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THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS: Dive with hammerhead sharks and much, much more
THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS
The Galapagos Islands are an Ecuadorian province, consisting of a series of volcanic islands located in the Pacific Ocean. They islands make up the second largest marine reserve in the world, and are without a doubt home to some of the finest diving spots on the earth. The equatorial position of the islands means that they receive both cold water currents from Antarctica and warm waters from the tropics. The result of this is a coexistence of species that would not normally be found together, for example the side by side presence of Galapagos penguins and tropical flamingos. Because of the volcanic foundation of the Islands, the surrounding waters are rich with nutrients, making them an ideal marine environment for the 500 types of fish, 27 species of shark, sea lions, rays, eels, and turtles that are found there in abundance. Diving in the Galapagos is an experience not to be missed, as it offers some unparalleled underwater experiences. The waters have been named as one of the seven underwater wonders in the world. The Galapagos are one of the only places in the world where divers can swim with large groups of hammerhead sharks. Though there are some sites suitable for beginner divers, many of the dives should only be undertaken by experienced divers.
The Galapagos Islands Highlights
Santa Cruz Island is the hub of the Galapagos Islands, and is the most developed. The harbour town of Port Ayora is a good place to start tours of the surrounding islands, and has a good selection of shops, restaurants and accommodation. The Charles Darwin Research Centre has run a project to breed captive tortoises and iguanas to restock the natural populations. Visitors can visit ‘lonesome George’, the last remaining tortoise of Pinta Island. This island highlands are a sub-tropical forest, filled with many rare land bird species. The Tortoise Reserve provides an opportunity to see magnificent giant tortoises in the wild. The island is home to many interesting species, including flamingos, rays and sharks and offers a wealth of excellent scuba diving opportunities. This is where divers come to get the exclusive chance to dive with a school of hammerhead sharks.
San Cristóbal Island is up and coming as another major tourist hub. The island has a large colony of Frigate birds, which can be observed from some good walking trails around the cliffs. At Punta Pitt, it is possible to view all three species of booby. The island has some lovely white coral and shell beaches, and has some excellent dive spots where lots of sea lions reside.
Darwin and Wolf Islands have some of the best diving spots in the Galapagos, and even in the world. Since the islands are not accessible to land visitors, scuba divers must come on a live-aboard cruise. The diving sites here offer visitors a chance to swim with magnificent whale sharks, dolphins, manta rays and turtles.
Floreana is a beautiful island where flamingoes can be found all year round. The Devil’s Crown is a semi-submerged volcanic cone, with an excellent spot for diving and snorkeling. This is seen as being one of the best Galapagos diving opportunities.
Genovesa is known as the ‘Birds’ Island’, thanks to its abundance of avian species. Visitors can expect to see, amongst others, frigate birds, red footed boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, storm petrels, masked boobies, finch birds and mocking birds.
Bartolome Island is the most visited island in the Galapagos. The extinct volcano has created a colourful landscape of red, oranges, greens and blacks. Pinnacle Rock was created when magma was thrown out of the volcano and into the sea. As the water cooled the hot liquid, an explosion occurred, and the separated particles then joined together to form a jagged, angular rock. It is now one of the most photographed sites in the Galapagos. Bartolome Island’s Northern beach has some excellent scuba opportunities, offering divers a chance to swim with sea lions and Galapagos penguins. The southern beach has a wealth of larger species to dive with, including stingrays, white-tipped sharks and black-tipped sharks.
Española Island has many types of nesting seabird, as well as dramatic cliff scenery. There are large marine iguanas throughout the island. Gardner Bay is a stunning white coral sand beach, where visitors can find turtles and sea lions. The diving in this area is excellent, with the opportunity to sea yellow-tailed surgeon fish and white tipped reef sharks.
The Galapagos Islands are an Ecuadorian province, consisting of a series of volcanic islands located in the Pacific Ocean. They islands make up the second largest marine reserve in the world, and are without a doubt home to some of the finest diving spots on the earth. The equatorial position of the islands means that they receive both cold water currents from Antarctica and warm waters from the tropics. The result of this is a coexistence of species that would not normally be found together, for example the side by side presence of Galapagos penguins and tropical flamingos. Because of the volcanic foundation of the Islands, the surrounding waters are rich with nutrients, making them an ideal marine environment for the 500 types of fish, 27 species of shark, sea lions, rays, eels, and turtles that are found there in abundance. Diving in the Galapagos is an experience not to be missed, as it offers some unparalleled underwater experiences. The waters have been named as one of the seven underwater wonders in the world. The Galapagos are one of the only places in the world where divers can swim with large groups of hammerhead sharks. Though there are some sites suitable for beginner divers, many of the dives should only be undertaken by experienced divers.
The Galapagos Islands Highlights
Santa Cruz Island is the hub of the Galapagos Islands, and is the most developed. The harbour town of Port Ayora is a good place to start tours of the surrounding islands, and has a good selection of shops, restaurants and accommodation. The Charles Darwin Research Centre has run a project to breed captive tortoises and iguanas to restock the natural populations. Visitors can visit ‘lonesome George’, the last remaining tortoise of Pinta Island. This island highlands are a sub-tropical forest, filled with many rare land bird species. The Tortoise Reserve provides an opportunity to see magnificent giant tortoises in the wild. The island is home to many interesting species, including flamingos, rays and sharks and offers a wealth of excellent scuba diving opportunities. This is where divers come to get the exclusive chance to dive with a school of hammerhead sharks.
San Cristóbal Island is up and coming as another major tourist hub. The island has a large colony of Frigate birds, which can be observed from some good walking trails around the cliffs. At Punta Pitt, it is possible to view all three species of booby. The island has some lovely white coral and shell beaches, and has some excellent dive spots where lots of sea lions reside.
Darwin and Wolf Islands have some of the best diving spots in the Galapagos, and even in the world. Since the islands are not accessible to land visitors, scuba divers must come on a live-aboard cruise. The diving sites here offer visitors a chance to swim with magnificent whale sharks, dolphins, manta rays and turtles.
Floreana is a beautiful island where flamingoes can be found all year round. The Devil’s Crown is a semi-submerged volcanic cone, with an excellent spot for diving and snorkeling. This is seen as being one of the best Galapagos diving opportunities.
Genovesa is known as the ‘Birds’ Island’, thanks to its abundance of avian species. Visitors can expect to see, amongst others, frigate birds, red footed boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, storm petrels, masked boobies, finch birds and mocking birds.
Bartolome Island is the most visited island in the Galapagos. The extinct volcano has created a colourful landscape of red, oranges, greens and blacks. Pinnacle Rock was created when magma was thrown out of the volcano and into the sea. As the water cooled the hot liquid, an explosion occurred, and the separated particles then joined together to form a jagged, angular rock. It is now one of the most photographed sites in the Galapagos. Bartolome Island’s Northern beach has some excellent scuba opportunities, offering divers a chance to swim with sea lions and Galapagos penguins. The southern beach has a wealth of larger species to dive with, including stingrays, white-tipped sharks and black-tipped sharks.
Española Island has many types of nesting seabird, as well as dramatic cliff scenery. There are large marine iguanas throughout the island. Gardner Bay is a stunning white coral sand beach, where visitors can find turtles and sea lions. The diving in this area is excellent, with the opportunity to sea yellow-tailed surgeon fish and white tipped reef sharks.
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