Galapagos Islands dive sites
Ecuador · Browse dive locations by depth, type and conditions.
Best Season
June-November
Skill Levels
advanced, intermediate
Nearby Cities
Puerto Ayora, Puerto Villamil
All dive sites
Gordon Rocks
Puerto Ayora · Galapagos Islands · Ecuador
An extinct volcanic crater off Santa Cruz where schools of hammerheads circle a sandy amphitheatre swept by powerful currents.
Isabela Island Los Tuneles
Puerto Villamil · Galapagos Islands · Ecuador
A surreal landscape of collapsed lava tunnels off Isabela Island where sea turtles, white-tip reef sharks, and seahorses inhabit a labyrinth of volcanic arches, bridges, and channels in the Galapagos marine reserve.
Wolf Island
Puerto Ayora · Galapagos Islands · Ecuador
A remote Galapagos outpost where massive hammerhead schools, whale sharks, and Galapagos sharks converge at volcanic pinnacles.
Diving in Galapagos Islands
Galapagos Islands offers seamount, reef dive sites across 2 locations. Browse dive locations by depth, type and conditions before planning your dive.
FAQ
Is Gordon Rocks suitable for beginner divers?
No, Gordon Rocks is firmly an advanced dive site. Strong and unpredictable currents, depths of up to 32 metres, and cold water temperatures make it unsuitable for beginners. Most operators require Advanced Open Water certification and a minimum of 25-30 logged dives. Some require specific experience with drift diving or cold water conditions. The site earned nicknames like 'the washing machine' for a reason.
What is the best time of year to dive Gordon Rocks for hammerheads?
The best period for hammerhead encounters at Gordon Rocks runs from June through November, when the cold Humboldt Current lowers water temperatures and brings nutrient-rich water that attracts large pelagic species. During these months, schools of hammerheads gather at cleaning stations inside the volcanic crater. January to May offers warmer water but fewer hammerhead sightings.
How do I get to Gordon Rocks from Puerto Ayora?
Gordon Rocks is located northeast of Santa Cruz Island and is easily accessible as a day trip. From Puerto Ayora, you travel about 40 minutes by road to the Itabaca Channel, then 20-30 minutes by dive boat to the three protruding sea rocks that mark the site. The entire excursion takes a full day and typically includes two dives. Multiple operators run daily trips during the dive season.
What are Los Tuneles and how were they formed?
Los Tuneles is a geological formation created by lava flows from the Sierra Negra volcano on Isabela Island that reached the ocean and cooled rapidly. As the outer surface of the lava solidified while molten rock continued flowing beneath, tubes formed. Over millennia, sections of these tubes collapsed, creating a network of arches, bridges, channels, and shallow pools. The result is a labyrinth of volcanic rock formations both above and below the waterline that serves as sheltered habitat for an extraordinary density of marine life.
Is Los Tuneles suitable for beginners?
Los Tuneles is accessible to intermediate divers and experienced snorkelers. The site is relatively shallow, with most features between 3 and 15 metres, and currents are generally mild due to the sheltered nature of the lava formations. However, navigation through the tunnels and arches requires reasonable buoyancy control, and the confined spaces mean poor technique can cause contact with fragile formations. Snorkeling is excellent here and allows access to many of the same encounters. The boat ride from Puerto Villamil takes about 45 minutes over open ocean that can be rough.