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Ecuador

© iStock/Kalistratova

Explore Ecuador

Ecuador offers an exceptional diving experience, blending vibrant marine biodiversity with breathtaking underwater landscapes. As an adventurer's paradise, this country is renowned for its thrilling encounters with large pelagic species and marine mammals, drawn by powerful currents and nutrient-rich upwellings. The Galapagos Islands, a crown jewel of Ecuador, are a sanctuary for divers seeking close encounters with unique, fearless marine life, thanks to strict conservation efforts. Here, the spirit of Darwin lives on, with divers marveling at the endemic species thriving in this protected marine park. Beyond the Galapagos, Ecuador’s mainland coast offers its own underwater marvels, particularly within Machalilla National Park. This is the mainland's sole marine park, promising sightings of species similar to those in the Galapagos without extensive travel or high costs. Isla de la Plata, accessible from Puerto López, is a highlight, offering divers the chance to explore vibrant reefs teeming with life. Whether opting for a shore dive or a liveaboard adventure to remote sites like Darwin Island, Ecuador's diverse dive environments ensure unforgettable experiences for both novice and seasoned divers.

Power Plug Type
A, B
Payment Method
VISA, MC, AMEX
Tipping
10% / Service Staff / Tipping is appreciated — in many restaurants a 10% service fee may already be included; additional tipping is optional and based on service.
Airports
LTX, UIO
Currency
USD
Dial Code
+593
Electricity
120V / 60Hz
Time
UTC-05

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Upcoming Events

GALÁPAGOS EXPEDITION 2028

GALÁPAGOS EXPEDITION 2028

Diving Cruise Aboard the MY Galapagos Aggressor IIIGet ready to experience one of the most extraordinary underwater adventures in the world. L’Aquila di Mare sets sail on a true expedition to the Galápagos Islands, in the heart of the Pacific, to discover a unique ecosystem and some of the most legendary dive sites on the planet.The highlight of the trip will be a 7-night cruise aboard the MY Galapagos Aggressor III, with accommodations in a double cabin, full board, and up to 4 dives per day according to the itinerary.We will visit the famous Wolf and Darwin areas, where dives are characterized by encounters with large pelagic fish and the chance to observe hammerhead sharks, Galápagos sharks, manta rays, eagle rays, sea turtles, and an extraordinary concentration of marine life.The Galápagos are a remote oceanic destination with potentially strong currents and variable conditions; the trip is therefore particularly suitable for divers with adequate experience, training, and independence.WHAT’S INCLUDEDRound-trip international flights from Rome to Ecuador with checked baggage up to 23 kg on international flightsAirport taxesRound-trip domestic flights between Ecuador and the Galápagos with checked baggage up to 20 kg on domestic flightsAirport and local transfers included in the program1 night at a hotel in Ecuador, double room with breakfast7 nights aboard the MY Galapagos Aggressor IIIAccommodation in a double cabinFull board during the cruiseDives included in the program: up to 4 per dayDive Guides and Onboard AssistanceLand excursions included in the itineraryPractice ManagementOPTIMAS insurance policy, with the coverage provided for in the participation agreementNOT INCLUDEDGalápagos National Park entrance fee: USD 200, to be paid on siteTourist Card: USD 20, payable on siteHyperbaric chamber fee: USD 35, if applicableTips for the CrewScuba Equipment RentalNitrox RefillsPersonal Diving InsuranceExtras and personal expensesUnless otherwise specified in the feeThe terms, deadlines, and payment methods are specified in the participation agreement, which will be provided as needed.For more information:Orsola - 391 9178438‬ - orsola@laquiladimare.it

L’Aquila di Mare, Viale Ovidio, 3, 67100, L’Aquila, AQ, ITA
November 29, 2028
$9,001.68
€8,025.00

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Top Wildlife Sightings in Ecuador

While scuba diving in Ecuador, ranked as one of the top 20 places in the world to dive, you’ll discover that the question is really “what marine life can’t be seen here?” The number of species far exceed imagination, due to the sheer volume of marine diversity thriving in this part of the world.

To name only a few of the creatures thriving in these waters, we’ll start with the beloved whale shark. The best time to see them is June until November in the open water around Wolf and Darwin Islands. Other delightful creatures that appear in higher numbers this period are penguins and the awkwardly beautiful mola mola. 

