Travel Ecuador Galapagos

Diving in the Galapagos: An Adventure among Corals and Algae

The Galapagos, one of the World's seven underwater natural wonders, is considered a diving paradise. Selected as one of the World's 10 best diving spots year after year, the Galapagos has always welcomed visitors willing to practice that sport.

The island's several diving centers are all managed by renowned international professionals (generally certified by PADI) with top modern equipment. Visitors are required to have an intermediate or advanced level certificate (30 or more immersions) and a preliminary dive at the Ayora Port Bay, since the place is only available for those with enough experience.

There are almost 30 diving spots in the islands, giving plenty of choices to divers. Among the best are the Caamaño Islet, the Lobería Island and the Punta Carrión, at the Ayora Port. For the more experienced divers, there are spots such as the Gordon Rocks, located east of the Plazas Islands; and the Darwin and Wolf islands. The best time for diving in the Galapagos is from December to April, when the waters are calmer and the temperature agreeable, although the chances of finding a whale shark are low during that time compared to the rest of the year, when the water is colder and the wind stronger.

Once submerged, the diver will discover the island's underwater world: a wonderful sight of sea turtles, penguins and sea lions swimming next to hammerhead sharks, whales, manta rays, dolphins and tropical fish. A silent world in the immeasurable sea inhabited by corals and algae, starfish and sea urchins. The variety of tropical fish (including some species not existing anywhere else) is so great that the renowned oceanographer Dr. Sylvia Earle described the Galapagos as "the fishiest place on Earth". Most of the underwater species are not afraid of human contact, so divers can often see turtles, sharks and rays coming closer, making the diving experience a magical memory.

This marine life sanctuary and biosphere reserve –as declared by the Unesco– is one of the world's most exciting and unique diving spots due to the variety of its waters. Far from being the typical tropical adventure, the cold Humboldt Current and the warm Cromwell Current that mainly rule life at the islands, produce continuous and unpredicted changes to temperature, water's strength, visibility and marine life… making the Galapagos a true challenge and a privilege to those who get the opportunity to dive into its waters.

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Ecuador is a diverse and surprising destination with beautiful landscapes and an unprecedented biodiversity, making it one of the most magical places on earth. A sustainable, diverse, surprising, beautiful and unique paradise in Latin America worth knowing.

Travel Ecuador Galapagos Questions

Has anyone travelled to Quito, Ecuador?

We are going in April and staying there for 3 days before heading to the Galapagos, then staying another 3 days after coming back. Is it safe to wander around during the day - any places you suggest we see locally (other than the market - we've been told about it). Any sightseeing trips you might suggest?

Thanks for any suggestions you might have.

Quito, is a great city. We spent a few days there in December. Base yourself around gringoland, its safe there, lots of tourist police etc. and good places to eat and chill out. We liked the Magic Bean, and also there were some "national" restaurants where you can sample the delights of gineau pig, seviche etc. Otovala market is definitely worth a visit - with loads of traditional ecuadorian products plus much more (cheaper to but your galapogos Tshirts and souveniers from here. A trip to the top of the Quito telepherique to see the view over the city is worth a trip, but busy on the weekend. But you can make a day of it and go walking up easy trails to the top... An overnight trip to the base of cotopaxi and overnight at the tambopaxi hostel is worth it if you have the time and money. The Cotopaxi volcano is awesome...see www.tambopaxi.com. There are loads of companies who will organise trips and have trips running around gringoland so you can sort things out when you get there. we went through a company called surtrek, and they were very good.

Have fun - and enjoy swimming with sealions in the galapagos...they swim up so close, but they won't harm you!

ps - if you do go to mittal del mundo (the equator) go to the museum, not the monument, its much better, and you can learn about the correolis effect, either side of the equatorial line and balance an egg on a nail, as well as find out more about the indigenous people.

I am traveling to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands...

I want to buy some small souvenirs for friends and family. What kinds of gifts should I expect to find there (preferably something genuine to Ecuador) and what are the prices like there? For some people I don't mind spending lots but for some, just a little gift will do.

Ok, I been there a lot of times and you can buy some animals souvenir, like alpacas made with real hair, and any animal specific from like the big Galapagos Turtle or something like that. In the downtown of Ecuador in Quito, sells a lot of those things, there you can buy something hand made, very genuine and great! If you just go to Glapagos, buy something in the islands, preferible, autentic animals and hand made jewerly!

HOPE i HELP AND GOOD LUCK!

xoxo