Depth
All dives are between 15 and 25 meters because this is where you encounter most of the marine life in the Galapagos. Maximum depth for dives is 30 meters.

Length of Dive
Dives are done with one tank, therefore the bottom time depends on air consumption.

Number of Dives
You can expect to make between 2 and 4 dives per day depending on several factors. Some itineraries offer the possibility of night dives, but this is the exception rather than the rule. The southern islands itineraries almost always include one or two land excursions with snorkeling each day, leaving less time for dives. When visiting Darwin & Wolf, no land excursions are available, therefore more time is dedicated to diving. However, these islands are 14 to 20 hours from the other islands depending on the open sea conditions. Safety issues also need to be taken into account, some specifically due to this being open ocean diving: surface time between dives, waiting after meals, time between diving and flying, and making sure there is sufficient daylight time to search for any diver who has been separated from the group, which is not that uncommon.

Sea Temperatures
For general weather conditions of the Galapagos Islands, please refer to the “Traveler’s Guide – Galapagos Climate” section. Water temperatures vary between the southern islands and Darwin and Wolf:

- From December to May, southern islands temperatures vary between 75-78ºF / 24-25.5ºC, while in Darwin & Wolf islands, they vary between 76-80ºF / 24.5-26.5ºC.
- From June to November, sea temperature in the southern islands vary between 65-72ºF / 18.5-22ºC, and in the Darwin & Wolf islands 74-78ºF / 23-25.5ºC.

Due to the cool water temperatures, it is recommended to wear full, 1/4" (6mm) wetsuits year-round and hoods in the cold season.

Visibility
During the warm season, there is almost no wind, so the sea is usually very calm and the visibility tends to be better. In the cool season, there is more wind, the sea can be choppy and the visibility is lower. In general, visibility ranges from 5 to 25 meters, but most of the time it is restricted to between 12 and 18 meters.

Experience
In the Galapagos Islands, there are dive sites for all levels of diving experience - beginners, intermediate and advanced. A few vessels offer diving classes, or this can be arranged through hotel/day tour packages. However, in general, the diving in the Galapagos is for intermediate to advanced divers, and the best dives sites are usually the most difficult ones. Most dives are drifts along the cliff faces, off-shore rocks and pinnacles; additionally, strong currents, sea swells, upwelling, large animals and difficult entry onto/exit from the dive boats (usually zodiacs) contribute to the reason why divers will feel more comfortable in the Galapagos if they are more experienced.

Each vessel has its own set of regulations for determining experience level, which usually correspond to the following rough guide:
- Beginners: Newly certified divers or divers with fewer than 15 to 30 dives.
- Intermediate: Between 15 or 30 dives and 99 dives logged with experience in cold water and with drift and wall diving.
- Advanced: 100 or more dives logged with experience in cold water and with drift and wall diving.
However, these guidelines are general and a detailed description of dive experience may be required in order to confirm a dive itinerary. A diver with 10 dives in cold water and strong currents may feel more comfortable than a diver with 40 logged dives in warm water and little current. Some vessels require a minimum of 25 dives before diving in the Galapagos.

Full certification courses are available while in the Galapagos. Whether you want to begin your first diving experiences in the enchanted islands or are looking to become a dive master, you can take these courses in the Galapagos: Open Water, Advanced Open Water, Rescue Diver, Dive master, Instructor, and Medic First Aid & CPR.

Guides & Dive Masters
Due to Galapagos National Park rules, a Naturalist Guide will be in the water with the divers during all dives, just as visitors must be accompanied by a Naturalist Guide on land.