Island, featuring Roca Redonda, Tortuga Island and Cabo Marshall. For some remote and exclusive Galapagos diving, the small islet of Nameless Island is mainly for scuba diving.

When to Go

Galapagos scuba diving is a year round activity thanks to the tropical climate. Although they are located on the equator and enjoy warm and sunny temperatures, the Galapagos Islands are also influenced by the Humboldt Current and El Nino weather events. The Humboldt Current from the Antarctic is responsible for bringing to the islands occasional rain drizzles, cool temperatures and cold waters from July to December. 
From January to June, the Panama current from Central America brings warm tropical weather, making scuba diving in Galapagos ideal. El Nino, which happens every 3 to 7 years, also brings warm water temperatures and more waves.
The Galapagos generally have two seasons, which helps when planning scuba diving vacations. During the cool or garua season from June to November, the average temperature is 22 degrees C or 72 degrees F.
During this time, it drizzles throughout the day, a steady cold wind blows from the south and southeast, and a dense fog hides the islands. The water is rough and rather cold, around 10 to 18° C or 50 to 64° F, and currents are strong. These conditions attract plenty of whale sharks and schools of hammerheads. There are occasional sightings of Galapagos sharks and silky sharks.

The warm season is from December to May. The average temperature is 25° C or 77° F. Sunshine may be interrupted by a quick rainstorm, but seas are calm, there is no wind and the water is not as cold. The warm season is ideal for spotting an abundance of hammerhead sharks, Galapagos sharks and silky sharks.
Underwater visibility averages 16 to 82 feet.

Getting There

Seymour Airport on Baltra Island and San Cristobal Airport on the island of San Cristobal are the two main airports on the Galapagos Islands. A small landing strip is also on Isabela Island.
Only two international airports in Ecuador provide service to the Galapagos. They are Mariscal Sucre International Airport in Quito and Jose Joaquin de Olmedo International Airport in Guayaquil.
Flights from these airports to the islands take about 2 hours. Liveaboards in Galapagos typically depart from Baltra Island. Most Galapagos liveaboard companies arrange for airport pickup and any transfers.

Visas and Passports

With the exception of certain countries, a visa is not required to visit the Galapagos. All visitors are required to enter Ecuador through its official immigration control points.
On July 1, 2020, the Galapagos Provincial Council tightened entry requirements for visitors to the Galapagos Islands. The new requirements are:
•Visitors must register their travel itinerary in advance with the Ministry of Tourism either through a local travel agency, liveaboard, or hotel based in the Galapagos and obtain approval.
•All services, such as hotels, liveaboards, excursions and transport, must be booked and paid for, with proof of verification.
•The confirmation of approval and verification must be presented at the airport.
•At the airport, visitors must purchase a US$20 Transit Control Card (TCC) and pay a US$100 National Park Entrance Fee. Payment is cash only.

Foreign visitors also must show a valid passport that does not expire within six months of entering Ecuador, a return flight ticket and an identification card. Visitors from countries requiring a visa must apply at their local embassy or consulate before traveling to Ecuador.

Time Zone

The time zone in the Galapagos Islands is GMT-6. This differs from mainland Ecuador, which is GMT-5. Daylight saving time is not observed in the Galapagos or the mainland.

Currency

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Electricity

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Language

Spanish is the official language of the Galapagos Islands and Ecuador. Also widely used is Kichwa, also called Quichua or Quechua. Most locals are bilingual and speak both Spanish and Kichwa. Chibcha is also commonly used, as well as several indigenous languages. About 23 different languages are spoken throughout Ecuador and the Galapagos.
Many locals use and understand English, but that may not be the case in some regions.