Aqua Galápagos Diving Route A: 8 Days / 7 Nights

A Focused Liveaboard Expedition for Certified Divers

This 8-day / 7-night Galápagos diving liveaboard is designed for certified divers who want access to some of the archipelago’s most iconic underwater wildlife sites, including Darwin, Wolf, Cape Marshall, Vicente Roca Point, Cape Douglas, and Cousin’s Rock.

Aqua combines daily diving, comfortable onboard accommodation, expert dive guidance, and selected Galápagos visitor sites in one focused route. The program is ideal for travelers who want to experience the islands mainly from below the surface, with opportunities to encounter hammerhead sharks, rays, sea turtles, schooling fish, Galápagos penguins, marine iguanas, and — in the right season — whale sharks.

This itinerary is recommended for experienced divers. Advanced Open Water certification or equivalent, a minimum of 50 logged dives, and valid dive insurance may be required to join the liveaboard.

Itinerary Overview

Day 1 – Baltra Arrival & Checkout Dive

Arrival at Baltra Airport, where guests are welcomed and assisted with the transfer to the yacht. After boarding Aqua, the crew provides an introduction to the vessel, safety procedures, and general orientation for the week ahead.

In the afternoon, guests complete a checkout dive at Baltra Northeast. This first dive allows divers to test equipment, adjust weights, review procedures, and become comfortable before the main diving route begins.

Overnight onboard Aqua.

Day 2 – Cape Marshall & City of the Mantas

The route begins moving toward the northeast side of Isabela Island, one of the most powerful marine areas in the Galápagos. Cape Marshall is known for deep walls, open-water conditions, and nutrient-rich currents that attract large marine life.

Divers may encounter sharks, rays, sea turtles, sea lions, and large schools of fish. Later, the route continues toward City of the Mantas, a classic Galápagos dive site where giant manta rays may be seen when conditions are favorable.

Overnight navigation onboard Aqua.

Day 3 – Wolf Island

The expedition reaches Wolf Island, one of the most legendary diving areas in the Galápagos. This remote northern island is known for strong marine life, dramatic underwater landscapes, and excellent chances to see pelagic species.

Depending on conditions, dives may take place at sites such as Shark Bay, The Caves, The Pinnacle, or other selected areas. Wolf is especially known for hammerhead sharks, Galápagos sharks, eagle rays, sea turtles, moray eels, schooling fish, and occasional dolphin sightings.

Overnight onboard Aqua near the northern islands.

Day 4 – Darwin Island

The journey continues to Darwin Island, one of the most iconic diving destinations in the world. This area is famous for its open-ocean conditions and high concentration of marine life.

Divers may encounter schools of hammerhead sharks, Galápagos sharks, silky sharks, rays, sea turtles, and large schools of fish. During the right season, Darwin is also one of the best areas in the Galápagos for possible whale shark encounters.

Diving activities are always adjusted according to marine conditions, safety, and the guidance of the dive team.

Overnight onboard Aqua.

Day 5 – Darwin & Wolf Diving

A full additional day is dedicated to the remote northern diving sites of Darwin and Wolf. This gives divers more time to experience the strongest part of the route and increases the possibility of varied marine encounters.

The exact dive sites are selected by the crew and dive guides based on currents, visibility, safety, and wildlife activity. These remote sites are often the highlight of the expedition, offering some of the most memorable underwater moments in the Galápagos.

Overnight navigation onboard Aqua.

Day 6 – Vicente Roca Point & Cape Douglas

The route continues toward the western side of the archipelago, where colder, nutrient-rich waters create a very different diving environment. Vicente Roca Point, located near Isabela Island, is known for dramatic coastal scenery and rich marine life.

Divers may encounter sea turtles, seahorses, rays, penguins, marine iguanas, and a variety of fish species. The itinerary also includes Cape Douglas, one of the best areas to observe the unique marine life of the western Galápagos, including Galápagos penguins and marine iguanas in the water.

This day offers a strong contrast to the remote northern islands, showing another side of the Galápagos underwater world.

Overnight onboard Aqua.

Day 7 – Cousin’s Rock & Santa Cruz Highlands

The final diving day includes Cousin’s Rock, a volcanic formation located near Santiago Island. This site is known for reef terraces, sea fans, black coral, rays, schools of fish, and colorful underwater scenery.

After the diving activities, the program continues with a land visit to the Santa Cruz Highlands. This area offers a complete change of landscape, with lush vegetation and the possibility of observing giant tortoises in their natural environment.

This combination of diving and land exploration creates a balanced final full day before returning to Baltra.

Overnight onboard Aqua.

Day 8 – Transfer to Baltra Airport

After breakfast, guests disembark and are assisted with the transfer to Baltra Airport for their return flight to mainland Ecuador.

This marks the end of the Aqua Galápagos Diving Route A expedition.

Important Notes

This is a diving-focused liveaboard itinerary. The program is designed primarily for certified and experienced divers, not for general naturalist cruising.

Wildlife encounters depend on season, ocean conditions, currents, visibility, and natural behavior. Hammerhead sharks, rays, sea turtles, schooling fish, penguins, marine iguanas, and whale sharks may be possible depending on the area and season, but sightings are never guaranteed.

The final route, dive sites, and daily activities may be adjusted by the crew and dive guides according to weather, marine conditions, Galápagos National Park regulations, and safety considerations.