Scuba Diving Holidays Galapagos

DIVING HOLIDAYS IN THE GALAPAGOS

Galapagos diving is the adventure of a lifetime and one of the last places in the world where you can go diving with large schools of hammerheads. It has been said that if when the young Charles Darwin visited the Galapagos he had been diving he may have never left. The Galapagos is the second largest Marine Reserve in the world and though located directly on the equator it’s sits at the convergence of cold water currents from Antarctica and the warm waters of the tropics. Diving in these waters you will discover a unique environment where cold and warm water species coexist. On shore this unique mix of climates is best characterized by Galapagos Penguins living only a few feet away from tropical pink flamingos. The Galapagos are volcanic islands that benefit from equatorial upwelling making it an ideal marine environment. These waters are rich with nutrients. The porous lava rocks provide small fish with the protection they would otherwise receive from a coral reef, which are few and far between in these waters. Galapagos Diving can best be described as spectuacular - home to over 500 species of fish and an impressive number of large animals sea lions, rays, eels and sea turtles are seen on almost every dive. With 27 species including hammerheads and the enormous whale shark diving with sharks is why people come to dive in the Galapagos Islands.

DIVING THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS

The marine life of the Islands is well documented for being quite spectacular, with Jack Grove and Robert Lavenberg documenting just shy of 450 fish species in 112 different families to be populating Galapagos waters – with a fraction less than 10% of those endemic to the area. As the ocean surrounding the Galapagos is rather deep, there are several species of shark living in large schools around the islands, including: hammerhead, whale shark, white tip shark, thresher shark, requiem shark and Galapagos shark amongst many others. Also found in the cold waters surrounding the Archipelago are many types of ray, eagle ray, manta, Marlin swordfish and even huge sunfish. As well as those giants of the sea, there are also great numbers of other creatures found there, with octopus, lobster, starfish, sea urchin, sponges and many types of anemone adorning the waters surrounding Galapagos. There are only a few species of coral that grow in the Galapagos as the water is so cold, with most of the reefs growing in the sub-tidal zone. However, the coral that does grow there is a true spectacle to visit – and makes for a wonderful range of dives on an extended liveaboard holiday. Particularly interesting dive sites can be found at Devil’s Crown on Onslow Island, Bartolome Island and Champion Island (including Darwin & Wolf Islands)

The best time of year to dive at the Galapagos is generally considered to be between the months of February and June.

You’re most likely to see whale sharks in the warm season (December – May) with around a 50/50 chance on a liveaboard. You can expect to see some of the world’s biggest schools of hammerhead sharks amongst hundreds of other magnificently interesting species whilst diving at the Galapagos.

A wet suit thickness of between 5mm and 7mm is generally required for diving Galapagos waters, which quite drastically affects the buoyancy of divers. It is advisable to wear gloves whilst down there, and a hoody to account for the loss of heat through your head. Cold temperatures can often increase breathing rate, so divers must consistently keep a check on the air supply. Divers can experience Thermoclines - with temperature changes of up to 30F in just two or three feet of vertical distance, which is of course a big attraction!

It is very important to perform a careful buoyancy test on your dive equipment in order to determine the proper amount of weight required for the depth of your dive. Visibility in the waters of the Galapagos Islands is generally somewhere between 5m and 30m, depending on the season and currents.

DIVING SEASONS IN THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS

Best Time to Visit: February to June

Average Temperature: 20˚C to 28˚C

Hottest Times: February to April

Coldest Times: August to December

Average Visibility: 5 to 30m

A diving holiday in the Galapagos Islands can be enjoyed at any point during the year, with two main seasons characterised by the weather conditions: a hot, wet season and a cold, dry season. Due to the effect of the cool Humboldt Current, the climate of the Galapagos is generally mild and dry, but be wary of the strong equatorial sun.

January to April - The Rainy Season:

• Winds

• Warm sea currents

• Warm days

• Calm sea

• Heavy rains

May to December – The Dry Season

• Cold conditions

• Winds blow in a South-Easterly direction

• Shores bathed in cool waters

• Scarce rain

• August: winds can be stronger and may pick up the waves

TRAVEL HEALTH FOR ECUADOR

Ask your travel health expert (e.g. GP, practice nurse or travel clinic) to provide you with up to date information and vaccines to ensure your travels are safe and enjoyable.

It is vital to ensure that all members of your party have adequate health and travel insurance cover, which includes cover for any ‘higher risk’ activities you are likely to take part in.

ECUADOR ENTRY REQUIRMENTS

You will need to ensure you have correct documentation for your holiday including a full passport valid for the minimum period beyond your planned return date. You may also require a visa.

GALAPAGOS SCUBA DIVING HOLIDAYS