These trips begin in the city of Quito, high in the Andes of Ecuador.
Level of difficulty is Easy / Moderate. (Advanced Diver qualification advised).

Despite their tropical setting the islands are strongly influenced by the cool Humboldt and Cromwell currents.  These produce up-welling of water greatly enriched in minerals and plankton, and create a blend of tropical and sub - tropical environments.

There are two distinct seasons, the cool "garua" season from June - November and the hot rainy season, from December - May. Average water temperatures vary a great deal, from the low 60's °F (16 °C) during the coolest months up to the low 80's °F,  27 °C during the warmest months. As the activity in the ocean, particularly breeding,  tends to be food related and the greatest concentration of food occurs in colder waters,  then the most active period is usually when the up-welling of cool water is at its highest, during the cool season.

Conditions.. For this reason a thick 1/4 inch or 7mm wetsuit, or even a dry suit is necessary during the cooler months, but a skin or thin wetsuit is sufficient during the warmer months. Due to their position in the open ocean and the deep waters that surround the islands the currents tend to be fairly strong. Because of this the Galapagos islands are not a suitable destination for novice divers without experience of diving with current, or drift diving. The best conditions are usually early morning so the first dive of the day is often before breakfast! Night diving in sandy coves or along walls covered by invertebrate life is particularly rewarding.

Dive trips.. Usually run on a weekly or two weekly basis. Although a one week itinerary may be sufficient for some, more serious divers, especially those with an interest in photography, would profit more from the two week or even three week trips.  These allow the opportunity to visit the more distant islands such as Wolf and Darwin, as well as the west coast of Isabela. The dive boats usually operate with 10 - 16 divers and 1 - 2 dive guides / dive masters.
What to see.. The variety and abundance of wildlife is astonishing. For those interested in the big life there are whales and also whale sharks, the world's largest fish. Schooling hammerheads can be found at various different dive sites, particularly Darwin and Wolf. There are also Galapagos sharks, white and black tips, silver tips and occasional visitors such as the bull and whaler sharks. The green sea turtle can be found year round, and the elusive  hawksbill is a visitor during the hot season. Sea lions and fur seals accompany divers on almost all dives, and manta rays, stingrays, golden and spotted eagle rays are frequently observed. Over 300 fish species are found around the archipelago, often in great schools that surround the divers. For those interested in the small colourful life many of the dive sites offer walls covered in invertebrates such as corals, sponges, ascidians, gorgonians,  anemones, to mention but a few!

Underwater photography.. Galapagos is considered by professional photographers to be one of the top destinations in the world. This is not only for land photography but for underwater too. Whether the preference is for video or stills, wide angle or for macro photography the possibilities are vast.