Galapagos is the second largest marine reserve in the world, home to an undersea environment fuelled by both cold and warm currents.

Natural diversity is everywhere; to find it under the waves you’ll need a liveaboard and a captain who knows these waters well. To help you find your way, here are 3 sites that should be on your Galapagos Diving holiday itinerary.

Darwin’s Arch

Standing proud from the rich waters around Darwin Island is Darwin’s Arch. This natural rock arch was once part of the island and the waters around it should always be on your must-dive list.

Why? Because it’s the best spot to see the headline ocean dwellers such as Hammerheads and Whale Sharks. It’s not a reef dive; still you’ll be far too busy watching the passing predators to worry about this. Keep your eyes peeled for Galapagos Sharks – identified by a ridge that runs between their dorsal fins – and Tiger Sharks. Turtles love these rich waters and you’ll see plenty of them diving here.

Wolf Island

Named after another naturalist who visited the islands, Theodor Wolf, Wolf Island is another dive-only destination. There are drift dives, cave dives as well as pinnacle and wall dives to try.

Again it’s prime waters for big predators with huge schools of scalloped hammerhead sharks ever present. Schools of rays, tuna and turtles are everywhere. It’s 150 miles from central Galapagos and some of the dive sites around the island are best suited for more advanced divers due to the strong currents.

Tijeretas Hill

One for the beginners. That said, even if you’ve dived other sites in the Galapagos you’ll not be disappointed. It’s a wall dive off San Cristobal Island, and it’s highly likely you’ll be joined in this adventure by a Sea Lion or two. On offer here are giant schools of fish, Galapagos garden eels, rays and green sea turtles.

If you’ve dived Galapagos and can recommend a dive spot, share it with us in the comments.

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