11 Awesome Dive Sites in Galapagos You Should Not Miss

Are you looking for more information about dive sites in Galapagos? In this article, we describe 11 awesome dive sites that are found in Galapagos and which should not be missed.

Dive sites found around the Galapagos Islands

The Galapagos Islands are one of the most popular and sought-after scuba dive destinations on the planet because these islands are unlike any other in the world. Gain more insight into when to go, what marine life you can expect and how to get there with our Galapagos Scuba Dive Guide.

The wildlife that inhabits the land and sea of Galapagos aren’t afraid of people. Divers delight in the fact that they can get up-close and personal with massive schools of sharks and even playful Sea Lions, Penguins and Marine Iguanas that swim here.

11 Awesome Dive Sites in Galapagos

Whether you’re planning a scuba trip to Galapagos on a Liveaboard that allows you to explore remote Galapagos dive sites, or you plan to take day trips to awesome dive sites instead, these 11 wonderful dive sites in Galapagos (in random order) should not be missed.

Also read: Scuba Dive Galapagos | 5 Important Things You Need to Know

1. Tijeretas Hill

Tijeretas Hill is a Galapagos dive site off of San Cristobal Island. It offers great visibility, and it’s also a perfect dive site even for beginners. Be sure to bring your camera if you are into underwater photography because you will find many photo opportunities here.

This wall dive features green sea turtles, Galapagos garden eels, rays, and great schools of fish, including angelfish and grunts. The best part of this dive, though, is being able to swim with the playful Sea Lions, who are attracted by the bubbles you make.

Dive with Sea Lions in Galapagos

2. Daphne Minor

Daphne is a dive site found on the north coast of Santa Cruz and is suitable for beginners and more experienced divers. This dive is wall dive with a smooth current. You will love exploring the caverns, walls, and slopes at this awesome Galapagos dive site, which features stunning marine life including Juvenile Galapagos sharks, white-tipped reef sharks, and eagle rays are also common. Keep an eye on the big blue as Manta Rays love to visit Daphne too.

3. Shark Point

Shark Point, a dive site off of Wolf Island, is extremely popular. Here, divers get to fulfill their wildest dreams of swimming alongside massive whale sharks. Other large marine species include dolphins, hammerhead sharks, and Galapagos sharks.

The only way to access this site, though, is by taking part in a Liveaboard expedition. Also, due to the strong currents, limited visibility, and harsh surges, this site is reserved only for experienced divers.

4. Whale Rock

An easy drift dive found off of the island of San Cristobal is Whale Rock. This site features huge schools of fish, with plenty of rays and sea turtles swimming along as well. Visibility is often great and typically ranges anywhere from 10-15 meters, or 33-49 feet, and temperatures are anywhere from 18-26 degrees Celsius or 64-78 degrees Fahrenheit.

5. Gordon Rocks

Here is where you will find the famous schools of hammerhead sharks that made diving Galapagos famous. Gordon Rocks is a volcanic crater with a maximum depth of 32 meters where you will find a sandy bottom.

Besides the hammerheads, you will find:

• White and blacktip reef sharks,
• Green sea turtles
• Sea Lions
• Stingrays
• Eagle rays
• Schools of barracuda and snapper
• Occasionally a majestic manta ray

Gordon rocks should only be dived though by more experienced divers due to the depth and potentially dangerous currents.

6. Camaño Islet

Camaño Islet, off Santa Cruz Island, is a great spot for beginners who want to see groupers, batfish, seahorses, sea lions, and more. This shallow dive offers great visibility, at 10-15 meters, or 33-49 feet. You may get lucky and see some eels and Galapagos marine iguanas which dive beneath the waves in search of their food.

7. North Seymour Island

Diving Seymour is famous for its many Black and White tip reef shark who share their space with countless Green sea turtles. On a good day, you will see schools of Spotted eagle rays migrating through the channel often chaperoned by Manta and Devil Rays. Also, Hammerheads have been seen here in smaller schools. Diving Seymour Island is suitable for beginners and more advanced divers.

8. Cape Marshall

Located on the island of Isabela, Cape Marshall features a wall of volcanic rock that goes down into the depths of the ocean. Sunfish a.k.a “Mola Mola”, Hammerhead sharks, Manta rays, Marbled Rays, Mobula rays, and large schools of fish such as Black-striped Salema can be found here.

Sea turtles and Sea Lions will have no problem swimming alongside you as you explore this epic Galapagos dive site. This site is for experienced and more advanced scuba divers only due to its strong currents.

A Galapagos Marine Iguana

9. Bartholomew Point

Bartholomew Point is a dive site off of Bartholomew Island. Not only will you encounter the usual marine species found throughout other dive sites in the Galapagos, such as Sea Turtles, Sea Lions, and plenty of different species of fish and rays.

The big attraction at this dive site is the Penguins swimming swiftly past you as they search for food and play in the waves. With a bit of luck, you will be able to see Manta rays and hammerheads in the blue.

Also read: Liveaboard Dive Galapagos 5 Reasons Why You Should Go!

White-tip reef sharks are also common here. Explore the lava formations, and see what creatures are hiding amidst the rock formations too. Moderate currents make this site appropriate for someone who has already logged quite a few dives in the past.

10. Tortuga Island

This Galapagos dive site, located off of Isabela Island, is great for intermediate level divers who aren’t afraid of following a deep drift wall down to the depths of 40 meters, or 131 feet.

Here, you will find a variety of native species, including Galapagos sharks, Galapagos sheep head, and Galapagos Groupers, as well as many Mantas, Stingrays, Sunfish, and more. You may even get the chance to see Hammerhead sharks and White-tipped reef sharks. But if you’re truly lucky, you may be diving in the right place at the right time to see a passing Orca.

11. Santa Fe Island

This Galapagos dive site is one that is appropriate for beginners, thanks to its calm and clear waters. At a depth of 16 meters, you can find a cave that makes this easy dive quite interesting. Expect to be accompanied by playful Sea Lions, Turtles, Eels, and even some Whitetip reef sharks

Key takeaways:

• Galapagos has many awesome dive sites that are suitable for novice and advanced divers. On many dive sites, you will have the chance to dive with sharks like the white and black tip reef shark but also the elusive Hammerhead. Although the best dive sites to see the famous hammerheads are Shark Point at Wolf Island and Gordon Rocks. To snorkel or dive with the Galapagos penguin, you should visit Bartholomew Point.
• To experience the best dive sites of Galapagos, it is advised to be at least advanced certified and have enough experience with deep dives and have a proper understanding of how currents can affect a dive.

Would you like to scuba dive Galapagos or have you been already? Let us know in the comments below

Would you like to dive into the new Galapagos Marine Sanctuary? Click here, we have multiple partners on Galapagos who offer dive packages + accommodation.