Best Galapagos Liveaboards
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Galapagos Skyfrom
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Handpicked Galapagos Selections
Liveaboard Diving in Galapagos
Spectacular Pelagic Diving
The Galápagos Islands offer some of the most spectacular pelagic diving on the planet. Here, divers drift through the blue surrounded by hundreds of hammerhead sharks while the shadow of a whale shark, the ocean’s largest fish, passes in the distance. Encounters with silky sharks, sea turtles, eagle rays, and massive schools of fish are common, especially around Darwin and Wolf. Every descent feels like entering a living ocean documentary, where marine megafauna gather in astonishing numbers thanks to the nutrient-rich currents that converge in this isolated archipelago.
Hundreds of Hammerhead Sharks and Playful Sea Lions
At Darwin Island, you can hover near rocky ledges and watch hammerheads form swirling walls in the current. At Wolf Island, expect Galápagos sharks cruising alongside eagle rays, while Cabo Marshall delivers close encounters with giant manta rays. Marine iguanas feed on algae below the surf line, penguins dart through the cool water, and playful sea lions turn every safety stop into a performance. Black coral gardens hide seahorses and hawkfish, and mola mola (sunfish) occasionally appear in the blue.
Endemic Paradise
The Galápagos’ isolation, 1,400 kilometers west of Ecuador, has created an endemic paradise above and below the surface. Strong, racing currents carry nutrients from three major ocean systems, fuelling one of the world’s richest marine ecosystems. Over 90 percent of the land and all surrounding waters are protected within the Galápagos National Marine Park, ensuring this unique biosphere remains pristine. This is a destination for confident, advanced divers who are comfortable with deep dives, currents, and the thrilling unpredictability of wild ocean encounters
Top Places to Dive in Galapagos
Darwin and Wolf
Every Galápagos diving liveaboard itinerary includes Darwin and Wolf's legendary sites that define the region’s reputation. These remote islands, accessible only by liveaboard boats in Galápagos, deliver schooling hammerheads, whale shark encounters, and close passes from Galápagos sharks. Conditions can be challenging with surge and current, but the payoff is immense. Divers often return to the surface exhilarated, still surrounded by the sounds of dolphins echoing through the deepMust See Galapagos Dive Sites
Darwin Island
Darwin Island is the undisputed crown jewel of liveaboard diving in Galápagos. Beneath the iconic natural arch, currents sweep past rocky plateaus where hammerheads, silky sharks, and jacks gather. Whale sharks often pass in the blue between June and November, making this one of the most exhilarating dive experiences in the world.
Wolf Island
Wolf Island complements Darwin perfectly, less vertical, but teeming with life. Here, reef sharks, Galápagos sharks, and massive schools of barracuda and tuna fill the water column. Eagle rays and turtles glide past, and between dives, pods of dolphins frequently approach the liveaboard in Galápagos, offering an unforgettable show.
Punta Carrion
Located near Santa Cruz Island, Punta Carrion is a more sheltered site that reveals the diversity of reef fish and vibrant marine life of the central islands. This is where you’ll find frogfish, blennies, and colourful nudibranchs tucked among coral formations, offering a contrast to the larger pelagics of the north.
Cousins Rock
A favourite among underwater photographers, Cousins Rock features terraced ledges covered in black coral and sponges. Seahorses, mandarin fish, and pygmy seahorses are common here, along with eagle rays gliding overhead. The combination of macro subjects and passing pelagics makes this one of the most superb dive sites in the central archipelago
When To Go Diving in Galapagos
You can dive the Galápagos year-round; the “best” time simply hinges on why you’re travelling and how much chilly water you’re willing to embrace. The equatorial climate splits into two distinct moods. From roughly January to June, brief but impressive showers bookend bright, sunny spells, with air temperatures around 24–28°C (75–82°F). The sea softens, too: 20–25°C (68–77°F) is typical, and from January to April some sites even touch 27–28°C (81–82°F). These warmer, calmer months often deliver superb encounters with hammerhead sharks and manta rays, though whale shark sightings are uncommon.
Come July to December, the dry season takes over, with clear skies, cooler afternoons, and water that dips to 19–23°C (66–73°F) while air temperatures hover near 21–24°C (70–75°F). This is whale shark season and the most sought-after window for liveaboard diving in Galápagos, even if the lower sea temperatures add a bracing edge to each giant-animal drift. Conditions are never an exact science here: certain sites run cooler regardless of month, currents flex without warning, and visibility breathes with the plankton. Pack accordingly. On any Galápagos liveaboard or Galápagos scuba liveaboard, bring exposure protection to span the full range you’re likely to meet so you can focus on the show rather than the shivers
Frequently Asked Questions About Galapagos
Can beginners dive in Galápagos?
Do sharks visit the Galápagos Islands?
Absolutely. The archipelago is world-renowned for its shark populations, which are protected within the Galápagos Marine Reserve. Divers regularly encounter hammerhead sharks, Galápagos sharks, whitetip reef sharks, and even whale sharks during their migrations. These majestic species gather around Darwin and Wolf Islands, making liveaboard diving in Galápagos one of the best ways to witness their natural behaviour. Despite their size, sharks here are not aggressive toward humans; observing them in such abundance is one of the archipelago’s greatest thrills
What is the best month to dive in Galápagos?
The best time for a scuba diving liveaboard in Galápagos depends on what you want to see. From June to November, cooler, nutrient-rich waters bring plankton blooms that attract whale sharks, hammerheads, and other pelagic species. The December to May season offers calmer seas, warmer temperatures, and frequent encounters with manta rays and turtles. Both periods deliver world-class diving; your choice simply depends on whether you prefer dense marine life or more comfortable conditions
