Ecuador has a fascinating underwater life, and diving along its coasts or in the Galápagos Islands is an amazing experience.
Where to go scuba diving?
There are an impressive number of dive spots, mainly in the Galápagos Islands but also along the Ecuadorian coast.
You’ll be able to admire a wide variety of colorful fish, as well as larger species such as the Galápagos shark, sea turtles, hammerhead sharks, and several types of rays.
FLOREANA
Enderby Islet, Punta Ayora, Champion Islet, and Devil’s Crown are dive sites where you can encounter sea lions, exotic fish, barracudas, black coral, Galápagos sharks, moray eels, some hammerhead sharks, and rays.
During navigation to Floreana Island, there is a high chance of seeing dolphins and snorkeling with them.
GORDON ROCKS
The best daily tour for experienced divers: turtles, large cold-water fish, tropical fish, hammerhead sharks, Galápagos sharks, white-tip reef sharks, black-tip sharks, large moray eels, golden rays, and eagle rays.
NORTH SEYMOUR
Groups of hammerhead sharks, many tropical fish, turtles, moray eels, manta rays, and white-tip reef sharks.
COUSINS ROCK
An intermediate site that combines wall diving and close-up exploration: sea lions, thousands of fish, white-tip reef sharks, hammerhead sharks, and manta rays. On the impressive rock wall, you can observe invertebrates and black coral.
BARTOLOMÉ
Turtles, white-tip reef sharks, many fish, invertebrates, and an interesting rock formation. After diving, snorkeling is possible to observe the penguins found at this site.
MOSQUERA ISLET
Large schools of manta rays, white-tip reef sharks, and possibly hammerhead and eagle rays. Many tropical fish and sea lions.
DAPHNÉ ISLET
Rock diving with moray eels, white-tip reef sharks, sea lions, caves with invertebrates, hammerhead sharks, turtles, black coral, and hundreds of fish.
SANTA FÉ
Easy diving with little current. Sharks, sea turtles, manta rays, and occasionally hammerhead sharks. Snorkeling with sea lions on the surface.
Ayangue is a fishing village located north of Punta Blanca (Santa Elena province). The village lies in a calm bay.
Known for its clear, warm waters and pristine coral reefs, Ayangue is an excellent spot for diving enthusiasts.
Dives are possible (about 20 minutes by boat from the beach) around El Viejo Island and El Pelado Island, where there are underwater caves. Diving here allows you to observe coral reefs and abundant marine life.
Salango Island is part of the Puerto López canton (about 30 minutes by boat). Rich in anthropological history, it was inhabited by the Valdivia culture around 1800 B.C.
It is an exceptional site for scuba diving: you can observe a great variety of colorful fish and crystal-clear reefs unique to the Ecuadorian coast.
Nearby, another interesting site is the “Los Ahorcados” islet, where you can find great marine biodiversity associated with the reefs, including lobsters, sea cucumbers, corals, crabs, oysters, octopuses, and turtles.
Isla de la Plata is the most important site of Machalilla National Park. Since prehistoric times, it has been used as a sun-worship center by pre-Columbian cultures.
Diving around the island is rich in coral reefs. Another major attraction is humpback whale watching, as they migrate from Antarctica between June and September.
