The Galapagos Islands are undeniably a breathtaking destination. Situated around 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador, straddling both sides of the equator, this archipelago of 19 islands provides a unique habitat for an incredible variety of species. The convergence of three distinct oceanic currents at this location creates a dynamic blend of warm and cold waters, nurturing diverse and invaluable marine ecosystems. Due to the islands' isolation and limited migration opportunities, the resident animals have evolved into endemic species, specific to each individual island. The Galapagos Islands boast an impressive 2,000 species that cannot be found anywhere else in the world, lending them their well-deserved reputation. While only five of the islands are inhabited by humans, the remaining 14 islands are accessible solely through guided tours, ensuring their preservation and conservation.

Information from this Harvard International Review Article (click here) 

As shown in the photo above, the Galapagos Islands are spread out. A common question we receive is whether it’s possible to visit and dive at Wolf and Darwin Islands on a day trip. Unfortunately, the answer is no. These remote northern islands, famous for their incredible schooling hammerheads and seasonal whale sharks, are only accessible by liveaboard. For instance, on our 15-day itinerary, it takes approximately 14 hours to travel from Isabela Island to Wolf. This highlights the significant advantages of exploring the Galapagos Islands on a liveaboard, allowing you to reach these extraordinary and remote dive sites.

A scuba liveaboard cruise is a unique experience where you live on a boat for several days, dedicating your time to diving. The daily routine is simple: eat, sleep, dive, and repeat. This setup allows you to maximize your time exploring the underwater world. Liveaboard vessels typically feature dorm-style accommodations with bathrooms, communal social areas, a dining space, and a dive deck where all scuba gear is stored and prepared for use.

Most liveaboards accommodate 12 to 30 divers, supported by a dedicated crew who handle tasks like refilling cylinders, navigating the boat and zodiacs to dive sites, preparing meals, and maintaining the vessel. Think of a scuba liveaboard as an all-inclusive adventure covering your accommodation, meals, and dives. While the Galapagos is known for being a high-cost destination, liveaboards offer excellent value by providing an immersive and comprehensive diving experience, allowing you to explore the region's extraordinary marine life in a single trip.

Galapagos scuba liveaboards typically range from a minimum of 7-8 days to extended trips of 15+ days. At Galapagos Shark Diving, we offer two popular options: 8 days/7 nights and 15 days/14 nights, designed to suit a variety of preferences and schedules.

Galapagos liveaboards are a minimum of 7-8 days due to the remote nature of the islands, which require significant travel time to reach iconic dive sites like Darwin and Wolf. These itineraries allow for 3-4 dives per day, ensuring divers can fully immerse themselves in the region’s unique marine biodiversity. A week-long trip also aligns with the strict regulations of the Galapagos National Park, providing sufficient time to visit the best dive spots without feeling rushed.

Liveaboards offer unparalleled advantages for divers in the Galapagos. They balance the physical demands of diving with adequate rest, ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience. Additionally, liveaboards deliver cost efficiency by offering an all-inclusive package that maximizes the value of a single trip. Designed with global travelers in mind, 7-8 day liveaboards fit seamlessly into typical vacation lengths while providing access to remote and extraordinary locations, making them the ultimate way to explore the Galapagos.

A liveaboard cruise is an immersive experience where your days revolve around diving and exploring the underwater world. You’ll live aboard a well-equipped vessel that includes comfortable accommodations, dining areas, and communal spaces to relax between dives. Most itineraries offer 3-4 dives per day, giving you ample opportunities to discover the region’s vibrant marine life. The crew takes care of everything, from preparing meals to refilling dive cylinders, so you can focus entirely on enjoying your adventure. Between dives, you’ll have time to unwind, socialize with fellow divers, or simply soak in the breathtaking ocean views. A liveaboard cruise is more than just a trip—it’s a seamless, all-inclusive experience designed to maximize your time in one of the most extraordinary diving destinations in the world.

Galapagos cruises and liveaboards offer distinct ways to explore the archipelago, each catering to different interests and travel styles. Cruises are typically designed for travelers seeking a well-rounded experience, combining visits to scenic islands, wildlife encounters, and land-based excursions. They appeal to families, casual explorers, and those who prefer a mix of activities. In contrast, liveaboards are tailored specifically for scuba divers, offering an immersive dive-focused adventure with access to remote dive sites like Darwin and Wolf Islands. While cruises emphasize variety, liveaboards prioritize maximizing underwater exploration with multiple dives per day. Both options provide unforgettable experiences, but choosing between them depends on whether you want to explore the Galapagos primarily above or below the water.

When booking a liveaboard, several key factors can help ensure your trip meets your expectations. First, consider the itinerary and dive sites offered—make sure the trip includes must-see locations like Darwin and Wolf Islands if you’re looking for iconic Galapagos diving experiences. Check the duration of the liveaboard to ensure it aligns with your schedule and diving goals, as trips can range from 7 to 15 days. Evaluate the accommodations, amenities, and onboard facilities to ensure they suit your comfort and needs. Additionally, review the diving schedule and the number of dives per day, ensuring it matches your experience level and stamina. It's also important to verify the crew’s expertise, the quality of dive equipment, and the safety protocols in place. Lastly, consider the overall cost and what’s included in the package, such as meals, gear rentals, or park fees, to ensure the liveaboard offers value for your budget.

