Ecuador
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Where to dive in Ecuador
Top species 14
- Unlikely
- Likely
- Very likely
Diurnal Frequent sightingsGalapagos Barnacle Blenny
Acanthemblemaria castroi
The Galapagos barnacle blenny is a small fish found primarily in the coastal zones of the Galapagos Islands. It is characterized by its narrow, elongated body and small head, often seen resting on rocks or inside barnacle shells.
BEST SEASON
Nocturnal Frequent sightingsGalapagos Fur Seal
Arctocephalus galapagoensis
The Galapagos Fur Seal is the smallest of all pinnipeds, found only in the Galapagos Islands. They have a dense underfur and are known for their pronounced pointy snouts.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsGalapagos Shark
Carcharhinus galapagensis
The Galapagos Shark is a large requiem shark found in tropical waters. It is recognizable by its streamlined body and distinctive fins. This shark is known for forming schools near sea mounts and is often seen in coastal and reef areas.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsGalápagos Sea Lion
Zalophus wollebaeki
The Galápagos Sea Lion is the smallest sea lion species, endemic to the Galápagos Archipelago and some areas off mainland Ecuador. They are highly social, forming colonies on sandy beaches and rocky shores, and are known for their playful and inquisitive nature. Their diet primarily consists of fish, squid, octopus, and crustaceans, which they forage at shallow to moderate depths.
BEST SEASON
Variable Frequent sightingsGiant Oceanic Manta Ray
Mobula birostris
The Giant Oceanic Manta Ray is the world's largest ray, with a disc width that can reach up to 9 meters. It is a circumglobal species found in tropical to temperate pelagic waters, often near coastlines, reefs, and in the open ocean, diving to depths of 1,000 meters. These filter feeders primarily consume zooplankton, including mesopelagic sources, and can also eat small fish. While generally solitary, they aggregate at feeding grounds and cleaning stations. The species is currently listed as Endangered due to overfishing and low reproductive rates.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsGreen Sea Turtle
Chelonia mydas
The green sea turtle is a large marine reptile distinguished by its heart-shaped carapace and a single pair of prefrontal scales.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsMarine Iguana
Amblyrhynchus cristatus
The Marine Iguana is the only lizard adapted to life in the sea. Found only on the Galápagos Islands, it feeds primarily on algae and can dive up to a meter deep. Adult males are significantly larger than females, and their ability to excrete salt is a unique adaptation to their marine environment.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsOcean Sunfish
Mola mola
The Ocean Sunfish is one of the heaviest known bony fish, notable for its round, flat body. It often basks on its side at the surface of the ocean and is a diurnal predator feeding primarily on jellyfish.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsPacific Seahorse
Hippocampus ingens
The Pacific Seahorse is a relatively large seahorse species found in the eastern Pacific. They have distinctive elongated bodies and often change color to blend with their surroundings.
BEST SEASON
Cathemeral Frequent sightingsScalloped Hammerhead Shark
Sphyrna lewini
The Scalloped Hammerhead Shark is a large, migratory shark easily recognized by the central indentation on its hammer-shaped head. These sharks are found globally in warm temperate and tropical coastal and oceanic waters, often forming large schools around seamounts and islands. They are primarily nocturnal foragers, feeding on a diverse diet of bony fishes, cephalopods, crustaceans, and smaller sharks and rays.
BEST SEASON
Nocturnal Frequent sightingsSpinner Dolphin
Stenella longirostris
The Spinner Dolphin (Stenella longirostris) is a small, slender dolphin renowned for its acrobatic leaps and spins out of the water. Found in tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide, they typically feed on small mesopelagic fish, squid, and shrimp at night, often diving to considerable depths. During the day, they rest and socialize in large, often fluid, schools, sometimes in shallow coastal waters.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsWhale Shark
Rhincodon typus
The whale shark is the largest fish in the world and a gentle filter feeder.
BEST SEASON
Nocturnal Frequent sightingsWhitetip Reef Shark
Triaenodon obesus
The Whitetip Reef Shark is a slender, medium-sized shark easily identified by the distinctive white tips on its dorsal and upper caudal fins. Primarily nocturnal, it spends its days resting in caves and under ledges on coral reefs and hunts at night for bony fishes, crustaceans, and cephalopods. These sharks are generally social, often found in groups during the day, but can hunt individually or cooperatively.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsYellowfin Tuna
Thunnus albacares
The Yellowfin Tuna is one of the fastest and most powerful pelagic fish in the ocean. Recognizable by its sleek body and distinctive yellow fins, it inhabits tropical and subtropical waters worldwide. It often forms large schools and is frequently encountered around reefs, drop-offs and offshore seamounts, where it hunts smaller fish and squid with remarkable speed.
