Galapagos Islands
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Why dive in Galapagos Islands?
BEST SEASON
Featured Animals 8
- Unlikely
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- 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 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
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
Diurnal Frequent sightingsWhale Shark
Rhincodon typus
The whale shark is the largest fish in the world and a gentle filter feeder.
BEST SEASON
More marine life 40
Almaco JackSeriola rivoliana
Bigeye TrevallyCaranx sexfasciatus
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
Fin WhaleBalaenoptera physalus
Fur SealsArctocephalinae
Galapagos Blackstripe SalemaXenocys jessiae
GlasseyeHeteropriacanthus cruentatus
Great White SharkCarcharodon carcharias
Green Sea TurtleChelonia mydas
Guineafowl PufferArothron meleagris
Humpback WhaleMegaptera novaeangliae
Killer WhaleOrcinus orca
Loggerhead Sea TurtleCaretta caretta
Moorish IdolZanclus cornutus
Ocean SunfishMola mola
Oceanic Whitetip SharkCarcharhinus longimanus
Pacific SeahorseHippocampus ingens
Pelagic Thresher SharkAlopias pelagicus
Round Ribbontail RayTaeniurops meyeni
Scrawled FilefishAluterus scriptus
Sea LionOtariinae
Short-tail StingrayBathytoshia brevicaudata
Silky SharkCarcharhinus falciformis
Silvertip SharkCarcharhinus albimarginatus
Smooth Hammerhead SharkSphyrna zygaena
Sperm WhalePhyseter macrocephalus
Spinner DolphinStenella longirostris
Spot-fin PorcupinefishDiodon hystrix
Spotted Eagle RayAetobatus narinari
Tiger SharkGaleocerdo cuvier
White-spotted PufferfishArothron hispidus
Whitetip Reef SharkTriaenodon obesus
Yellowfin TunaThunnus albacares
Where is Galapagos Islands
Pacific Ocean · Ecuador
Frequently asked questions about Galapagos Islands
When is the best time to dive in Galapagos Islands?
The best time to dive in Galapagos Islands is from June to October. In those months the water is between 17°C and 23°C.
What marine life can you see diving in Galapagos Islands?
Divers can encounter 48 species in Galapagos Islands. Highlights include Galapagos Barnacle Blenny, Galapagos Fur Seal, Galapagos Shark, Galápagos Sea Lion, Giant Oceanic Manta Ray, and Marine Iguana.
When can you see the Giant Oceanic Manta Ray in Galapagos Islands?
The Giant Oceanic Manta Ray is most often seen in Galapagos Islands from March to October.
When can you see the Whale Shark in Galapagos Islands?
The Whale Shark is most often seen in Galapagos Islands from June to October.
When can you see the Galapagos Barnacle Blenny in Galapagos Islands?
The Galapagos Barnacle Blenny can be seen in Galapagos Islands all year round.
What is the water temperature in Galapagos Islands?
Water temperature in Galapagos Islands ranges from 17°C in August to 28°C in January.
What wetsuit do I need to dive in Galapagos Islands?
Most divers wear a 7 mm wetsuit in August, when the water drops to 17°C, and a rash guard or a 1–3 mm shorty in January, when it reaches 28°C.
What is the visibility like when diving in Galapagos Islands?
Visibility in Galapagos Islands ranges from 5 m to 30 m. The water is clearest from December to May.
What are the currents like in Galapagos Islands?
Divers in Galapagos Islands can expect light, moderate, strong, or very strong currents, depending on the month and the dive site.
What can you see on a night dive in Galapagos Islands?
After dark, Galapagos Islands reveals nocturnal species such as Galapagos Fur Seal, Blue Shark, Glasseye, Short-tail Stingray, Spinner Dolphin, and Spot-fin Porcupinefish.
Where is Galapagos Islands located?
Galapagos Islands is a dive destination in Ecuador, in the Pacific Ocean.
Every answer is built from the conditions and sightings data we keep for Galapagos Islands. Spotted something that looks off?
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