Galápagos Islands

Some 1000 km west of the coast of Ecuador lies an archipelago of volcanic islands, the Galápagos. These islands that straddle the equator are known for their large number of endemic species that were studied by Charles Darwin and built the foundation of his theory of evolution by means of natural selection. All of the Galápagos today is a National Park and its surrounding waters form a Marine Park.

The archipelago has strong geological activity. Three tectonic plates converge below it and produce volcanic activity that continues to this day.

The Galápagos are a naturalist’s dream, filled with a diverse array of plants and animal life unique in the world. It includes exotic flora and fauna such as giant cacti, finches, flightless cormorants and the famed giant tortoise, the worlds longest living vertebrate. The underwater world is equally stunning with many species also being endemic. Among the most notable marine species are the Galápagos penguin (the only penguin species native to the Northern Hemisphere), Galápagos sea lions, marine iguanas, whales, Hammerhead sharks and whale sharks.

There are several main sea currents that have an influence on the archipelago and its wildlife. Perhaps the most important is the Humboldt Current. It is a cold South Equatorial Current which comes into the Galápagos waters from the south-east. It runs up the coast of South America, heading north from the cooler waters of Antarctica and when it gets to the Equator it heads west. The second current with an influence is the Panama Current. It comes in from the north and brings warmer waters to the Galápagos Islands. Finally, the Cromwell Current is a very deep-sea current coming in from the west. This drives nutrients up from the lowest levels to the surface.

Coldwater upwellings bring plankton and other prey animals from the depths to the shallows where sharks and other pelagic fish, marine mammals, turtles and seabirds can feed on them.

Diving is best done from Liveabords. During the wet season (January to June) the water is warmer (20-25+°C) than in the dry season (16-22°C). However, during dry season there is the possibility to see whale sharks. Be prepared for strong currents and some cold dives. The occasional land tour will complement your diving and is highly recommended.

The Hammerhead triangle

Cocos (Costa Rica), Malpelo (Colombia) and Galápagos (Ecuador) form a trio of islands off the Pacific coast of Northern South America that are connected by (unfortunately unprotected!) underwater “highways”. This series of marine protected areas are home to some of the greatest congregations of Scalloped Hammerhead sharks that move in between those islands.