DIVE SITES FROM SAN CRISTOBAL ISLAND
San Cristobal Island offers a couple of different dive spots, the majority reachable in less than an hour and suitable for different levels of divers: from beginners to professionals, and lovers of nudibranches to hammerhead shark fans. All of them offer a wide variety of marine wildlife and some day tours combine an island visit with your diving activities. Enjoy the Galapagos dive sites in a daily tour or with our diving packages.
Almost every dive site can be dived by certified beginners and advanced divers. You usually should have 8 logged dives as a minimum.
All dives sites mentioned in the map above can be visited within a daily tour:
Española
Kicker Rock
Punta Pitt
Roca Ballena
Tijeretas
Below you will find an overview of all dive sites mentioned in the map including the required level of experience, possibilty for snorkeling as well as the navigation time by boat. All tours start from the main port of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. Please note that some of the daily tours include an island or beach visit after diving.
ESPAÑOLA
Located South of San Cristobal Island, this island is well known for inhabiting the Albatros Bird and an incredible underwater world. This tour offers a combination of an two hour land visit observing the Albatros bird and incredible panoramic views as well as one dive at Gardener Bay.
Marine wildlife:
During your dive you can see reef sharks, sea turtles, sea lions, sea urchins, sea stars, rays and a varied range of fish.
General conditions: moderate current
Requirement: Open Water Certified, min. 8 dives
KICKER ROCK
Located North-West of San Cristobal Island, Kicker Rock is one of the well known dive spots around the world. Its impressive formation of lava rocks and the amazing under water world make it a very special place for diving. You will have 2 dives at Kicker Rock and afterwards move to a beach close by the area.
Marine wildlife:
Galapagos sharks, blacktip and whitetip reef sharks, hammerhead sharks, turtles, manta rays, ocean sunfish, dolphins, sea lions, starfish, sea urchins and other rays.
General conditions: mild to strong current
Requirements: Open Water Certified, min. 8 dives
PUNTA PITT
Located North - East of San Cristobal Island, this place offers diverse under water as well as land wildlife. This tour combines a two hour visit with two incredible dives at two different dive spots. During your land activity you can observe three differen boobie species as well as frigate birds and other sea birds.
Marine wildlife:
Sea turtles, sea lions, blacktip and whitetip sharks, hammerhead sharks, rays, pufferfish, starfish, barracudas, tunas, moray eels.
General conditions: moderate current
Requirement: Open Water Certified, min. 8 dives
ROCA BALLENA
The dive tour to Roca Ballena is usually combined with one dive at the shipwreck Carawa. At the second dive site you’ll enter the sea and follow a line connected from the surface to the sunken ship. Once there, you’ll completely circle the sunken vessel before returning to the starting line on the surface
Marine wildlife:
Sea lions, rays, black and white-tipped sharks, hammerhead sharks, Galápagos sharks, pufferfish, barracudas, tuna, turtles, sea urchins, different types of starfish, moray eels, lobsters, octopuses.
General conditions: moderate current
TIJERETAS
East of San Cristobal you will find the place Tijeretas which offers easy dive conditions and incredible marine wildlife as well. This dive spot will be often combined with visiting the dive site Roca Ballena. Hence, you will have one dive at Tijeretas and one dive at Roca Ballena.
Marine wildlife:
Sea lions, reef sharks, batfish, rays, pufferfish, barracudas, turtles, sea urchins, various types of starfish, moray eels, lobsters and octopuses.
General conditions: moderate to no current