Explore San Cristóbal

Home of one of the archipelagos two airports, San Cristóbal might be your first glimpse of the Galapagos Islands as it serves daily flights from Ecuador’s mainland. 

It is the quietest of the four inhabited islands within the region and you can find several dive centres within the sleepy town of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, some of which offer diving courses. It is also common for liveaboard boats to visit the many dive sites around the island and this is a very popular way to dive in the Galapagos, especially on San Cristóbal as it is the most common embarkation point.

Highlights of diving on San Cristóbal include the chance to dive with the world famous Galapagos sea lions, as well as turtles, manta rays and schooling hammerheads.

Upcoming Events

GALAPAGOS - The World’s Top of the Top Diving Destination - Safari

GALAPAGOS - The World’s Top of the Top Diving Destination - Safari

What’s in store for us?The hammerhead shark wall near Wolf and Dariwn Islands!!Pelagic giants—15-meter-long whale sharks!Islands that look like they’re from another world—from black lava fields to green lagoons to blue waters teeming with life!Crazy sea lions, Galapagos sharks, silky sharks, eagle rays, manta rays, and the world’s largest bony fish—the Mola-Mola!Come face to face with endemic iguanas—the queens of this land!The luxurious Galapagos Aggressor III as a base for your dives!Stand on the equator and visit Quito, one of the highest-altitude capital cities in the world!Conquer Machu Picchu and discover Inca culture!Trip Description at a GlanceThe Enchanted Islands lie 1,000 km from the Ecuadorian mainland, 1,600 km from Panama, and 960 km from Cocos Island. In the 16th century, a ship commanded by Diego de Rivadeneira, fleeing Peru, was carried by the currents to the vicinity of the equator. The sailors saw the islands, but due to strong currents and winds, they were unable to approach any of them. This phenomenon made the islands appear to drift farther away, as if they were “enchanted.” Yes, these were the Galápagos Islands.The Galápagos Archipelago is every diver’s dream. It’s a must-visit destination when considering the world’s “top” dive sites. However, to reach these islands—located 1,000 km from the mainland—we must travel to the smallest Andean country in South America, which, despite its “tiny” size, can enchant even the most demanding tourist… Buenos días, Ecuador!Why does no one in the Galápagos pay attention to the wildlife in the city centers? The answer is simple. There are… so many more of them in the water!The Galápagos remain one of the most volcanically active regions in the world, which, combined with their remote location, creates a unique environment for marine life. The islands lie at the intersection of seven major ocean currents, which makes the marine life here truly exceptional. Diving here guarantees sightings of “carpets” of hammerhead sharks, Galápagos sharks, sea lions, iguanas,red-lipped batfish, bullhead sharks, eagle rays, whale sharks, green sea turtles, and—with a little luck—mola-mola, or the sunfish! :)Spend a week on the best dive boat and get a taste of Ecuador!On top of all that, we’ll take you to Peru to see Machu Picchu—the lost city of the Incas—and Cusco—the “navel of the world,” located at an altitude of 3,400 meters above sea level! It will be the trip of a lifetime!

Centrum Nurkowe Divemania, DIVEMANIA.PL, Srodkowa 18, 05-816, Opacz Kolonia, POL
November 25, 2027
On Request

Dive Activity

Diving in San Cristóbal

Diving in San Cristóbal is suitable for many different levels of diver. There are a variety of types of dives available including drifts, pinnacles and walls. 

Liveaboards are the most popular and best way of diving in San Cristóbal. Most liveaboards in the Galapagos leave from San Cristóbal due to its location close to the airport. While most are flexible, some liveaboards impose minimum dive or qualification restrictions so be sure to check before you dive. 

Dive Sites

The best Months to Dive in San Cristóbal

Diving on San Cristóbal is possible year round. From January to June is the warm season. The water temperatures are at their warmest (around 26°C) and calmest. This is the best time of year to see manta rays and the number of hammerheads tend to increase too.

From June to December, the Humboldt Current brings cooler water down from the north, increasing the nutrients in the water and increasing marine diversity. This includes the giant whale sharks. The oceans do get rougher during this season, so seasickness tablets are not a bad idea!

Top Wildlife Sightings in San Cristóbal

Some of the most famous inhabitants of San Cristóbal are the local sea lions. Frolicking like children amongst divers’ bubbles, be prepared for some whiskery kisses or underwater playtime. Blue footed boobies and frigatebirds might oblige by diving into the water in search of fish. 

There are several species of sharks and rays here, including the Galapagos bucket list items of manta rays, whale sharks, eagle rays, Galapagos sharks and schooling hammerheads. Other species include turtles, dolphins and marine iguanas. Huge numbers of fish cover the dive sites, including schools of large pelagics like tuna and marlin. 

