I'm looking to book a scuba diving trip to the Galapagos Islands for April 2025. Any tips on what island to stay on to get the best diving. I don't want to do a liveaboard. I'm interested in seeing the hammerhead shark schools, marine iguanas, sea lions, dolphins, etc. I did a quick Google search and most dive shops appeared to be on Santa Cruz Island.

Jealous!

Post pictures!

I found each island in the Galapagos pretty much had its own ecosystem which is what makes the Galapagos so special. Hard to miss the west side of Isabela island which gets the brunt of the Humboldt current. What if you organize your own group to explore several islands I totally understand about focus on one system but hard to predict when that massive school of hammerheads comes in. Saw this in Belize. I have heard the northern islands were awesome diving locations.

That is some serious diving; cold water, heavy currents, probably going to use Nitrox. and will need to be able problem solve on your own with a dive partner you would absolutely trust with your life. Not being over dramatic here; this is a diving area for the big boys. I had to grapple into a reef to wait for a nurse shark; when I released I was literally shot out to sea like a cannon by the current. My son was with me and we fought like hell to decomp at the proper depth. Came up over a mile from the boat and rode rough seas for 20 minutes while they launched a zodiac to retrieve us. That is not an atypical dive there.

Not sure now how it works now but several years ago there were only certain places and days you could dive. I know there were only certain days and places you can kayak also. It is all one National Park and very tightly controlled. You really do not see many other folks around each day other than your group.

One day we were doing a "deep water dive" which meant the water was over your head. Every one jumped off the zodiac and I was the last one. I stopped in ankle deep water. Turns out I landed on tortoise. After falling backward and drinking half the ocean, I got back in the boat!

There is more wildlife in the Western islands than the East - same animals but more abundant due to the food supply in the currents which flow to the East.

Truly an amazing place.

See if you can find me in this photo: