Galapagos Islands
Why dive in Galapagos Islands?
BEST SEASON
Featured Animals 8
- Unlikely
- Likely
- Very likely
Frequent sightingsGalapagos Barnacle Blenny
Emblemaria galapagensis
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Frequent sightingsWhale Shark
Rhincodon typus
The whale shark is the largest fish in the world and a gentle filter feeder.
More marine life 37
Where is Galapagos Islands
Pacific Ocean · Ecuador