Another highlight of Ecuador is school hammerheads, of which a sizeable population stays in the Galapagos all year round. Gordon Rocks is a good spot to see them no matter the season, but there are some places where divers can experience a ‘solar eclipse’ of hundreds, if not thousands, of schooling hammerheads. Darwin and Wolf Islands are undoubtedly the place to be if you’re craving hammerhead sightings.  

Overall, in addition to a huge amount of varying shark species, dives can see manta rays, dolphins, whales and infinite turtles all over Ecuador. Other critters include large seahorses, four-eyed fish, butterfly and trumpetfish, and even unusual animals not often seen by divers, like marine iguanas, seals, sea lions, and penguins.

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

Green Turtle

Green Turtle

4.5k Sightings
J
325
F
267
M
448
A
385
M
452
J
399
J
389
A
479
S
389
O
269
N
407
D
301
Great Hammerhead Shark

Great Hammerhead Shark

3.8k Sightings
J
291
F
279
M
360
A
264
M
313
J
299
J
376
A
426
S
324
O
284
N
322
D
217

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 25

Eagle Ray

Eagle Ray

3.1k Sightings
J
234
F
226
M
357
A
296
M
283
J
232
J
233
A
323
S
206
O
170
N
300
D
192
Scalloped Hammerhead

Scalloped Hammerhead

2.6k Sightings
J
205
F
135
M
289
A
266
M
239
J
207
J
220
A
264
S
217
O
169
N
228
D
162

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 7

Sea Lion

Sea Lion

2.3k Sightings
J
173
F
132
M
201
A
176
M
232
J
216
J
199
A
245
S
212
O
195
N
216
D
151

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 200

Moray Eel

Moray Eel

1.7k Sightings
J
140
F
100
M
214
A
178
M
161
J
141
J
143
A
152
S
97
O
76
N
187
D
79
Reef Manta Ray

Reef Manta Ray

531 Sightings
J
86
F
64
M
92
A
49
M
27
J
17
J
19
A
29
S
41
O
26
N
44
D
37

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 600

Wrasse

Wrasse

475 Sightings
J
53
F
37
M
57
A
35
M
61
J
45
J
24
A
16
S
34
O
11
N
65
D
37
Whale Shark

Whale Shark

467 Sightings
J
27
F
0
M
6
A
1
M
33
J
58
J
59
A
48
S
42
O
57
N
89
D
47
Oceanic Whitetip Shark

Oceanic Whitetip Shark

433 Sightings
J
43
F
43
M
64
A
39
M
38
J
33
J
45
A
46
S
43
O
12
N
14
D
13

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 27

Barracuda

Barracuda

396 Sightings
J
64
F
25
M
24
A
29
M
28
J
45
J
12
A
10
S
14
O
25
N
99
D
21
Common Dolphin

Common Dolphin

345 Sightings
J
10
F
9
M
0
A
2
M
16
J
33
J
36
A
22
S
47
O
57
N
84
D
29
Hawksbill Turtle

Hawksbill Turtle

317 Sightings
J
61
F
14
M
17
A
13
M
14
J
46
J
39
A
10
S
20
O
6
N
46
D
31
Giant Oceanic Manta Ray

Giant Oceanic Manta Ray

312 Sightings
J
25
F
16
M
35
A
10
M
17
J
12
J
22
A
61
S
42
O
12
N
36
D
24
Ocean Sunfish

Ocean Sunfish

262 Sightings
J
21
F
23
M
24
A
5
M
17
J
12
J
8
A
21
S
28
O
29
N
43
D
31
Bottlenose Dolphin

Bottlenose Dolphin

211 Sightings
J
24
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
16
J
15
J
24
A
38
S
13
O
24
N
40
D
17

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 300

Octopus

Octopus

190 Sightings
J
15
F
7
M
30
A
19
M
17
J
15
J
11
A
20
S
19
O
12
N
14
D
11
Whitetip Reef Shark

Whitetip Reef Shark

2.4k Sightings
J
209
F
188
M
320
A
247
M
256
J
198
J
194
A
243
S
132
O
103
N
184
D
111
Blacktip Reef Shark

Blacktip Reef Shark

1.5k Sightings
J
133
F
142
M
159
A
147
M
154
J
105
J
139
A
119
S
75
O
101
N
141
D
63

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 100

Parrotfish

Parrotfish

1.5k Sightings
J
120
F
80
M
175
A
168
M
158
J
110
J
87
A
148
S
129
O
64
N
149
D
88

