Schooling hammerheads over the rocky walls and slopes of Wolf and Darwin
16–28°C · 61–82°Fvis 25 m · 82 ftadvanced
Country
Diving in Ecuador
4 dive destinations in Ecuador, up to 1,240 km apart. Water temperature across them runs 16–28 °C. All 4 are in season in Jan–Mar. 11 named dive sites have their own pages.
Galápagos — Central & South Islands · photo Paul and Jill
- Destinations
- 4
- Dive sites
- 11
- Water
- 16–28°C
- Most in season
- Jan–Mar
RegionEastern Pacific
Where are the dive destinations in Ecuador?
- 1Galápagos — Darwin & WolfJul–Nov
- 2Galápagos West (Isabela & Fernandina)Jan–Apr
- 3Galápagos — Central & South IslandsDec–May
- 4Isla de la PlataJun–Oct
Numbers match the table below. Land outline: Natural Earth (public domain).
How do they compare?
| # | Destination | Best months | Water | Visibility | Depth | Level | Access | Sites |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Galápagos — Darwin & Wolf | Jul–Nov | 16–28°C | 5–25 m | 8–25 m | Advanced | Liveaboard | 3 |
| 2 | Galápagos West (Isabela & Fernandina) | Jan–Apr | 16–26°C | 3–15 m | 10–30 m | Advanced | Liveaboard | 2 |
| 3 | Galápagos — Central & South Islands | Dec–May | 18–26°C | 7–12 m | 6–30 m | Intermediatesites from beginner to advanced | Day boat | 5 |
| 4 | Isla de la Plata | Jun–Oct | 19–27°C | 5–20 m | 8–30 m | Intermediate | Day boat | 1 |
When is the best time to dive Ecuador?
The most destinations are rated good or prime at the same time in Jan–Mar: 4 of 4. Each row is one destination's own season rating.
| Destination | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Galápagos — Darwin & Wolf | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good |
| 2Galápagos West (Isabela & Fernandina) | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good |
| 3Galápagos — Central & South Islands | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Prime |
| 4Isla de la Plata | Good | Good | Good | Fair | Fair | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Fair | Fair |
| Good or prime | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
Which destinations combine into one trip?
Destinations that fit within 200 km of each other end to end and share at least one month rated good or prime. Distances are straight lines between destinations, not travel routes.
136 km end to end
In season together: Dec–May
All 4 destinations in Ecuador
Cold Cromwell Current upwelling brings mola mola, penguins and marine iguanas
16–26°C · 61–79°Fvis 15 m · 50 ftadvanced
Schooling hammerheads at Gordon Rocks on a day trip from Puerto Ayora
18–26°C · 64–79°Fvis 12 m · 40 ftintermediate
The world's largest known aggregation of oceanic manta rays
19–27°C · 66–81°Fvis 20 m · 66 ftintermediate