BEST SEASON
More marine life 40
Almaco JackSeriola rivoliana
Bigeye TrevallyCaranx sexfasciatus
Black DurgonMelichthys niger
Blacktip SharkCarcharhinus limbatus
Blue SharkPrionace glauca
Blue WhaleBalaenoptera musculus
Bryde's WhaleBalaenoptera edeni
California Butterfly RayGymnura marmorata
Common Bottlenose DolphinTursiops truncatus
Common Minke WhaleBalaenoptera acutorostrata
Dusky SharkCarcharhinus obscurus
Eagle RayAetobatus spp.
Ember ParrotfishScarus rubroviolaceus
Fin WhaleBalaenoptera physalus
Fur SealsArctocephalinae
Galapagos Blackstripe SalemaXenocys jessiae
GlasseyeHeteropriacanthus cruentatus
Great Hammerhead SharkSphyrna mokarran
Great White SharkCarcharodon carcharias
Guineafowl PufferArothron meleagris
Humpback WhaleMegaptera novaeangliae
Killer WhaleOrcinus orca
Loggerhead Sea TurtleCaretta caretta
Moorish IdolZanclus cornutus
Oceanic Whitetip SharkCarcharhinus longimanus
Pelagic Thresher SharkAlopias pelagicus
Round Ribbontail RayTaeniurops meyeni
Scrawled FilefishAluterus scriptus
Sea LionOtariinae
Short-tail StingrayBathytoshia brevicaudata
Sicklefin Devil RayMobula tarapacana
Silky SharkCarcharhinus falciformis
Silvertip SharkCarcharhinus albimarginatus
Smooth Hammerhead SharkSphyrna zygaena
Snowflake MorayEchidna nebulosa
Sperm WhalePhyseter macrocephalus
Spot-fin PorcupinefishDiodon hystrix
Spotted Eagle RayAetobatus narinari
Tiger SharkGaleocerdo cuvier
White-spotted PufferfishArothron hispidus
Explore Ecuador on the map
Frequently asked questions about Ecuador
What are the best dive destinations in Ecuador?
Ecuador has 4 dive destinations, including Galapagos Islands, Gordon Rocks, Kicker Rock, and Punta Vicente Roca.
When is the best time to dive in Ecuador?
It depends on where you dive in Ecuador: Galapagos Islands from June to October, Gordon Rocks from June to November, Kicker Rock from May to November, and Punta Vicente Roca from June to November.
What marine life can you see diving in Ecuador?
Divers can encounter 54 species in Ecuador. Highlights include Galapagos Barnacle Blenny, Galapagos Fur Seal, Galapagos Shark, Galápagos Sea Lion, Giant Oceanic Manta Ray, and Green Sea Turtle.
When can you see the Giant Oceanic Manta Ray in Ecuador?
The Giant Oceanic Manta Ray is most often seen in Ecuador from March to October.
When can you see the Pacific Seahorse in Ecuador?
The Pacific Seahorse is most often seen in Ecuador from April to September.
When can you see the Whale Shark in Ecuador?
The Whale Shark is most often seen in Ecuador from June to October.
What is the water temperature in Ecuador?
Water temperature across Ecuador ranges from 16°C at Gordon Rocks to 28°C at Galapagos Islands.
What wetsuit do I need to dive in Ecuador?
The water across Ecuador ranges from 16°C to 28°C, so pack anything from a rash guard or a 1–3 mm shorty to a 7 mm wetsuit depending on the site and the season.
What is the visibility like when diving in Ecuador?
Visibility in Ecuador ranges from 5 m to 30 m. The clearest water is found at Galapagos Islands.
What can you see on a night dive in Ecuador?
After dark, Ecuador reveals nocturnal species such as Galapagos Fur Seal, Spinner Dolphin, Whitetip Reef Shark, Blue Shark, Glasseye, and Short-tail Stingray.
Every answer is built from the conditions and sightings data we keep for Ecuador. Spotted something that looks off?
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