South America » Ecuador
South America » Ecuador
Important things to know for Diving in the Galapagos Islands - Monday, April 23, 2007
Important things to know for Diving in the Galapagos Islands
The Galapagos Islands offers good diving conditions all year round. Because the Galapagos is set on the equator, it is a true year-round destination with seasonal temperatures varying only slightly. The best time to go is really up to the demands of your schedule. While you can see whale sharks throughout the year, June through November are considered the best months to see them at Darwin and Wolf Islands. The Galapagos Islands have a subtropical climate regulated by the cold Humboldt Current and the warm El Niño Current. December through May is the warmest time of year, with air temperatures in the upper 80°s F (31° degrees Celsius).
Although the islands receive slightly more rainfall during this time, the lower elevations of the islands where you will spend almost your entire trip typically offer blue skies and sunshine with occasional haze. The sea is at its warmest and is usually calmer during this time of year. The drier ?garua? season lasts from June through November. The ?garua? is a mist that forms in the highlands of the islands. Ironically, the garua season provides more moisture at the upper elevations of the islands than the so-called wet season. There is plenty of sunshine during the day, but it is less intense, with cloudier skies. Air temperature is lower, with highs in the upper 70°s or mid-80°s (25 - 30 degrees Celsius). The strong Antarctic Humboldt Current, coming from the south, affects the climate at this time of year. The water temperature, therefore, is at its coolest, about 68° degrees Fahrenheit, 20 degrees Celsius.
Dive Precautions, Requirements & Qualifications
Warning: Diving in the Galapagos is an activity that should not be taken lightly. Strong currents, surge, cold water, winds and lava protrusions make some areas unsafe even for the experienced diver. That is why they only accept intermediate to advanced divers on their trips. Divers should never dive alone, either when simply snorkeling or when using scuba gear, and always obey the directions of the Dive Master. All dives are subject to weather conditions, current and other factors.
Qualifications
- Only experienced certified divers will be permitted to participate in any of the dive departures. They do not accept beginners on their trips due to the difficulty of the dives (no exceptions).
- Divers must be a minimum of 16 years of age.
- Divers must have the requisite insurance.
- Divers must have a minimum of:
- 30 open water dives to participate in any of the regular dive departures to the Central and Southern Islands, with a minimum of 10 dives during the previous 12 months or 20 dives during the previous 24 months prior to their Galapagos Scuba Diving trip.
- 50 open water dives to participate in any of the more advanced dive departures to Wolf & Darwin, with a minimum of 10 dives during the previous 12 months or 20 dives during the previous 24 months prior to their Galapagos Scuba Diving trip.
- If you don?t meet the above qualifications and still want to dive in the Galapagos: Those wishing to dive in the Galapagos, but without the requisite experience above, can consider participating in one of the Active Departures. These offer 3 to 5 dives total during a weeklong cruise and typically do not exceed 60 ft. in depth. Divers must have a minimum of 20 open water dives or more to participate.
- Divers will be required to submit proof of requisite dives at the time their booking is confirmed, and no less than 30 days prior to departure, unless otherwise agreed to by Quasar Expeditions. Final decision regarding whether a diver is properly qualified for a given dive trip rests with Quasar Expeditions.
Important Note: An open water dive license only permits dives of up to 18 meters, not enough for the Galapagos (except for those booked on an Active Departure as described above). For this reason divers who intend to participate in one of the regular dive departures to either the Central or Southern Galapagos and especially to Wolf & Darwin are required to have an advanced open water license.
|
|---|