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.

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

Tim V. (#4208131)
Kicker Rock / Léon Dormido, San Cristobal, Galapagos <span class="text-color-primary text-sm"> (★4.5)</span>

Kicker Rock / Léon Dormido, San Cristobal, Galapagos (★4.5)

León Dormido, a gigantic rock formation rising out of the ocean, is a “sleeping lion.” The remains of a lava cone split in two, it is also known as “Kicker Rock.” Located off the coast of the island of San Cristóbal.

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

Shutterstock-Shane Myers Photography
Green Turtle

Green Turtle
707 Sightings
J
58
F
58
M
67
A
69
M
85
J
55
J
65
A
55
S
35
O
33
N
62
D
65
AdobeStock/G Russel Childress
Great Hammerhead Shark

Great Hammerhead Shark
595 Sightings
J
63
F
59
M
81
A
62
M
73
J
52
J
51
A
34
S
19
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

iStock/Juliosanjuan
Eagle Ray

Eagle Ray
537 Sightings
J
40
F
41
M
85
A
65
M
59
J
39
J
41
A
42
S
17
O
30
N
43
D
35

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

Total number of species approx.: 7

iStock-Michael Zeigler
Sea Lion

Sea Lion
487 Sightings
J
30
F
34
M
49
A
47
M
63
J
37
J
48
A
44
S
43
O
27
N
32
D
33
Alamy-Christian Zappel
Scalloped Hammerhead

Scalloped Hammerhead
351 Sightings
J
29
F
32
M
50
A
53
M
47
J
24
J
27
A
20
S
6
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

Alamy-WaterFrame
Moray Eel

Moray Eel
189 Sightings
J
12
F
7
M
28
A
25
M
21
J
11
J
16
A
20
S
11
O
10
N
18
D
10
Shutterstock-Andrey Armyagov
Hawksbill Turtle

Hawksbill Turtle
94 Sightings
J
8
F
5
M
14
A
9
M
11
J
9
J
11
A
6
S
8
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.: 27

iStock-Global_Pics
Barracuda

Barracuda
88 Sightings
J
12
F
13
M
16
A
7
M
7
J
5
J
0
A
0
S
4
O
5
N
13
D
6
Alamy/National Geographic Image Collection
Oceanic Whitetip Shark

Oceanic Whitetip Shark
83 Sightings
J
13
F
11
M
20
A
9
M
12
J
6
J
5
A
7
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0
iStock-crisod
Reef Manta Ray

Reef Manta Ray
76 Sightings
J
11
F
10
M
17
A
10
M
7
J
8
J
5
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.: 300

Alamy/Reinhard Dirscherl
Octopus

Octopus
68 Sightings
J
8
F
0
M
5
A
7
M
8
J
5
J
0
A
7
S
9
O
6
N
6
D
7

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

Total number of species approx.: 600

iStock/ultramarinfoto
Wrasse

Wrasse
61 Sightings
J
9
F
11
M
8
A
0
M
6
J
0
J
0
A
5
S
0
O
8
N
7
D
7
Alamy-National Geographic Creative
Leatherback Turtle

Leatherback Turtle
37 Sightings
J
6
F
6
M
0
A
0
M
10
J
0
J
5
A
0
S
0
O
4
N
0
D
6
iStock-ShaneGross
Loggerhead Turtle

Loggerhead Turtle
22 Sightings
J
6
F
7
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
5
A
0
S
4
O
0
N
0
D
0
iStock/Divepic
Giant Oceanic Manta Ray

Giant Oceanic Manta Ray
20 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
8
A
0
M
0
J
4
J
0
A
8
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0
Show More
AdobeStock-Nikolai Sorokin
Blacktip Reef Shark

Blacktip Reef Shark
394 Sightings
J
28
F
40
M
60
A
48
M
48
J
30
J
33
A
24
S
15
O
26
N
18
D
24
iStock-June Jacobsen
Whitetip Reef Shark

Whitetip Reef Shark
262 Sightings
J
30
F
31
M
53
A
30
M
30
J
26
J
23
A
13
S
6
O
0
N
12
D
8

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

Total number of species approx.: 100

iStock-burnsboxco
Parrotfish

Parrotfish
195 Sightings
J
17
F
18
M
27
A
25
M
20
J
7
J
19
A
15
S
8
O
15
N
11
D
13

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

Total number of species approx.: 80

iStock/Extreme-Photographer
Stingrays

Stingrays
186 Sightings
J
18
F
13
M
33
A
0
M
25
J
8
J
17
A
19
S
10
O
19
N
12
D
12

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

Total number of species approx.: 130

Shutterstock_Krzysztof Odziomek
Butterfly Fish

Butterfly Fish
135 Sightings
J
10
F
13
M
19
A
15
M
18
J
5
J
7
A
9
S
6
O
11
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

Shutterstock-Al McGlashan
Tuna

Tuna
122 Sightings
J
11
F
10
M
13
A
17
M
16
J
5
J
9
A
8
S
6
O
11
N
6
D
10
Alamy-Steve Woods Photography
Oceanic Blacktip Shark

Oceanic Blacktip Shark
103 Sightings
J
8
F
10
M
23
A
11
M
13
J
10
J
0
A
0
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

Shutterstock-Rich Carey
Angelfish

Angelfish
87 Sightings
J
0
F
10
M
10
A
0
M
7
J
4
J
8
A
5
S
7
O
12
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

iStock-mirecca
Surgeonfish

Surgeonfish
77 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
11
A
13
M
7
J
5
J
9
A
6
S
0
O
8
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.: 250

Shutterstock-Henry_and_Laura_Whittaker
Grouper/Basslets

Grouper/Basslets
64 Sightings
J
0
F
5
M
9
A
7
M
0
J
6
J
6
A
5
S
6
O
0
N
14
D
6

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

Total number of species approx.: 9

AdobeStock-Dmitry Kokh
Fur Seal

Fur Seal
60 Sightings
J
0
F
5
M
7
A
0
M
0
J
12
J
0
A
10
S
9
O
5
N
0
D
12
iStock-Lindsey Dougherty
Silvertip Shark

Silvertip Shark
52 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
9
A
10
M
8
J
6
J
9
A
5
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
5

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

Total number of species approx.: 130

AdobeStock-JirinaVFR
Pufferfish

Pufferfish
49 Sightings
J
0
F
6
M
10
A
7
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
7
S
5
O
0
N
6
D
8

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

Total number of species approx.: 40

iStock-Hoatzinexp
Jackfish

Jackfish
40 Sightings
J
6
F
5
M
6
A
0
M
7
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
5
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

Shutterstock_Leo Lorenzo
Trumpetfish

Trumpetfish
36 Sightings
J
6
F
5
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
11
A
5
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
9
Shutterstock-Tomas Kotouc
Galapagos Shark

Galapagos Shark
21 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
12
J
9
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0