By Rick Stratton

Divers travel to the Galapagos Islands, an archipelago that attracts divers from all over the planet, seeking a chance to commune with an abundance of sea life. Sporting marine life from all over the world one could say the Galapagos Islands are the community center of the sea. Located 525 miles west of Ecuador and part of an Ecuadorian province, this is a national park like none other. The group of islands come together as a protected biological marine reserve; home to 23,000 local residents and thousands of returning sea going visitors. The islands were originally discovered by Ambrose Cowley in 1684 and consist of a group of 15 main islands, 3 smaller islands and various other outcroppings that are volcanic.

The Galápagos Islands are literally two destinations in one.  According to Peter A. Hughes, President of DivEncounters Inc., there are two distinct seasons to dive the islands and both are equally impressive. “The interesting thing about the Galapagos Islands is it can be a colder dive or a warmer dive depending on the season,” Hughes says. From January to mid-June it is the warm season – the water is warmer, calmer and clearer. The sky is even brighter. During this time you will see an abundance of rays and other animals. From June 15 thru the end of December is the cold season - the air and water are cooler. The sky is a little darker and this is when you are guaranteed to see Whale sharks. The Galapagos are one of my favorite dive destinations because it is so diverse and you can dive it during the two different seasons and get a totally different experience.”

Hughes adds the rules for liveaboards have changed somewhat recently. As of June 1 the National Park Service has changed the number of dives one can do in a day from four to three. “We all understand,” Hughes says. “They are simply trying to minimize the impact of human contact.”

Hughes is partial to Punta Vincente Roca located on the North West tip of Isabella Island. He says it is an incredible dive. “This area is constantly fed by the current so it brings in a huge upwelling of life,” Hughes says. “It has the best vis and it is a deep dive. The marine life is awesome.”  Marcel Westerhoff, the Marketing and Sales manager for Seaman 2 Land Tours and Buddy Dive, agrees. “The Punta Vincente Roca area offers divers a chance to really experience what the Galapagos Islands are all about,” Westerhoff says. “It is one of our favorite places to take divers.” Westerhoff says in September their company, Dive Buddy Resorts and Liveaboards, will be introducing two new dive boats to the area. He says the boats are top of the line 121 ft. long dive boats. “These will be the largest dive boats in the area and will feature a double deck, part of which will be heated. We are excited to be able to offer divers this opportunity.” Ken Scarborough, owner of Ultimate Dive Travel in Woodbridge, Ill., is pleased Dive Buddy is adding the two new boats. Many of his clients will enjoy the chance to dive on a boat offering the heated deck. “After you’ve been in the water for three dives it will be nice to have someplace warm to change,” Scarborough says. “I have logged in over 400 dives there and I know I am looking forward to it.”

There are many other popular dive sites in the Galapagos but by far the most popular are Darwin and Wolf Islands. These areas offer the diver an abundance of marine life. Divers have to be ferried to these two remote northern islands but it is well worth it. Jennifer Cummings, of Explorer Ventures Galapagos, moved to Galapagos after she fell in love with the islands. I had been working for EV for some time and I just began to fall for the tranquility and the security of the area,” Cummings said. “You can leave your door unlocked and no one will bother your home. It is nice to have a place where there is spectacular world class diving just steps away, friendly people and the security of knowing there is no huge crime rate. I just love being here.” EV has an Ecuadorian partner and they started running in 2007. In 2010 they introduced the Humbolt Explorer and it is now a very popular dive boat. I think the best feature is the stability of the boat,” Cummings says. “This is a boat that feels good on the water and has a great crew. It is also a good comfortable ride to see the islands as well. The entire top deck is a sun deck.” Cummings adds that her favorite place to dive is Darwin’s Arch. “When live-a-boards go out there they often dive different areas depending on the currents. However, it is an amazing place to see the marine life no matter where you go.” Cummings also mentions two places at Wolf Island, Anchorage and Landslide. Both dive sites are great for seeing large animals but Landslide is where the sharks are.

Ron Steven, the artist known as Rogest, is also a huge fan of the Galapagos Islands and is, in fact, heading there soon for a combination trip. “This trip is a combination of an Aggressor Fleet live-a-board trip, a Kid’s Sea Camp and a Rogest Art School event,” Steven says. “I love the area because of the biodiversity of marine life. You have these incredible currents forced together, bringing in amazing marine animals. It’s a long haul but it’s worth the trip.”

Larry Connor of the Aggressor Fleet, a live-a-board that has long been running two identical live-aboard dive yachts in the Galapagos since 1994, says a trip to the area is a once-in-a-lifetime experience every diver should have. “With other dive destinations you go to see the life, but in the Galapagos the life literally comes to you,” Connor says. “You can sit in one spot and watch the marine world go by because the currents bring the life to the diver; whale sharks, hammerheads, Orcas, the famous turtles and even the awesome sights of the lizards. It is just an amazing place to dive.”

Besides Isabella Island, divers can also enjoy Santa Cruz Island where the town of Puerto Ayora is a popular destination. The Charles Darwin Research Station and the headquarters of the Galápagos National Park Service are here. Visitors come for the famous lava tunnels and the large tortoise populations. Española Island is the oldest island and Española’s Gardner Bay is popular for swimming and snorkeling. One of the newer attractions on this island is the swim-with-the-sharks attraction. Florena Island is home to green sea turtles. The “Devil’s Crown”, an underwater volcanic cone, is a divers’ favorite. The coral formations are world renowned. And finally, San Cristóbal Island offers both ocean and lake diving. Laguna El Junco is the largest freshwater lake in the archipelago and the diving here is almost as interesting as the surrounding seas.

So if you are looking for a dive destination offering you an experience that is out of this world and into an undersea world you thought you’d never see, head to the Galapagos Islands. Darwin was right…it really does hold the “cradle of life”. ■