The capital of the Galapagos Islands is Puerto Baquerizo Moreno on San Cristobal Island. Here we find some good dive shops and outfitters offering dive trips to the surrounding dive sites. Some of the most interesting diving spots are in the southern part of the archipelago.
Below is a list of scuba trips that use Puerto Baquerizo as their base camp, with multiple options for local hotels.
Isla Lobos
This dive site is located off the west coast of San Cristobal Island, an easy site great for beginners, the main attractions are the playfull sea lions and rays. The depth of diving is 3-9 mts. (10-30 ft.) and visibility ranges from 6-12 mts. (20-40 ft.). There is a slight current and the surge is negligible.
Five Fingers
This dive site is also off the west coast of San Cristobal and offers the opportunity to encounter harlequin wrasse, feeding marine iguanas, schools of fish including skipjack, big-eye jacks, wahoo and tuna. The diving depth ranges 20-21 mts. (60-65 ft.) and visibility is within 10-15 mts. (30-50 ft.). There is a slight current and the surge is light to moderate.
Kicker Rock (Sleeping Lion)
Off the west coast of San Cristobal this site offers an interesting wall dive where divers can encounter pelagics, schools of fish and octopus among others. The diving depth ranges 10-40+ mts. (30-130+ft.) and visibility is within 10-15 mts. (30-50 ft.). The current here is light to moderate and the surge is almost negligible.
Whale Rock (Roca Orca)
Located off the north west coast of San Cristobal this dive site´s main attractions are big schools of fish, sea turtles and rays. The depth for diving ranges 6-27 mts. (20-90 ft.) and visibility is 10-15 mts. (30-50 ft.). The currents are moderate and the surge depends on the swells.
Punta Pitt
This dive site is located at the northern end of San Cristobal Island, the main attractions here are sea turtles, rays, schools of fish including almaco jacks, sea stars, moray eels and occasional whale sharks. The dive depth ranges 6-23 mts. (20-75 ft.) and visibility is 10-15 mts (30-50 ft.). The current is moderate to strong and the surge depends on the swells.
Gardner Islet
Just outside of Gardner bay on the NE side of Española Island, the main attractions include the playfull sea lions, batfish and interesting wall dives with small caves to explore. The diving depth ranges from the surface to 24 mts (80 ft.) and visibility is between 15-18 mts. (50-60 ft.). The current is almost unnoticeable and the surge can be moderate in the shallows.
El Bajo Gardner
Just NE of Gardner Islet is this dive site with opportunities to spot peacock flounder, schools of fish and rays. The dive depth ranges 6-24 mts. (20-80 ft.) with a visibility of 10-20 mts. (30-60 ft.). The current is moderate to strong and the surge can be heavy in the shallows.
Enderby
This site is located off the NE coast of Floreana Island. The main attractions include a variety of pelagics including scalloped hammerheads, schooling fish and a wall dive. The diving depth ranges 6 - 40 mts. (20 - 130 ft.) and visibility from 9 - 24 mts. (30 - 80 ft.). There is a moderate to heavy current and the surge can be variable in the shallows.
Champion
Just SW of Enderby off the NE coast of Floreana. The main attractions include a wall/drift dive, green sea turtles, playfull sea lions, black coral, barracuda and pelagics. The depth for this dive ranges 6-40 mts. (20-130 ft.) and visibility from 9-24 mts. (30-80 ft.). The current is moderate to heavy from the SE side and the surge is moderate.
Devil`s Crown
Off the NE coast of Floreana offers opportunities to encounter rays, schooling fish and octopus. The depth range varies from 6-24 mts. (20-80 ft.) and inside the crater 3 mts. (10 ft.); the visibility varies between 10-18 mts. (30-60 ft.). The current is moderate yet there are times it can be heavy and the surge is moderate.
Santa Fe
This Islands main dive site is located on the NE corner of Santa Fe Island, the main attractions are white-tipped reef sharks, sea lions, marine turtles. There is also 2 more sites called La Punta (The point) and La Cueva (The Cave), where you find several schools of fish, stone scorpionfish, marbel & sting rays and garden eels. The depth ranges 9 - 12 mts. (30 - 50 ft.) while visibility is 9 - 12 mts. (30 - 40 ft.). Currents are slight to moderate and surge depends on swells.
San Cristobal dive shops and operators
Below we list the contact information of the main dive shops and tour operators offering land/hotel based dive trips using Santa Cristobal as the main base. You can book your diving tours through the below companies:
Cristobal Tour - Website: www.cristobaltour.com.ec
Chalo Tours - Phone: +593 5 2520953
Galapagos Cruise - Website: Galapagos Scuba diving