Diving in the Galapagos Islands is an experience like no other.  Staring down at over a hundred hammerhead sharks was breathtaking!

The Galapagos Islands have the perfect conditions for life to flourish. The waters around the islands are home to an abundance of life, including 32 different types of sharks.

Arriving in Baltra, a small island north of Santa Cruz, we firstly had to pay 100$ on entry. After that, we took the bus down to Puerto Isidro Ayora (the main town on the island.)

Looking For A Dive Shop

On arrival, we went to the nearest dive shop to book a trip, but due to us doing the PADI (diving qualification) in 2006 and us losing the PADI identity card, many diving companies did not allow us to book.

The large amount of dive companies meant that we were able to find a diving center that would take us. We were signed up to dive the following morning.

Upon arrival at the meeting point, we found out that the South Korean lady that was with us didn’t know how to swim and had never even dived before. This worried us greatly, as we knew the Galapagos had strong currents to deal with.

What Did We See 

When diving in the Galapagos Islands a popular spot is North Seymour, which is located near Baltra.  Taking the plunge at this location for the first time was a great feeling even though we only saw a few hammerheads. We were told that we should have seen a lot more, so we hoped to be luckier on the second dive. We also had our fingers crossed in hopes of seeing an orca, as in that same spot there was one passing through, a month prior.

On the second dive, we came into contact with a herd of over a hundred hammerhead sharks,  with their prehistoric outline dominating the foreground, it was a humbling experience.  We also came across  turtles, white tips and huge manta rays. Being in the middle of the hammerheads and looking up at the surface was completely overwhelming. The strong currents provide the food sources that the sharks rely upon. These same strong currents were definitely not what the South Korean lady wanted, as not being able to swim, she was dragged along by the instructor, saying all she wanted were the pictures!

Diving amongst Hammerheads in a diver’s paradise