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

Green Turtle

Green Turtle

867 Sightings
J
62
F
60
M
73
A
77
M
93
J
78
J
94
A
102
S
52
O
40
N
66
D
70

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

704 Sightings
J
38
F
42
M
56
A
66
M
74
J
58
J
82
A
90
S
63
O
44
N
45
D
46
Great Hammerhead Shark

Great Hammerhead Shark

667 Sightings
J
63
F
59
M
85
A
63
M
74
J
64
J
64
A
63
S
31
O
33
N
35
D
33

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

599 Sightings
J
43
F
41
M
86
A
66
M
59
J
49
J
54
A
66
S
24
O
31
N
44
D
36
Scalloped Hammerhead

Scalloped Hammerhead

417 Sightings
J
33
F
32
M
50
A
53
M
47
J
32
J
45
A
51
S
11
O
14
N
16
D
33

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

206 Sightings
J
14
F
8
M
31
A
26
M
21
J
15
J
17
A
23
S
12
O
10
N
19
D
10

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

103 Sightings
J
12
F
14
M
16
A
7
M
7
J
7
J
0
A
7
S
5
O
7
N
15
D
6
Hawksbill Turtle

Hawksbill Turtle

102 Sightings
J
9
F
6
M
15
A
9
M
11
J
9
J
14
A
7
S
9
O
0
N
13
D
0

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

89 Sightings
J
8
F
0
M
7
A
8
M
9
J
8
J
6
A
11
S
10
O
7
N
7
D
8
Reef Manta Ray

Reef Manta Ray

78 Sightings
J
11
F
10
M
17
A
10
M
7
J
9
J
6
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
8

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

66 Sightings
J
9
F
13
M
9
A
0
M
6
J
5
J
0
A
0
S
2
O
8
N
7
D
7
Leatherback Turtle

Leatherback Turtle

50 Sightings
J
6
F
6
M
0
A
0
M
10
J
0
J
6
A
8
S
0
O
6
N
1
D
7
Loggerhead Turtle

Loggerhead Turtle

38 Sightings
J
6
F
7
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
5
J
10
A
1
S
5
O
3
N
0
D
1
Blacktip Reef Shark

Blacktip Reef Shark

463 Sightings
J
28
F
42
M
61
A
48
M
52
J
41
J
49
A
55
S
18
O
26
N
19
D
24
Whitetip Reef Shark

Whitetip Reef Shark

317 Sightings
J
32
F
33
M
55
A
30
M
33
J
33
J
35
A
39
S
6
O
0
N
12
D
9

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

238 Sightings
J
17
F
20
M
32
A
28
M
20
J
16
J
25
A
26
S
9
O
19
N
11
D
15

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

234 Sightings
J
22
F
17
M
35
A
0
M
25
J
14
J
30
A
23
S
13
O
23
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.: 130

Butterfly Fish

Butterfly Fish

158 Sightings
J
10
F
13
M
21
A
15
M
20
J
7
J
13
A
16
S
7
O
14
N
10
D
12

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

136 Sightings
J
11
F
10
M
13
A
17
M
18
J
8
J
9
A
16
S
7
O
11
N
6
D
10
Oceanic Blacktip Shark

Oceanic Blacktip Shark

119 Sightings
J
8
F
10
M
24
A
11
M
13
J
10
J
6
A
9
S
4
O
7
N
9
D
8

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

112 Sightings
J
0
F
13
M
12
A
2
M
7
J
4
J
12
A
13
S
10
O
15
N
9
D
15

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

103 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
12
A
15
M
9
J
10
J
9
A
15
S
5
O
10
N
9
D
9

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

92 Sightings
J
1
F
10
M
8
A
2
M
0
J
18
J
5
A
16
S
12
O
6
N
1
D
13

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

81 Sightings
J
1
F
8
M
14
A
8
M
2
J
3
J
0
A
19
S
5
O
5
N
6
D
10

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

77 Sightings
J
0
F
5
M
11
A
7
M
0
J
7
J
11
A
9
S
6
O
0
N
15
D
6
Silvertip Shark

Silvertip Shark

61 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
9
A
10
M
8
J
7
J
13
A
9
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
5
Galapagos Shark

Galapagos Shark

50 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
13
J
10
J
9
A
18
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

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

43 Sightings
J
6
F
5
M
6
A
1
M
7
J
0
J
0
A
1
S
6
O
4
N
0
D
7

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

31 Sightings
J
6
F
5
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
11
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
9

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

27 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
6
A
2
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
6
S
0
O
1
N
0
D
12

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

25 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
6
A
6
S
0
O
7
N
0
D
6

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

24 Sightings
J
0
F
8
M
7
A
1
M
2
J
0
J
0
A
1
S
0
O
5
N
0
D
0