Scuba Diving
The waters around the Galapagos offer some of the world’s best scuba diving. A rich variety of underwater environments and unpredictable conditions are constantly fascinating and exciting. Offshore pinnacle reefs on submerged volcanoes rise, supporting rich sea life and big oceanic creatures. The
Devil’s Crown, a sunken volcano near
Floreana Island, is a marine wonderland of
sea lions,
turtles,
rays,
morays,
garden eels,
white tip reef sharks,
hammerhead sharks and thousands of tropical fish. Hydrothermal vents in these submerged volcanic peaks heat the waters to temperatures as high as 30°C [
86°F]. Scientists are particularly interested in these places because of the creatures that have adapted to live in such conditions. The northerly islands of
Darwin and
Wolf are regarded as the best islands for serious divers, with the chance of swimming alongside huge
whale sharks.
Though diving can be straightforward, strong currents, sometimes-low visibility, large marine animals and cold water can be quite challenging. There are some good dive sites for beginners, but the Galapagos are
not the place for beginning divers. There have been several fatalities [
mainly off Darwin and Wolf] over the years, and there isn’t a decompression chamber on the islands [
or in Ecuador, worthy of the name]. Even though the archipelago straddles the equatorial line, its waters are cooler than you might expect. Cold water currents and upwellings can bring water temperatures as low as 10°C [
50°F], though the average is about 18°C [
65°F] throughout most of the year.
Sea-kayaking, windsurfing and mountain biking
Although mainly confined to
Santa Cruz island, challenging sea-kayaking and windsurfing trips around the islands can be arranged through the
Red Mangrove Inn in
Puerto Ayora. They can also rent excellent mountain bikes, as can one or two other operators in the town.
| |Article contributed by Dominic Hamilton||| |
