Have questions? We're here.
Sea lion and scuba diver

North Central Galapagos Islands Dive Expedition

Example 8 Day Cruise
Talk with an expert
Build your ideal Galapagos trip. Call 1.406.541.2677
Start Planning My Trip
Enjoy an awesome 8-day cruise exploring the highlights of the North Central islands of the Galapagos. Indulge yourself in this unique experience aboard the Nortada, a small ship cruise equipped with all the diving supplies needed for an extraordinary diving experience. Start your days exploring the amazing wildlife at Cousin Rock for close encounters with white-tip reef sharks, Mola mola, sea horses, and several types of reef fish. Visit Wolf Island for a diving exploration of the eroded underwater caverns and tunnels. Explore the beauty of Manta Ray City, an amazing location with wonderful handmade souvenirs, the best way to remember your magical experience.
Snorkel the crystal, warm waters of the Galapagos archipelago Swimming sea turtleWhite tipped sharkLand iguana looking out over waterSea lion and scuba diver
Highlights
  • Discover the most popular dive sites in the central Galapagos Islands
  • Dive through incredible underwater caverns and tunnels
  • Observe the eroded surfaces covered by soft corals and gorgonians
  • Explore Wolf Island, known as “The Mecca of Sharks”
Places Visited
Activity Level: Relaxed
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
0

Full Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1: Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz | Embark

  • 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Meet at Passenger Pier in Puerto Ayora to go to the highlands of Santa Cruz and see the giant tortoises. If flying in on the day of arrival, a transfer to the pier can be arranged for an additional fee. Diver registration and equipment selection (if needed) are done at the dive center. Transfer to the boat and board to meet the crew. Lunch on board and check dive at Academy Bay.

After the check dive there is time for ATM visits, souvenir shopping, and sightseeing of the local town. A welcome cocktail and dinner is served on board. Depart at midnight for Punta Carrión.

Day 2: Punta Carrión, Santa Cruz | Baltra Island | Cousin Rock

  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Usually starting at 6 am, enjoy a morning dive at Punta Carrión or the northeastern portion of Baltra Island. Your first dive is followed by breakfast while Nortada refuels in Baltra. After refueling, start a two-hour navigation to Cousin Rock for one or two dives. The number of dives depends on the day’s schedule. Punta Carrión and Baltra NE are considered “warm-up” dives where dive procedures and equipment are tested and enforced or adapted. Depending on the conditions, encounters with white-tip reef sharks, Mola mola, sea horses, and several types of reef fish are possible.
 
Visit Cousin Rock, one of the most popular dive sites in the central islands. The islet is formed by volcanic tuff. Cousins and other dive sites in the area are characterized for their eroded surfaces covered by soft corals and gorgonians. Highlights include nudibranchs, frogfish, seahorses, sea lions, eagle rays, and schooling fish. 

Day 3: Wolf Island

  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Enjoy up to 4 dives during the day at Punta Shark Bay, El Derrumbe, Islote La Ventana y La Banana.

Wolf Island is located at the northwest of the Archipelago, and is known as “The Mecca of Sharks”. Divers are usually able to swim alongside several species of sharks, dolphins, turtles, eagle rays, and colorful schools of fishes. Wolf also offers an opportunity to explore the eroded underwater caverns and tunnels. Although 40 meters deep, the Anchorage is a great place to watch the Galapagos red-lipped batfish and a popular site for night diving. Meals are scheduled around diving, usually with one dive before breakfast and one dive after lunch. The better part of the night is spent in the anchorage and transit to Darwin starts in the early AM of the next day.

Day 4: Darwin Island

  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Darwin Island is located at the northwest of the Archipelago. Up to 4 dives are done today at this location. The island is considered as one of the best places to dive in the world. Divers are usually able to see several species of sharks, dolphins, turtles, eagle rays, and colorful schools of fishes. Schooling hammerhead sharks and whale sharks are the highlights of dives at Darwin’s Arch. Transit back to Wolf and enjoy dinner on board.

