In 1998, the Galapagos Islands were rated among the top ten diving destinations. Diving conditions in the islands are difficult for beginners making it recommendable for expirienced divers only. The minimum of Open Water Diver certification is required and bring a medical certificate showing that you are fit to dive. Most of the good diving sites have strong currents, surge and cold waters.

Diving in Galapagos Islands provides excellent opportunities of seeing a extense variety of underwater willife - school of sharks and rays, turtles, penguins, sea lions, moray eels and great number of fish of many kinds.

Bartolome

Climb up a stair case to the summit of the island to obtain a great view of to bays.
This island is famous for its Pinnacle Rock, where sea lions and penguins can be seen. While on the southern side, there are nesting sea turtles (in season). Some of which
are wanding in the shallow waters near the shore or resting on the sand. This beach is great for swimming, snorkeling; and close the shore white-tipped reef sharks.

Santa Cruz

It is the second larges island in the archipielago and the Hotel Delfin is located here, as well as the Charles Darwins Research Station.
The trail to the highlands leaves Bellavista and passes through the agricultural zone.
Near the National Park boundary, the Miconia zone and the "pampa" or zone of low vegetation typical of the high areas of Galapagos. With clear weather (unpredictable) this area affords beautiful scenes of rolling hills and extinct volcanic cones covered with grass and lush greenery all rear round. By visiting the facilities of the Darwin Research Station and National Park it is hoped that the visitor will begin to realize that scientists, professional administrators and Park wardens must exert an enormous, costly effort to maintain the Islands ecosystems. As well as some of the endangered species which comprise them, in their natural state so that people may enjoy them for many years to come. Turtle Cove, one of the impressive Galapagos marine sites, consists of a deep maze of tranquil seawater inlets. Its waters are
still and usually rather murky and are the resting-place for marine turtles, rays and small sharks. Cerro Dragon, newly opened visitor site, it is located in the north of Santa Cruz island.

Located slightly to the north of Baltra, North Seymour is a low, flat island,
formed has a result of the uplift of a submarine lava formation. It is covered with low, bushy vegetation, which contains the largest colony of magnificent fragata birds in the Galapagos. There is also a large population of blue-footed boobies when nesting
conditions are right.

One of a pair of small uplifted islands a short distance from the east coast of
Santa Cruz, South Plaza has a unique Sesuvium plants and Opuntia catuses landscape which provides some of the most interesting wildlife observation
available in Galapagos. Land iguanas are always easily seen from the trail,
frequently in the shade of a cactus. Swallow-tailed gulls, along with various
other sea birds. The protected rocky seashore is prime habitat for a large colony
of noisy sea lions.

Española

Española is the most southerly of the archipielago and somewhat outliying having a
high portion of endemic fauna. The island is well worth visiting, because it has the
only colony of the waved albatross, one of the Galapagos most spectacular
seabirds. The best visitor site on Española is Punta Suarez where following a trail
of lava rocks blue-footed boobies have placed their nests and a variety of iguanas
bask in the sun. The trail continues towards a colony of waved albatross.

Just beyond the colony is a blow hole where if you sit long enough you can watch seabirds performing their aerial acrobatic moves and their less graceful attempts to land and to take off.
The beautiful white-sand beach of Gardner Bay, located at the eastern coast, provides an excellent beach for swimming and snorkeling; while a colony of playful sealions and mocking birds observe with curiosity.

Isabela

It is the largest island in the archipielago.
Urvina Bay, located on the western coast of Albemarle Island at the foot of Alcedo Volcano, was uplifted from the sea in 1954. Flightless cormorants and pelicans nest along the coast during their nesting seasons. highlands include large and colorful
land iguanas. Tagus Cove, a tour along the cliffs in a launch will give the visitors a good chance of seeing the exclusive Galapagos penguin, the flightless cormorant, and other sea birds. The Experimental Station is located very near the port of
Villamil in the south of Albemarle. Here the Galapagos National Park experiments with the reproduction process of the subspecies of Geochelone elephantopus gunteri (tortoise). Volcano Sierra Negra, located at the southern end of Isabela Island, is one of the best and most impressive examples of a volcano in the archipelago. Volcano Sierra Negra caldera is the second largest in the world after Ngorongoro in Africa.

San Cristobal

This island is the fifth largest in the archipielago and has the second largest population. Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, the provincial capital, is on the southwest point.

El Junco Lagoon, located at the highest area of San Cristobal, is one of the few permanent fresh water lakes on the islands. Almost round in shape this 6 meters deep
lake has been the object of studies, in which the sediments of its bottom were analyzed
to find-out information about the vegetation and climate of the Archipelago which
existed many thousands of years ago.

Kicker Rock. This uplifted rock in the middle of the sea, has the shape of a sleeping lion. Small vessels navigate through the towering rock's split.

Isla Lobos, this small island is separated from the main island by a narrow stretch of
calm waters. Upon its rocky shores, blue-footed boobies nest (in season), while sea lions rest and play.

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