Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Scuba Diving near a whale Shark, Galápagos Islands
The strongest currents are the Humboldt (July to December) the Arctic current (May to
September) and the Panama current (January to June) but it's difficult to say when the best
time to dive is. During the hot season waters are calmer, temperatures are warm and visib-
ility is best (though it's great year-round,) while the dry one has large schools of sharks
and other large marine life swarming through (whale shark season runs from April to
November.) There are about 30 dive sites in the Galápagos you can explore on anything
from a day tour to a two-week excursion with 3 dives a day. If you take a dive-specific
cruise though, make sure they have a dive permit: all live-aboard boats have either a
cruise permit or a dive one. Offshore diving is virtually impossible as most dives take
place near the cliff faces of offshore rocks.
Remember that booking in advance can be more than twice as expensive as booking in
person, but it can be worth it. Operators book tours with a minimum number of passengers
and will cancel trips last minute if they don't meet it. On the other hand, you'll want to
check equipment well beforehand to make sure it's up to standard, as the level can vary