Day 5: Wolf Island

  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Sail back to Punta Shark Bay, El Derrumbe, Islote La Ventana y La Banana, for a stunning day with 4 diving experiences. After an exciting afternoon, navigate to Cape Douglas, about 100 nautical miles from Wolf Island. 

Day 6: Cape Douglas | Punta Vicente Roca

  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Enjoy one or two dives in Cape Douglas followed by a short transit of about 90 minutes to Punta Vicente Roca, where you can dive one or two more times. Isabela and Fernandina dive sites are where flightless cormorants, Galapagos penguins, marine iguanas, and several other endemic species can be seen consistently. The highlight in Cape Douglas are the marine iguanas feeding underwater, red-lipped batfish, horn sharks, Mola mola, and different types of baleen whales. These species are usually sighted during this day.

Day 7: Cape Marshall | Puerto Coca | Manta Ray City

  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Start your day cruising to Cape Marshall, with volcanic walls sparsely covered with black coral bushes, located in the northeast coast of Isabela. During January to May, divers usually enjoy encounters with giant mantas, schools of fish, including the endemic black-striped salema, white-tip reef sharks, Galapagos sharks, and some hammerheads. Take part in four diving experiences for a perfect close-up of your Galapagos journey.

Day 8: Puerto Ayora | Disembark

  • 1 Breakfast
After an early breakfast check out from Nortada and land for a visit to the Fausto Llerena Breeding Center and Charles Darwin Research Station. The breeding center land visit provides an opportunity to learn about the breeding programs for giant tortoises and land iguanas. If required, a transfer to the airport with a visit to the tortoises in the wild can be arranged for an additional fee.

Dates & Prices

My Preferred Start Date

Per person starting at

Notes

Select a Date
Included
  • 7 Breakfasts, 7 Lunches, 7 Dinners
  • 7 Nights Accommodations
  • Accommodations as listed
  • Ground transportation as listed
  • Activities as listed
  • Meals as listed
  • Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
  • Adventure Life Pre-departure Services and In-Country Assistance (Quito Representative)
  • Shore Excursions, Swimming and Snorkeling 
  • Transfers and Baggage Handling in the Galapagos
  • All dives and land visits where allowed.
  • 12lt / 80 cft AL air cylinder, weights, weightbelts and selected safety equipment.
  • Naturalist Dive Guides
  • Water, Coffee, Tea, Juices
  • Tender & transportation to / from dive sites.
Excluded
  • Gratuities
  • Travel Insurance
  • Personal Expenses
  • Flight costs (please request a quote)
  • Additional excursions during free time
  • Fuel and transportation surcharges (when applicable)
  • Galapagos Park Entrance Fee: $200 per adult, $100 per child under 12 (fees of $100 per adult and $50 per child valid on arrivals through Aug 1, 2024). Payable upon arrival to the Galapagos, only in cash dollars. Subject to increase by Galapagos Park Service.
  • Internal Flights: Mainland Ecuador - Galapagos - Mainland Ecuador: $475-675
  • Wetsuits are not included but are available to rent on board - wetsuit, hood and booties for $75
  • Snorkel equipment is not included but is available to rent on board - mask, snorkel and fins for $50

Map

Inquire

* By providing your phone number, you consent to receive direct phone calls or SMS messages from our Trip Planners to get the process started. We do not share your information with third-parties.
Change & customize to make it yours.
Travel Agents

We Love to Talk Travel

Call 1.800.344.6118
or
Chat Now
This was my first experience with Adventure Life - and I couldn't have been more pleased with the trip. The guides and local staff in both Buenos Aires and Uruguay were terrific - extremely helpful and accommodating. I really enjoyed meeting the friendly staff in Buenos Aires in person (I left my bags with them for the afternoon).
Karen Snider
More Reasons

Why Travel With Adventure Life

All News

Recognized By