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 80

Stingrays

Stingrays

1.2k Sightings
J
156
F
91
M
102
A
68
M
95
J
96
J
87
A
114
S
96
O
93
N
120
D
115

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Angelfish

Angelfish

832 Sightings
J
96
F
57
M
103
A
18
M
92
J
75
J
36
A
93
S
77
O
28
N
80
D
77

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Pufferfish

Pufferfish

820 Sightings
J
69
F
68
M
107
A
107
M
62
J
83
J
32
A
111
S
51
O
18
N
57
D
55

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Butterfly Fish

Butterfly Fish

703 Sightings
J
59
F
53
M
118
A
35
M
74
J
53
J
37
A
79
S
30
O
15
N
102
D
48

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 15

Tuna

Tuna

675 Sightings
J
86
F
31
M
50
A
48
M
42
J
71
J
46
A
71
S
63
O
44
N
83
D
40

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3

Trumpetfish

Trumpetfish

646 Sightings
J
53
F
44
M
89
A
81
M
54
J
45
J
43
A
69
S
56
O
13
N
60
D
39

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 85

Surgeonfish

Surgeonfish

597 Sightings
J
47
F
12
M
73
A
55
M
76
J
51
J
32
A
66
S
25
O
14
N
102
D
44

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 150

Sweetlips and Grunts

Sweetlips and Grunts

331 Sightings
J
40
F
28
M
44
A
18
M
27
J
30
J
5
A
22
S
26
O
7
N
62
D
22
Silvertip Shark

Silvertip Shark

307 Sightings
J
12
F
22
M
49
A
55
M
20
J
24
J
35
A
24
S
12
O
5
N
38
D
11

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 40

Triggerfish

Triggerfish

307 Sightings
J
38
F
18
M
52
A
35
M
39
J
14
J
10
A
10
S
23
O
1
N
47
D
20

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 250

Grouper/Basslets

Grouper/Basslets

291 Sightings
J
31
F
24
M
51
A
47
M
11
J
21
J
14
A
21
S
6
O
0
N
55
D
10
Marine Iguana

Marine Iguana

275 Sightings
J
19
F
17
M
28
A
12
M
29
J
24
J
24
A
34
S
37
O
23
N
11
D
17

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 40

Jackfish

Jackfish

273 Sightings
J
35
F
7
M
29
A
24
M
45
J
7
J
20
A
26
S
30
O
15
N
27
D
8

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 30

Sand Eel

Sand Eel

245 Sightings
J
25
F
25
M
36
A
17
M
23
J
26
J
17
A
29
S
11
O
10
N
20
D
6

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 350

Damselfish

Damselfish

242 Sightings
J
24
F
13
M
24
A
19
M
31
J
3
J
14
A
39
S
14
O
7
N
44
D
10
Silky Shark

Silky Shark

227 Sightings
J
2
F
0
M
16
A
4
M
11
J
32
J
20
A
27
S
32
O
17
N
34
D
32

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 9

Fur Seal

Fur Seal

221 Sightings
J
4
F
29
M
29
A
13
M
19
J
22
J
12
A
28
S
22
O
11
N
13
D
19

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Goatfish

Goatfish

200 Sightings
J
32
F
16
M
13
A
24
M
15
J
17
J
4
A
18
S
16
O
1
N
25
D
19
Oceanic Blacktip Shark

Oceanic Blacktip Shark

197 Sightings
J
19
F
11
M
55
A
11
M
20
J
10
J
8
A
9
S
7
O
14
N
19
D
14

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 25

Boxfish

Boxfish

186 Sightings
J
15
F
26
M
23
A
18
M
8
J
5
J
2
A
3
S
2
O
0
N
63
D
21

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 250

Scorpionfish

Scorpionfish

175 Sightings
J
19
F
14
M
18
A
4
M
30
J
22
J
11
A
22
S
9
O
9
N
10
D
7

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3000

Nudibranch

Nudibranch

164 Sightings
J
32
F
12
M
38
A
7
M
9
J
1
J
5
A
10
S
9
O
5
N
21
D
15

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 110

Snapper

Snapper

161 Sightings
J
15
F
7
M
20
A
16
M
25
J
5
J
0
A
10
S
6
O
1
N
32
D
24
Common Seahorse

Common Seahorse

136 Sightings
J
1
F
5
M
10
A
3
M
12
J
14
J
16
A
17
S
2
O
17
N
26
D
13

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 15

Garfish

Garfish

114 Sightings
J
7
F
3
M
10
A
3
M
1
J
12
J
1
A
30
S
7
O
2
N
25
D
13

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