Galapagos diving tours - Why dive in the Galapagos Islands?

Diving in the Galapagos Islands is varied, exciting and beautiful. The southern and central islands offer a diversity of dive sites that include everything from the smallest nudibranch to an occasional Humpback or Sperm Whale. Dive with sea lions, turtles, stingrays. dolphin and schools of fish beyond your imagination.

The Galapagos is a unique, world-class diving location, yet it remains relatively unknown among diving aficionados. And precisely because this underwater world has yet to be "discovered," it still remains private, pristine and relatively unexplored. Tropic long ago realized the awesome potential of this magical diving site and has been operating its Underwater Galapagos program for the past ten years.

The Galapagos is a chain of relatively young volcanic islands (some of which are still active), located a 90-minute flight from the Ecuadorian mainland. This fortuitously positions the islands at the confluence of three distinct oceanic currents, thus creating a sea of contradictions, as well as one of the highest levels of marine endemism anywhere in the world; nearly one in four species is unique to the islands. In the Galapagos, expect the unexpected: Penguins swim among mangroves in the company of rainbow-colored reef fish while whale sharks and schools of hammerheads circle above Moorish idols

A diver in the Galapagos can swim eye to eye with sea lions, sea turtles, giant mantas and hammerhead sharks in addition to tropical reef fish. On land the visitors will find yourself side-stepping over impish land iguanas, nesting blue-footed boobies and scuttling sally lightfoot crabs.

In December 2001 Rodale's Scuba Diving Magazine awarded the Galapagos Islands their Readers Top Choice Awards in the following categories :

• First best dive destination in world (tied with Papua New Guinea) 
• First best fish life in the Pacific & Indian Ocean 
• First healthiest marine environment in the Pacific & Indian Ocean 
• First best place in the world to dive with big animals  
• First best advanced diving destination in the Pacific & Indian Ocean 
• First top destination in Pacific & Indian Ocean a diver would return to
• Second best value destination in the Pacific & Indian Ocean 

It is important to know that diving in the Galapagos is recommended for experienced divers only. Most of the good diving sites have strong currents, surge and cold waters.