Galápagos Islands Sports & Outdoors

  D enjoys swimming with sea lions &...
by richiecdisc
 
  • D enjoys swimming with sea lions & turtles
      D enjoys swimming with sea lions &...
    by richiecdisc
  • SCUBA Iguana's Boat
      SCUBA Iguana's Boat
    by namastedc
  • Pinnacle at Bartholome ... good spot for a snorkel
      Pinnacle at Bartholome ... good spot for...
    by SanguiniA
  • Suited Up For A Snorkel
      Suited Up For A Snorkel
    by catalysta
  • Iguana
      Iguana
    by K1W1
 

Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

by all means get in the water!

by richiecdisc

No trip to the Galapagos Islands is complete without getting below the water's surface. There is so much to see under water and it's one place to escape the crowds. Well, to be honest, it's not all that crowded on the Galapagos but the serenity of being under water is something you shouldn't miss. Also, though it's quite cool to see a sea lion or turtle, it's quite another to see one coming at you under water. It's one experience I think that separates the Galapagos from other destinations. So, get in the water and enjoy all of the Galapagos has to offer. Though you could bring all your gear for either scuba diving or snorkeling it is readily available there. If you are traveling around Ecuador, it would be a lot to lug around. So, unless you are very into diving, just use what is available there. We found the equipment to be fine and cheap to rent. In fact, if you book your tours...

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Put the lead on and roll in

by Quero

If you are a scuba diver, the Galapagos represents one of those "holy grail" kind of places. You want to go, you hope you will be able to some day, but you don't really expect to make it all the way there. It's a long way away from everything and conditions are challenging. But isn't that part of the allure, after all?As I may have mentioned about a dozen times (more?) the water is cold. Extra thick wetsuits are essential, layered one on the other, hoods are a must, and if you don't wear gloves, you will find you have shredded fingers from holding onto barnacle-covered rocks in surge zones. Because divers wear so much protective clothing in the Galapagos, the amount of weight needed to get below the surface is impressive. I was taking 10 to 12 kg (22 to 26 lbs) down with me every dive, and still hd to fin head-down to get past the first few meters!Divers enter the water from pangas...

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Snorkelling and Diving

by SanguiniA

The Galapagos's underwater world is just as interesting as the islands themselves, so do yourselves a favour and don't miss out .... there is plenty to be seen and experienced: like sharks, rays, playful sea lions, penguins, a multitude of fish, diving seabirds etc etc. Enquire about cruises especially targeted for divingFor snorkelling just bring along a wetsuit (or else rent one) in the cold season (especially august -november) - The water can be surprisingly cold! It is best to get your own masks ... but fins can be rented from the yacht. Always enquire beforehand for availability.

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Snorkelling and Scuba equipment

by cybergenic

We were on the cheaper tours which are about US$80 per day on boats that hold about 9 people.The people who went on "organised" scuba dives were constantly frustrated by the disorganisation of the equipment and dive masters Or lack of. There were no real complaints about the actual dives themselves. There seemed to be a lot more shark sightings for the scuba divers compared to us snorkellers I was snorkelling only. I hired my equipment from my travel agent who wanted US$15 but I talked them down to US$10 quite easily.My snorkel had no release valve so it didnt work at all. My flippers were a little rough and cut my toes but the goggles were fine.The water in the South of the Galapagos Islands is cold. No one will tell you this. Sometimes the crew have wetsuits which may or may not fit. They cost about US$2 per day to hire. I recomend hiring a wetsuit from the Galapagos Island mainlaind...

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Diving the Galapagos on a non-live-aboard

by martij2

Part of the reason we selected the Seaman was because it offered diving but wasn't a 5-6 dives/day diving enthusiast cruise. The boat had a good set-up for diving - nice large platform on the back, but because diving is done from the pangas (dinghies) you pretty much suit up, lunge into the dinghies, motor a short distance to the site, and back-roll into the water. We did three dives: Cousin Rock, Enderby, and Devil's Crown. We saw sharks, turtles, rays, sea lions, and schools of fish so thick that you could not see through them. The only problem we had (other than the whopper of a current at Devil's Crown) was that the weights weren't labeled, so on the first dive I thought I had 22 pounds of weight while I only had 12. This meant that, with my super buoyant 5mm wetsuit there was no way in hell I was going to be able to descend and had to request more weight. By my calculations I had...

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SCUBA Diving with Scuba Iguana

by namastedc

We went on three dives with SCUBA Iguana, and it was honestly the best diving we have ever done. Our first two dives were at North Seymore. We say white tip sharks, tons of sea lions, morays, green sea turtles, giant spotted eagle rays, garden eels, fish cleaning stations, puffers, and I'm sure many other things I'm forgetting.We also did a night dive in Academy bay, where we saw sea turtles, sharks, and lots of phosphorescent plankton. It was freaky but VERY exciting and rewarding!!!THe best part of SCUBA iguana was the staff. Our guide was Paulo, who spoke perfect English, and knew the sites like his own backyard. He was able to find every animal we wanted to see except for the hammerheads, which I'm sure is not his fault! He was incredibly friendly, and set up and broke down all of our equipment. At this place, you don't touch the equipment unless it is on your back!!! The prices are...

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Diving With The Hammerheads and Whale Sharks

by catalysta

Although it's not my thing to seek out extra adrenaline rushes (I feel my life has offered me plenty for free), those of you who wish to can dive with the hammerheads can go to a submerged volcanic crater at Gordon Rocks. I hear the sightings of whale sharks are abundant and incredible around Wolf & Darwin Islands. Darnit, I didn't have my C-Card yet when I was there, only snorkeled!!

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That Water's Colder Than It Looks...

by catalysta

Be sure you bring a wetsuit along. Despite the equatorial position these islands occupy, the water can be quite cool for swimming, snorkeling and diving. Those on our trip who had wetsuits to wear enjoyed the experience much more than those of us who didn't.

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Scuba diving isn't the only game in town

by K1W1

If you do the boat trip down to the southern islands, you are likely to stop at Floreana where there is a football pitch marked out in the sand. We had a match where the crew played the passengers - very entertaining and good exercise before cooling down in the surf afterwards. Each night the locals back in Porto Ayora get together to play volleyball in the center of town. It's quite a social gathering where everyone's welcome. A pair of trainers would have been a lot more useful than my sandals in the football match.

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Top 3 Hotels in Galápagos Islands

Red Mangrove Isabela Lodge  Isla Isabela

 51 Opinions

 Hotels in Isla Isabela

Finch Bay Eco Hotel  Puerto Ayora

 232 Opinions

 Hotels in Puerto Ayora

La Casa Marita  Puerto Villamil

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Questions and Answers

ticelis profile photo

Q:  We (2 p) are planning a trip to Galapagos islands in february 2012. I visited the islands in '82. I flew into Baltra and found... 

MalenaN profile photo

A: Many tourists visit Galapagos Islands independently. From Puerto Ayora there are daily speed boats to Puerto Villamil (Isla Isabela) and to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno (Isla... 

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