Diving live-aboard Galapagos

Day 1: Embark + check out dive at Isla Lobos

Your guide will meet you at the airport of San Cristobal, assist you with the luggage and accompany you on the short bus ride to the motor yacht Galapagos Sky. After greeting the crew and the captain, your cabins will be assigned to you and then you will enjoy your first lunch on-board.

After lunch we will go to Isla Lobos for your check out dive, as this spot is the perfect start for your adventure. Under water you are likely to spot Fur Seals, Trumpet Fish, Green Turtles, Rays, white-tip sharks and possibly marine iguanas, although they are not very common here.

Day 2: Bartolome & Cousin's Rock

Your day starts with a land tour and a hike up to the top of the island from where you have spectacular views of the surrounding islands. On the way back down, you will walk through a unique volcanic landscape. Here you can admire the remarkable ability of nature adapting to these extraordinary conditions, something the guide will certainly point out to you.
After the hike you can take a refreshing swim and go snorkeling near the underwater caves and rocks in the area. You will likely find sharks, rays and tropical fish and maybe also some Galápagos Penguins swimming with you!
Located east of Santiago Island, Bartolome is known for its unique spear-like pinnacle. Here we will dive and go around a rocky platform and float around underwater cliffs that start at 15m. This gives us a good chance to see pelagic animals.

Cousin’s rock is located north-east of Santiago island, near Bartolome. This site has a unique and stunning topography of jagged rocky shelves where animals, both big and small, can be found resting and feeding. It is one of the few places where you can see endemic black coral amongst the riot of colourful clams, algae, flora and fauna that cover the rocks like splashes of paint. During our surface interval, look out for penguins that inhabit the surrounding area. You can expect to see many different marine mammals.

Day 3: Wolf Island

Named after the German geologist Theodor Wolf, this extinct volcano reaches 253 meter / 780 feet above sea level and lies around 160 kilometer / 100 miles northwest of Isabela Island. Unfortunately land visits are not permitted, however, bird life may be spotted from the boat.
We will dive at El Derrumbe and Shark Bay, two of the very best diving sites to see hammerheads and Galapagos sharks. Most dives around the reefs and walls have medium to strong currents. Therefore, the use of gloves and reef hooks is advised. Schooling fish and sharks are the main attraction, but between you can also see rays, turtles, marine mammals and other iconic Galápagos wildlife.

Day 4: Darwin Island

Darwin Island is on of the smallest islands within the Galapagos Archipelago and like Wolf Island, no land visits are permitted. It is a volcano which reaches 165 meter / 490 feet above sea level and was named after naturalist Charles Darwin. One of the most famed diving sites is Darwin's Towers, formerly called Darwin's Arch, which collapsed in 2021. This location offers a challenging yet spectacular drift dive along the wall at an average depth of just 9m. Mostly medium to strong currents are to be expected. You may see many hammerheads, black tips, silky and Galapagos sharks! Schools of jacks are a common sight, along with turtles, angelfish and moray eels. Occasional sightings of tiger sharks, manta rays and bottlenose dolphins make for a thrilling time. Whale sharks may also be seen between May and November.

Day 5: Wolf & Darwin Island

Day 6: Vicente Roca Point & Cape Douglas

We will cross the Bolivar Channel for the last time to Vicente Roca Point, just at the mouth of Isabela’s seahorse-shape. While entering a dark cave below a spectacular arch, roaring echoes of the waves will accompany you. Just around the corner, the collapsed amphitheatre of Volcan Ecuador offers another impressive view. The waters of the coves are much calmer compared against the ocean swell and are great place for snorkelling amongst various species of shark, penguins, puffer fish and even seahorses!

Cape Douglas will provide you with amazing diving opportunities as well. As you prepare for your dive, you can see Galapagos Penguins, Galapagos Flightless Cormorants, and Galapagos Marine Iguanas- animals only found exclusively on the Islands. A sure sight is incredible marine iguanas swimming and feeding on the rocks under the surface.

Day 7: Pinzón and Tortoise Reserve

Pinzón is a small island located off the western coast of Santa Cruz, about 1 hour from Puerto Ayora. It is a great spot for beginners and experienced divers, offering many playful sea lions, turtles, and red lipped batfish. The deep drop off wall is for more experienced divers, and is a great spot to see sea horses, rays, different species of sharks, and lobster. In the warmer months, Pinzón is a favourite site for the Manta Rays and pods of dolphins.
You will also have the opportunity to explore Santa Cruz Island ashore during a land tour, including a visit to the Tortoise Reserve.

Day 8: Disembarkation

It’s time to say goodbye to Galapagos! Assisted by the naturalist guide and some crew members, the dinghy will bring you and your luggage ashore, where we will take the shuttle back to the airport.