The Galapagos Islands

Galapagos Diving Conditions
Water temps in summer average 65o F, 70o F in winter
The weather at the Galapagos Islands has water temperatures ranging from 65 -70 degrees F from December through May and 60 – 70 F June through November.

Galapagos water temperatures are at the higher end of the scale in both Darwin and Wolf.

Air temperatures range from 75 F or higher in the rainy season (December-May) to the mid 60’s F during the dry season (June –November), with nearly constant sea breezes.

Galapagos currents can range 1 to 5 Knots at the sites we visit, and visibility is generally between 30 and 80 feet.

Most divers are comfortable with a 7mm wetsuit June – November with a hooded best and gloves and a minimum 5mm wetsuit December – May.

Gloves and hood are strongly recommended. Your dives will be done from the pangas with an easy backward roll in the water. After you dive, you tank will be lifted back into the panga and you will board via its stern ladders or with assistance from the side.

Dive Insurance
Due to the nature of this cruise and the very remote nature of the destination, all dives are required to have dive accident insurance when diving from the Humboldt Explorer, and to note the policy number of their application form. See our website for further information and options on dive and travel insurance.

Safety Standards
Dive insurance required
To ensure you safety, we require the followings of all divers:

• All divers must be certified as open water scuba divers by an internationally recognized certification organization.
  
• All divers must be experienced divers (we recommend) that you have more than 100 logged dives) and have logged at least one dive within the 6 months prior to boarding the vessel. Dives are very strong and often at and advanced level. Currents can very strong and often dives are required to swim against them.
  
• All dives are guided by an instructor/naturalist guide and due to Galapagos National Park regulations all divers must dive with the guide at all times.
  
• All divers must log in and out of the water with a member of the diving staff.
  
• All divers must have a submersible console including SPG & depth gauge, time piece or dive computer with these functions.
  
• Decompression diving is not allowed under any conditions. The maximum allowed depth is 130’ (110’ on nitrox).
  
• Diving activities must cease when the consumption of alcohol begins.
  
• All divers must present proof of dive insurance per Galapagos National Park regulations.
  
• All divers must also carry a Dive/Alert, a surface signaling device, and an electronic beacon while diving (all available on board). Guests are responsible for all items they borrow from the vessel.
  
• Please note that, due to a combination of staff and equipment logistics insurance requirements and local diving regulations, neither rebreathes nor diver propulsion vehicles (DPVs) may be used aboard Explorer Ventures vessels.

Contact us to book a Galapagos dive cruise.