ANY DAY: ACADEMY BAY (CHECK OUT DIVE)

This is the bay of Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island with 4 dive sites, all within 20 minutes from our base by boat. Three of the sites are generally calm with little current; ideal for students or novices. At the other site, the dives can be a little more complicated if there is a current so they are suitable for intermediate or expert divers. Frolic with sea lions or listen as the damselfish munches away at its algae farm. You may also see marine iguanas, rays, and even sharks all just outside your hotel's door!

MONDAY: FLOREANA

The island of Floreana is about 90 minutes south from our dive base. There are 3 possible dive sites here with generally calm waters. On the occasion that we do find strong currents, we can quickly move to another site, which makes Floreana ideal for all levels of divers. This site is one of the best in the central islands to see significant coral colonies, such as pebble coral and endemic black coral. You may look on as barber fish clean sea turtles of parasites. Floreana is also one of the best sites to dive with sea lions. There are also stingrays, eagle rays, turtles, barracudas, white tip reef sharks, Galapagos sharks, and hammerhead sharks.

TUESDAY: GORDON ROCKS

This tuff cone formation is a world famous dive site about one hour from our base. The 2 dive sites are only apt for intermediates and experts because there can be strong currents and surge. The Gordon Rocks dive sites are mostly walls with a deep bottom. Hammerhead sharks are the main attraction of Gordon Rocks, where they often conglomerate in large schools. You won't be able to stop looking at this aquarium as you're likely to also see reef fish, large pelagic fish, golden rays, stingrays, eagle rays, turtles, morays.

NOTE: you need to have minimum 30 logged dives for this dive

WEDNESDAY: COUSINS

An islet with a wall dropping from the surface into the deepest depths, Cousins Rock is home to a big area of sloping rock plates known as a "Planchonal" about two hours from our base. Normally there are no strong currents at this site; this is partly a reef dive, partly a wall dive where the endemic black coral is found. Other sightings may include cleaning station, sea horses, barracudas, sea lions, Galapagos sharks, withe tip reef sharks, turtles, reef fishes, sting rays, eagle rays, variety of invertebrates.

THURSDAY: SEYMOUR

North Seymour is an uplifted island of lava flow about 90 minutes north of our dive base, with 2 dive sites for all levels of divers, although sometimes the currents can be strong. These sites have the most different species per square foot of sandy bottom. We can see cleaning behavior, sea lions, Galapagos sharks, white tip reef sharks, hammerheads, mobulas, turtles, reef fishes, sting rays, eagle reys, Galapagos eel, barracudas, variety of invertebrates.

FRIDAY: BEAGLE

These are 3 exposed rocks located south of Santiago Island, about 1h30’s cruise from Itabaca channel. This beginner/intermediate dive site starts on a 12 meters deep platform and leads to a wall, covered with black coral and sea fans, that drops to more than 60 meters. There are many corals and sponges, sea lions, Galapagos sharks, turtles, reef fishes, sting rays, eagle rays, barracudas, manta rays, invertebrates, and probably solitary hammerhead sharks.

SATURDAY: MOSQUERA

Mosquera is located north of Santa Cruz island, between Seymour and Baltra. This islet that emerges from the sea is just 25 minutes navegation from Itabaca Channel. Normally there are no strong currents at this site. There is a sandy bottom between 15 and 18 meters, with garden eels and pelagic species, and there is also a wall that starts at 18 meters, where we can find black coral and a variety of invertebrates. There are hammerhead sharks, black tip reef sharks, white tip reef sharks, sea lions, turtles, barracudas, sting rays, eagle rays, mobulas, Galapagos eel, many invertebrates.

SUNDAY: SANTA FE

This island is a solid structure of basaltic lava rocks about an hour away from our base. The 3 dive sites here generally have excellent visibility and mild currents, making these sites ideal for novices. At the same time, the animals and topography (including a spectacular arch) make them interesting for intermediates and experts. We can see stingrays, eagle rays, garden eels, turtles, sea lion colonies, morays, pelagic fish, and maybe white tip reef sharks and/or hammerhead sharks.

ALL DAILY DIVE TOURS INCLUDE: Two dives, dive boat, transport to/from dive site/dive center, divemaster guides, dive gear (complete wetsuit, regulator with octopus, BCD, mask, snorkel, fins, booties, gloves, hood, scuba tuba, tanks and weight belt), snack and hot lunch (NOTE: The tour to Academy Bay does not include lunch, only snack)