Kicker Rock
Image generated by artificial intelligence
Why dive in Kicker Rock?
BEST SEASON
Featured Animals 9
- Unlikely
- Likely
- Very likely
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
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 30
Bigeye TrevallyCaranx sexfasciatus
Black DurgonMelichthys niger
Blacktip SharkCarcharhinus limbatus
Blue SharkPrionace glauca
Blue WhaleBalaenoptera musculus
Common Bottlenose DolphinTursiops truncatus
Eagle RayAetobatus spp.
Ember ParrotfishScarus rubroviolaceus
Fur SealsArctocephalinae
Galapagos Barnacle BlennyAcanthemblemaria castroi
Galapagos Blackstripe SalemaXenocys jessiae
Galapagos Fur SealArctocephalus galapagoensis
Great Hammerhead SharkSphyrna mokarran
Humpback WhaleMegaptera novaeangliae
Killer WhaleOrcinus orca
Marine IguanaAmblyrhynchus cristatus
Ocean SunfishMola mola
Oceanic Whitetip SharkCarcharhinus longimanus
Pacific SeahorseHippocampus ingens
Pelagic Thresher SharkAlopias pelagicus
Round Ribbontail RayTaeniurops meyeni
Sea LionOtariinae
Short-tail StingrayBathytoshia brevicaudata
Sicklefin Devil RayMobula tarapacana
Silky SharkCarcharhinus falciformis
Smooth Hammerhead SharkSphyrna zygaena
Sperm WhalePhyseter macrocephalus
Spot-fin PorcupinefishDiodon hystrix
Spotted Eagle RayAetobatus narinari
Tiger SharkGaleocerdo cuvier
Where is Kicker Rock
Pacific Ocean · Ecuador
Frequently asked questions about Kicker Rock
When is the best time to dive in Kicker Rock?
The best time to dive in Kicker Rock is from May to November. In those months the water is between 18°C and 25°C.
What marine life can you see diving in Kicker Rock?
Divers can encounter 39 species in Kicker Rock. Highlights include Galapagos Shark, Galápagos Sea Lion, Giant Oceanic Manta Ray, Green Sea Turtle, Scalloped Hammerhead Shark, and Spinner Dolphin.
When can you see the Giant Oceanic Manta Ray in Kicker Rock?
The Giant Oceanic Manta Ray is most often seen in Kicker Rock from March to October.
When can you see the Spinner Dolphin in Kicker Rock?
The Spinner Dolphin is most often seen in Kicker Rock from April to October.
When can you see the Whale Shark in Kicker Rock?
The Whale Shark is most often seen in Kicker Rock from July to September.
What is the water temperature in Kicker Rock?
Water temperature in Kicker Rock ranges from 18°C in June to 28°C in January.
What wetsuit do I need to dive in Kicker Rock?
Most divers wear a 7 mm wetsuit in June, when the water drops to 18°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 Kicker Rock?
Visibility in Kicker Rock ranges from 8 m to 25 m. The water is clearest from December to April.
What are the currents like in Kicker Rock?
Divers in Kicker Rock can expect moderate, strong, or very strong currents, depending on the month and the dive site.
What can you see on a night dive in Kicker Rock?
After dark, Kicker Rock reveals nocturnal species such as Spinner Dolphin, Whitetip Reef Shark, Blue Shark, Galapagos Fur Seal, Short-tail Stingray, and Spot-fin Porcupinefish.
Where is Kicker Rock located?
Kicker Rock is a dive destination in Ecuador, in the Pacific Ocean.
Every answer is built from the conditions and sightings data we keep for Kicker Rock. Spotted something that looks off?
Tell us