WOLF
AND DARWIN ISLANDS
Wolf and Darwin are the north western islands of the archipelago,
famous because they are the most exciting and desirable
dive sites in the world. Strong currents are the ruling
feature of these singular dive sites, where a diver can
station himself at a rock to watch giant schools of every
kind of fish drift past. The sites are especially known
for the high presence of hammerheads and big galápagos
sharks as well as marine turtles, various types of rays,
mantas, dolphins, moray eels, and invertebrates. Here,
you may live the unique experience of finding yourself
with the greatest fish of all, the Whale Shark, between
June to October.
ACADEMY
BAY At Santa Cruz Island.
This is the bay of Puerto Ayora at Santa Cruz Island,
offering 5 dive sites within 10 or 20 minutes by boat
from our Dive Center . Three of the sites are generally
calm with little current; ideal for students or novices.
At the other two sites the dives could be a little more
complicated if there is current, so they are suitable
for intermediate or expert divers. It is possible to see
reef fish, sea lions, sting rays, golden rays, eagle rays,
invertebrates, morays, garden eels, turtles, marine iguanas,
and white tip reef sharks.
SANTA
FE ISLAND
This island is about an hour away from our Dive Center,
and offers 4 dive sites. Generally the waters are clear
and the currents mild, so they are ideal for novices.
At the same time, the animals and topography make them
interesting for intermediates and experts. We can see
reef fish; sting and eagle rays, garden eels, turtles,
sea lion colony, invertebrates, morays, pelagic fish,
maybe white tip reef sharks or hammerheads.
FLOREANA
ISLAND
Floreana is about 90 minutes south from our Dive Center.
The 9 dive sites usually have calm water but when we find
strong current at one we can quickly move to another.
This makes Floreana ideal for all levels of divers. You
may see coral heads, endemic black coral, reef fish; sting
and eagle rays, turtles, sea lion colony, barracudas,
pelagic fish, white tip reef sharks, galápagos
sharks, hammerhead sharks, sea horses, morays, garden
eels, invertebrates.
NORTH
SEYMOUR ISLAND
This island is about 90 minutes north of our Dive Center.
There are 5 dive sites suitable for all levels of divers,
although sometimes the currents can be strong. We can
see reef fish; sting and eagle rays, a large garden eel
colony, turtles, invertebrates, sea lion colony, morays,
pelagic fish, and usually white tip reef sharks and hammerheads.
Occasionally the galápagos sharks.
NAMELESS
ISLAND
This is an isolated offshore "sugarloaf" with
vertical walls all around. The distance from our Dive
Center is about one hour. The main dive site is a shelf
of boulders at about 60 feet. We usually see many galápagos
sharks here, some schools of pelagic fish, and multicolored
sponges on the rock wall. Currents and surge are the controlling
factors at Nameless Island.
GORDON
ROCKS
This rock formation is a world famous dive site close
to Plazas Islands, about one hour from our Dive Center.
There are 5 dive sites in the area, but only the three
at Plazas are for novices. The other two sites are for
intermediates and experts because there can be strong
currents and surge. The Gordon Rocks dive sites are mostly
walls with a deep bottom. Reef fish, large pelagic fish;
golden, sting and eagle rays, turtles, sea lion colony,
endemic galapágos fur seals, morays, invertebrates;
white tip and galápagos sharks. Hammerhead sharks
are the main attraction, often appearing in large schools.
