“The Sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.”
― Jacques-Yves Cousteau
Scuba diving is an adventurous sport that many people love doing and many others also take it up as a profession. It is an activity through which you can go deep into the water in seas and oceans to take a closer look at the beautiful marine world that exists below the beautiful watery surface. There are many places around the world that will help you experience and take part in this great activity. But, the most beautiful place that will give you a larger option to get closer to a variety of underwater animals that you might have never seen before. Scuba diving is something that all the tourists who are on a Galapagos Island Tour are excited for.
The Galapagos Islands are known to unfold the mysterious nature that it has. As we have already seen it in the other posts that say the islands are a home to many undiscovered creatures that may not be found elsewhere in the world. Apart from the natural beauty and the encounter with wildlife, the Islands offer a variety of adventurous activities that you can enjoy. One among them is the Scuba Diving. There are 8 best scuba diving Galapagos sites that prove to be the best sites suitable for Scuba Diving across the islands.
1. Daphne Minor – Daphne Island
This is a beautiful dive site that the experienced scuba divers will enjoy while they get a chance to explore the platforms, caverns, walls and slopes at this single Galapagos scuba diving site. This place also introduces you to a number of marine life animals including the manta rays, sea turtles and the hammerhead sharks.
2. The Shark Point off the Wolf Island
Wolf is a small, uninhabited island and one of the most iconic scuba diving sites in Galápagos. However, it can only bre reached by liveaboard boats. The sport is inhabited by birds flyring in the high cliffs, sea lions also play on the wave-worn rocks below. But it is beneath that treacherous shoreline wehre the true treasures of Wolf Island lies; this is the only place where you will get a chance to swim along with the massive wale sharks. Also in the spot, you may find schooling hammerheads, Galapagos sharks, silkies, eagle and mobula rays, bluefin tuna, turtles, and thousands of reef fish, and ofe courese expect an amazing whistle of dolphins swiming in the place. Due to currents and occasional surges, diving at Wolf Island isn’t recommended for beginners. Tip: Bring a good pair of gloves, holding on to rock is the only way to fight the currents.
3. Gordon Rocks – Santa Curz Island
4. The Caamaño Islet – Santa Cruz Island
Perhaps the thing we love the most about Caamaño Islet is that it is a great spot for first Open Water checks and for training beginners. With moderate currents and good visibility, it makes a great spot to encourage beginners and to have some fun and easy-going diving day. Aside form this there is the intense marine life, of course; you may find groupers, the batfish, seahorses, eels and the Galapagos marine iguanas that are found diving under the waves in search of food. It also holds a Sea Lion colony. Reef fish live in the slope. Turtles, schooling fish and sharks are ocassional visitors.
5. Cape Marshall – Isabela Island
This scuba diving site is quite recognizable for its facinating geological formation, a vertical wall of volcanic rock that goes deep down into the waters. You can catch a sight if sunfish, manta rays, mobula rays, the marble rays, hammerhead sharks and large schools of fish such as the black stripped salema and many more. Galapagos black-striped salema are aslo unique to this spot. You will also find a number of sea lions and sea turtles swimming along with you. Its strong currents make this place suitable for experienced and advanced scuba divers. It is also only accessible through scuba diving cruises.
6. The Bartolome Point – Bartolome Island
This is one of the most biodiverse sites in the archipelago and one of the most iconic. Here, you can find the most know of thee Galapagos marine animals such as sea lions, sea turtles, fishes and iguanas swimming in the waters. But the most important amazing creature here are the Galápagos penguins. You will see penguins swimming swiftly in search of food or they will be found playing with the waves. Stingrays, modula rays, turtles, whitetips sharks, barracuda, and variety of reef fish are also spotted in the area. Currents are modetate.
7. Kicker Rock (León Dormido) – San Cristóbal Island
The spot is mostly known for the white-tipped reef sharks that inhabit the area and swim across the small channel in between the two large remaining rocks of an old degraded lava cone. Kicker Rock is a delight for the senses, both, during the journey there and in during the diving time. Sea turtles and rays are commonly seen in the channel. The visit here is usually complemented with snorkeling among a sea lion colony at nearby Isla Lobos. The site is suitable for divers of all abilities, however, some previous experience is still recommended. Flying rays, green sea turtles, reef fish, stingrays, eagle rays, eels, barracudas, as well as a variety of invertebrates including octopuses are also common to the area.
8. Tortuga Island – Isabela Island
Since, the land and water animals here in Galapagos are still not aware of the fear of humans, they are quite friendly and at times curious by your presence around them. This gives you an opportunity to explore the underwater world and inhabitants more closely at these islands.
Nature Galapagos & Ecuador offers a variety of Galapagos Island Diving Tours that can be customized according to the tourist requirements and the budget. There are a number of Galapagos holiday packages that you can select from. Our team is well equipped and well versed with all the above mentioned locations and can take you anywhere across the islands to make your trip a memorable one.
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