| Recently, I was at a cocktail party talking with | | | | reef, which are few and far between in these |
| friends about my latest trip to the Galapagos Islands. | | | | waters. |
| And even though it's one of the most astonishing | | | | All these factors combine to make diving in |
| places you could imagine; I regularly hear the same | | | | Galapagos an awesome experience. It's in Galapagos |
| question, "Where's the Galapagos?" When I mention | | | | where diving with whale sharks, hammerheads, giant |
| Charles Darwin and giant tortoises a glimmer of | | | | manta rays, dolphins, sea turtles, yellow fin tuna, |
| recollection sparks in the inquirers eyes. | | | | Galapagos sharks, almaco jacks, bacalo, leather bass |
| However it's another response - I've been dying to | | | | and sea lions not a wish list but a daily experience. |
| go there - I've learned of the years, 90% of the | | | | Scuba Diving in Galapagos can be arranged in a couple |
| time precedes a great conversation about diving. | | | | of ways. First for advanced divers there are a |
| What is it that makes divers know about the | | | | handful of yachts, which offer 7-night live aboard |
| Galapagos, when your average person may not? | | | | cruises. The highlight of these cruises is the 3 days |
| To begin with it's the second largest marine reserve | | | | spent diving at Wolf and Darwin. This is a fantastic |
| in the world, UNESCO has named it a world heritage | | | | experience, which during peak season (June - |
| site, and Rodale's Scuba Diving Magazine consistently | | | | November) includes diving with whale sharks, schools |
| names it as one of the best dive spots in the world - | | | | of hammerheads, Galapagos, silky and black tip |
| all of this is for good reason. | | | | sharks. |
| The Galapagos is one of the world's most pristine | | | | Galapagos isn't just for advanced divers; these |
| environments, a national park, and wildlife sanctuary. | | | | waters offer something for divers of all skill levels. |
| It is one of the only places you can have up-close | | | | Intermediate divers will be delighted by daily dive trips |
| interactions with wild animals. | | | | to sites like Gordon Rocks, Cousins Rocks, North |
| It's here on the equator at the confluence of | | | | Seymour and Floreana where hammerheads, |
| currents, where the cold waters traveling north from | | | | Galapagos sharks, giant manta rays, golden rays, |
| Antarctica mix with the warm tropical waters | | | | morays, fur seal and sea lions are all commonly seen. |
| traveling south from Panama that a unique | | | | In recent years, the addition of dive schools has |
| environment is formed. On the islands it's | | | | made the Galapagos the perfect place for beginners |
| characterized by seeing Galapagos Penguins living only | | | | to get certified or complete their open-water training |
| a few feet away from tropical Pink Flamingos. Yet it's | | | | in the protected waters of Academy Bay and Santa |
| when you are underwater when you get to know | | | | Fe. |
| how truly special this area is. | | | | No matter what your skill level the Galapagos is |
| The Galapagos are volcanic islands that benefit from | | | | considered one of the world's finest marine |
| equatorial upwelling making it an ideal marine | | | | environments with incredible diving experiences for |
| environment. These waters are rich with nutrients. | | | | divers of all abilities. It's no wonder so many divers |
| The porous lava rocks provide small fish with the | | | | know just how special the Galapagos Islands are. |
| protection they would otherwise receive from a coral | | | | |