Where to dive in Ecuador

Cerro Tijeretas

Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, Galápagos

Calm-water bay near Puerto Baquerizo Moreno (San Cristóbal); marine iguanas, sea lions, green turtles, max 15m. Beginner-friendly.

Champion

Islet north of Floreana with playful sea lions, black/yellow coral walls, whitetip sharks and rays. Drift dive 8–20m.

Corona Del Diablo

Submerged volcanic crater off Floreana; colorful coral interior and current-swept exterior with hammerheads and Galápagos sharks.

Cousin Rock

Small rocky pyramid north of Bartolomé; black-coral walls and terraces to 40m, Pacific seahorses, occasional hammerheads and mantas.

Cousins

Local name for Cousin Rock north of Bartolomé; black-coral walls, stepped ledges at 30–40m, seahorses, hammerheads and mantas.

Daphne

Volcanic peak north of Santa Cruz; caves with whitetip sharks, deep black-coral wall, seahorses and occasional hammerheads. 5–30m.

Darwin's Arch

Legendary site at northern Galápagos; tornadoes of hammerheads (Jun–Nov), large female whale sharks (Jul–Dec). Liveaboard, advanced only.

El Barranco

Wall and cave dive on San Cristóbal; rocky fissure from 20m to 34m. Torch required; for experienced divers.

El Susstro

Coastal wall dive on San Cristóbal with sea lions, marine iguanas, turtles and reef fish. Suitable for intermediate divers.

Enderby

Crescent islet off Floreana; vertical outer walls to 27m with sharks, rays and possible whale sharks. Sheltered interior for macro.

Gordon

Puerto Ayora, Galápagos

Central Galápagos dive near Santa Cruz; rocky/sandy bottom at 15–25m with whitetip sharks, turtles and rays. Intermediate.

Gordon Rocks

Volcanic crater "The Washing Machine" NE of Santa Cruz; dense hammerhead schools, mantas, eagle rays. 12–32m, AOW + 20 dives.

Gordon's Rock

Eroded volcanic crater "The Washing Machine" near Santa Cruz; hammerheads, Galápagos sharks, eagle rays. AOW + 20 dives required.

Gordon's Rocks

Eroded volcanic crater NE of Santa Cruz; schooling hammerheads, Galápagos sharks, mantas. Strong currents; AOW required.

Kicker Rock

Iconic 148m twin rocks off San Cristóbal; drift through narrow channel with hammerheads, Galápagos sharks, eagle rays, turtles.

La Loberia

Coral-sand beach on San Cristóbal with sea lion colonies; rays, turtles, marine iguanas. Calm and accessible to all levels.

Landslide

Northern Galápagos site (Wolf Is.) with scattered boulders; large hammerhead schools, Galápagos sharks, rays. Strong currents.

Landslide Wall

Vertical wall next to Landslide on Wolf Island; coral- and sponge-covered face with hammerheads, Galápagos sharks, large morays.

León Dormido

148m twin volcanic tuff towers off San Cristóbal; drift through narrow channel with hammerheads, Galápagos sharks, eagle rays.

Mosquera

Sandy islet between Seymour and Baltra; large sea lion colony, garden eels, Galápagos sharks, eagle rays at 12–25m.

North Seymour Island

Popular central Galápagos site; terraces from 8m to sandy bottom at 18–25m, eagle ray schools, whitetips and occasional hammerheads.

Punta Carrion

NE tip of Santa Cruz; calm inner Itabaca Channel and current-exposed throat with Galápagos sharks, blacktips, rays. Good entry site.

Punta Vicente Roca, Isabela

NW Isabela near Ecuador volcano; reliable Mola mola sightings, batfish, seahorses, frogfish. Cold currents, intense thermocline.

Santa Fe Island

Calm sites on Santa Fé (El Fondeador, Punta El Miedo) at 10–15m; sea lions, whitetips, rays and turtles. Beginner-friendly.

Seymour Channel

Drift dive between Seymour and Baltra; garden eels, golden eagle rays in formation, whitetips and turtles. 12–25m, all levels.

Seymour Island

Shallow reef and wall to 25m north of Santa Cruz; whitetips, hammerheads, eagle ray schools, turtles and sea lions.

Seymour, El Canal

Gentle drift between North Seymour and Baltra; garden eels, golden eagle ray schools, whitetips and sea lions at 12–25m.

Shark Bay

Wolf Island hammerhead cleaning station; massive schools, whale sharks Jun–Oct, Galápagos sharks. Liveaboard, advanced only.

Tortuga Island

Turtle-shaped volcanic islet south of Puerto Villamil; hammerheads, Galápagos sharks, mantas, gorgonians to 18m. Experienced divers.

Trash Point

Coastal Isabela dive with rocky/sandy bottom; sea lions, marine iguanas, reef fish and rays. Variable currents.