Scuba Diving - From Liveaboards to Dive Packages, The Galapagos Dive Trips For All Levels
Recently, I was at a cocktail party talking with friends about my latest trip to the Galapagos Islands.
And even though it's one of the most astonishing places you could imagine; I regularly hear the same question, "Where's the Galapagos?" When I mention Charles Darwin and giant tortoises a glimmer of recollection sparks in the inquirers eyes.
However it's another response - I've been dying to go there - I've learned of the years, 90% of the time precedes a great conversation about diving.
What is it that makes divers know about the Galapagos, when your average person may not? To begin with it's the second largest marine reserve in the world, UNESCO has named it a world heritage site, and Rodale's Scuba Diving Magazine consistently names it as one of the best dive spots in the world - all of this is for good reason.
The Galapagos is one of the world's most pristine environments, a national park, and wildlife sanctuary.
It is one of the only places you can have up-close interactions with wild animals.
It's here on the equator at the confluence of currents, where the cold waters traveling north from Antarctica mix with the warm tropical waters traveling south from Panama that a unique environment is formed.
On the islands it's characterized by seeing Galapagos Penguins living only a few feet away from tropical Pink Flamingos.
Yet it's when you are underwater when you get to know how truly special this area is.
The Galapagos are volcanic islands that benefit from equatorial upwelling making it an ideal marine environment.
These waters are rich with nutrients.
The porous lava rocks provide small fish with the protection they would otherwise receive from a coral reef, which are few and far between in these waters.
All these factors combine to make diving in Galapagos an awesome experience.
It's in Galapagos where diving with whale sharks, hammerheads, giant manta rays, dolphins, sea turtles, yellow fin tuna, Galapagos sharks, almaco jacks, bacalo, leather bass and sea lions not a wish list but a daily experience.
Scuba Diving in Galapagos can be arranged in a couple of ways.
First for advanced divers there are a handful of yachts, which offer 7-night live aboard cruises.
The highlight of these cruises is the 3 days spent diving at Wolf and Darwin.
This is a fantastic experience, which during peak season (June - November) includes diving with whale sharks, schools of hammerheads, Galapagos, silky and black tip sharks.
Galapagos isn't just for advanced divers; these waters offer something for divers of all skill levels.
Intermediate divers will be delighted by daily dive trips to sites like Gordon Rocks, Cousins Rocks, North Seymour and Floreana where hammerheads, Galapagos sharks, giant manta rays, golden rays, morays, fur seal and sea lions are all commonly seen.
In recent years, the addition of dive schools has made the Galapagos the perfect place for beginners to get certified or complete their open-water training in the protected waters of Academy Bay and Santa Fe.
No matter what your skill level the Galapagos is considered one of the world's finest marine environments with incredible diving experiences for divers of all abilities.
It's no wonder so many divers know just how special the Galapagos Islands are.
And even though it's one of the most astonishing places you could imagine; I regularly hear the same question, "Where's the Galapagos?" When I mention Charles Darwin and giant tortoises a glimmer of recollection sparks in the inquirers eyes.
However it's another response - I've been dying to go there - I've learned of the years, 90% of the time precedes a great conversation about diving.
What is it that makes divers know about the Galapagos, when your average person may not? To begin with it's the second largest marine reserve in the world, UNESCO has named it a world heritage site, and Rodale's Scuba Diving Magazine consistently names it as one of the best dive spots in the world - all of this is for good reason.
The Galapagos is one of the world's most pristine environments, a national park, and wildlife sanctuary.
It is one of the only places you can have up-close interactions with wild animals.
It's here on the equator at the confluence of currents, where the cold waters traveling north from Antarctica mix with the warm tropical waters traveling south from Panama that a unique environment is formed.
On the islands it's characterized by seeing Galapagos Penguins living only a few feet away from tropical Pink Flamingos.
Yet it's when you are underwater when you get to know how truly special this area is.
The Galapagos are volcanic islands that benefit from equatorial upwelling making it an ideal marine environment.
These waters are rich with nutrients.
The porous lava rocks provide small fish with the protection they would otherwise receive from a coral reef, which are few and far between in these waters.
All these factors combine to make diving in Galapagos an awesome experience.
It's in Galapagos where diving with whale sharks, hammerheads, giant manta rays, dolphins, sea turtles, yellow fin tuna, Galapagos sharks, almaco jacks, bacalo, leather bass and sea lions not a wish list but a daily experience.
Scuba Diving in Galapagos can be arranged in a couple of ways.
First for advanced divers there are a handful of yachts, which offer 7-night live aboard cruises.
The highlight of these cruises is the 3 days spent diving at Wolf and Darwin.
This is a fantastic experience, which during peak season (June - November) includes diving with whale sharks, schools of hammerheads, Galapagos, silky and black tip sharks.
Galapagos isn't just for advanced divers; these waters offer something for divers of all skill levels.
Intermediate divers will be delighted by daily dive trips to sites like Gordon Rocks, Cousins Rocks, North Seymour and Floreana where hammerheads, Galapagos sharks, giant manta rays, golden rays, morays, fur seal and sea lions are all commonly seen.
In recent years, the addition of dive schools has made the Galapagos the perfect place for beginners to get certified or complete their open-water training in the protected waters of Academy Bay and Santa Fe.
No matter what your skill level the Galapagos is considered one of the world's finest marine environments with incredible diving experiences for divers of all abilities.
It's no wonder so many divers know just how special the Galapagos Islands are.