Galápagos
The volcanic islands of Galapagos marine life is what puts this dive destination at the top of every diver’s list.
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
Places to explore
Dive Centers
Dive Sites
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
Shutterstock-Shane Myers Photography
Green Turtle
1.4k Sightings
J
132
F
128
M
141
A
110
M
146
J
104
J
139
A
117
S
95
O
74
N
120
D
135
AdobeStock/G Russel Childress
Great Hammerhead Shark
1.4k Sightings
J
133
F
136
M
147
A
99
M
123
J
107
J
130
A
113
S
83
O
95
N
95
D
103
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 25
iStock/Juliosanjuan
Eagle Ray
1.1k Sightings
J
103
F
103
M
148
A
97
M
82
J
62
J
97
A
82
S
64
O
65
N
95
D
90
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 7
iStock-Michael Zeigler
Sea Lion
613 Sightings
J
49
F
48
M
61
A
37
M
68
J
41
J
62
A
55
S
56
O
37
N
48
D
51
Alamy-Christian Zappel
Scalloped Hammerhead
520 Sightings
J
57
F
48
M
75
A
51
M
59
J
26
J
45
A
36
S
16
O
30
N
32
D
45
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 200
Alamy-WaterFrame
Moray Eel
309 Sightings
J
22
F
26
M
45
A
30
M
22
J
22
J
24
A
30
S
16
O
18
N
32
D
22
iStock-crisod
Reef Manta Ray
125 Sightings
J
23
F
20
M
28
A
9
M
4
J
4
J
5
A
0
S
6
O
10
N
8
D
8
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 600
iStock/ultramarinfoto
Wrasse
121 Sightings
J
16
F
20
M
19
A
5
M
4
J
6
J
7
A
5
S
5
O
8
N
12
D
14
Alamy/National Geographic Image Collection
Oceanic Whitetip Shark
115 Sightings
J
13
F
18
M
28
A
7
M
14
J
8
J
12
A
7
S
5
O
0
N
0
D
3
Alamy/BIOSPHOTO
Ocean Sunfish
111 Sightings
J
13
F
10
M
10
A
0
M
9
J
5
J
0
A
6
S
11
O
8
N
20
D
19
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 27
iStock-Global_Pics
Barracuda
105 Sightings
J
24
F
13
M
14
A
5
M
16
J
5
J
0
A
0
S
4
O
5
N
13
D
6
Shutterstock-Andrey Armyagov
Hawksbill Turtle
90 Sightings
J
8
F
5
M
12
A
0
M
9
J
14
J
11
A
6
S
8
O
0
N
13
D
4