Most Galapagos liveaboards follow a standard itinerary, but we pride ourselves on offering three unique pillars that set us apart from the rest:

Citizen Science Programs

Dive deeper into marine conservation by participating in our citizen science initiatives. You'll learn how, as a recreational diver, you can collect valuable data and actively contribute to ongoing research projects, giving your dives an added sense of purpose and impact.

Educational Talks from Shark Scientists

Our trips are led by expert shark scientists who dive alongside you, sharing their knowledge about the incredible shark species of the Galapagos and their conservation. Between dives, enjoy engaging talks covering topics such as whale shark research, citizen science, underwater photography, Galapagos geology, and more. You’ll even have the chance to watch exclusive whale shark documentaries, making your trip both thrilling and educational.

Support for Whale Shark Research

Over 80% of our profits are donated directly to the Galapagos Whale Shark Project. By joining our liveaboard, you're not only diving in one of the most remarkable places on Earth but also actively supporting the vital research and conservation efforts that protect these majestic creatures in the Galapagos Islands.

With these unique offerings, our liveaboard provides an unmatched diving experience that combines adventure, education, and meaningful conservation.

When exploring the Galapagos Islands, the ideal approach is to embark on a dive liveaboard expedition to truly access the remote and captivating locations. The most extraordinary experience one can have is diving in the northern region of the Galapagos, particularly at Wolf and Darwin Islands. It is an awe-inspiring adventure that finds its place on every diver's ultimate wish list. These remarkable sites are renowned for their flourishing populations of hammerhead and Galapagos sharks, making them an absolute must-visit. Furthermore, in the latter part of the year, the islands transform into a vital migratory path for majestic whale sharks.

Cape Marshall (City of Mantas) - eagle ray or giant manta, white tip sharks, sea lions, green sea turtles and many more

Punta Vicente Roca - mola alexandrini, sea lions and galapagos fur seals

Cape Douglas - marine iguanas, endemic flightless cormorant and galapagos penguins

Cousin's Rock - playful sea lions, eagle rays, golden rays, mobula and giant Pacific manta rays

A few recommendations from Jenny:  In the Galapagos you have 3 main inhabitant islands - San Cristobal, Santa Cruz and Isabela. All reachable with little boats going between the island twice a day. Our Shark Conservation Dive Liveaboard boats leave from Santa Cruz what is the reason that we recommendations having Santa Cruz as a starting point.

1-3 days time: day tour to North Seymour - a really nice little island with many of the unique species of Galapagos (blue-footed boobies, frigate birds, land iguana, sea lions, etc.). A nice walk to Tortuga beach (plus walking to the laguna Manzo) or to Las Grietas including Playa Aleman are each half day tours. For both take your swimming suit. You also should plan time for the Charles Darwin Center and the fish market in Puerto Ayora. Note: the highlands of Santa Cruz including giant tortoises you will see on our dive trip. 

4-7 days: Jenny loves Isabela island. Life there still moves at a somewhat slower pace. Time to relax on the beach and also so many activities, e.g. volcano tour, kayak tours to Las Tintoreras and snorkel in Los Tunnels and many things more. Ferries go twice every day. Check out Jenny's travel report (click here). 

This suggestion list, although limited in scope, represents just a fraction of what is possible to explore and experience in the Galapagos Islands. Please feel free to contact us if you have questions about what program/tours would fit for you. We are happy to share our knowledge and to make your Galapagos adventure a life-changing experience. If you have further questions please do not hesitate to contact us. You can reach us at info@galapagossharkdiving.com. We are happy to assist you in any question you might have.

If you are not a certified scuba diver or cannot scuba dive for health reasons, we recommend a snorkel liveaboard or a land-based liveaboard. 

The reason we recommend this is that a liveaboard is really the best way to experience the Galapagos since there are so many remote areas that are only accessible by boat and some you need several days to get there.  Snorkel-based liveaboards can last from 3 days up to 7 days. On some of these trips, you can go to the western side of Isabela which is really amazing. We have contacts at many of the vessels within the Galapagos, so if you'd like more information, please email info@galapagossharkdiving.com and we can send over more details. 

Day diving in comparison with diving on a dive liveaboard up in Wolf & Darwin is always complicated to explain. If you are lucky on a day dive in Gordon Rocks you can see a big school of around 50 hammerhead sharks - up in Wolf/Darwin if you are lucky you can see a school of 500 or more hammerheads. Both are incredible experiences and still hard to compare. Galapagos on a bad day is often still so much more incredible compare to many other dive spots around the world on a good day. If you do not have the time (dive live aboards are 8 days) or money we would recommend to go for daily dive tours around the main island of Santa Cruz or San Cristobal.

There are places like Gordon Rocks and North Seymour (departing from Santa Cruz) or Kickers Rock (departing from San Cristobal) where you can see hammerheads. At Gordon Rocks (Santa Cruz) and Kickers Rock (San Cristobal) there is a slightly better chance to see hammerhead sharks. Just like any other wildlife encounters, there is no assurance of encountering specific animals while scuba diving. 

We highly recommend Academy Bay or Scuba Iguana - dive operators in Santa Cruz or Galapagos Shark Sky in San Cristobal. Let them know you are coming from Jenny (Galapagos Shark Diving) to get a good deal.