Galapagos cruise - Diving tips - Page two

Galapagos diving tips

Cruise tips you can trust

Helpful
Galapagos diving
pointers

Currents

They can be strong during the Galapagos Islands' dry season (June to December, and especially in August and September).

Trade off

The water is warmer, calmer, and clearer during the wet season ( January to May), but there are considerably more fish to observe in the dry season (June to December).

Availability

Few Galapagos cruise boats have SCUBA gear or even offer diving time. However, some vessels are happy to book a private dive boat with a PADI dive master for you. You do not need to go ashore. The diveboat picks you up and returns you to your cruise boat.

If you're keenly into diving

A small number of live-aboard Galapagos cruise boats specialize in diving, or devote much of their itinerary and schedule to it. The 16-passenger Sky Dancer is the best known one - and offers up to four dives a day. Other live-aboard choices include the Lammer Law and the Aggressor I and II.

Daytrip dives

You can book daytrip dives out of Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island. But the best way to go is on a live-aboard. You'll visit a greater variety of dive spots.

Boat speed

Make sure your boat is a fast one, especially if you are going to distant islands. You don't want to eat up precious time traveling in a boat that you could be spending diving.

Shore excursions

If this is your first visit to the Galapagos Islands, be sure your diving vacation includes at least several shore excursions to see blue-footed boobies, land iguanas, giant tortoises, and other interesting land wildlife.