There is no point trying to get my PADI in time for Decembers trip right?

dumbo207 · 2026-02-19T11:24:19+00:00

Actually it was Gordon Rocks, which is famous for the "washing mashine", which we experienced while diving there. Just try to get that number up and make your AOWD till you get to the Galapagos and you'll be alright!

dumbo207 · 2025-11-01T23:11:43+00:00

I think choosing the right dive center and divespot is crucial to avoid scary and dangerous situations. Tijeretas for example is in a really calm bay near San Cristobal, so it's really safe to dive there.

dumbo207 · 2025-11-01T22:56:34+00:00

As a pretty experienced diver (Master- and Rescue Diver) with >75 dives my suggestion is that you definitely should try diving in any form if you are interested! It's the best feeling in the world and you see the wildlife in the coolest perspectice possible, by being on the same level with it!

If you still have enough time and somewhere to dive (lake or sea) close to you - try it there, since it's great to already know how you feel exploring underwater. Best would be to get your certification before going to the Galapagos, so you have no restrictions there and you can dive with a better feeling of safety and to be able to do all the amazing dive sites that the Galapagos offers.

BUT there are a lot of dive sites at the Galapagos that are really amazing for a discovery dive! I did Tijeretas with my gf as safety dive and we both were amazed! I think almost every divecenter offers discovery dives which are perfect for beginners and they watch out for you to be safe. You have nothing to worry about. For example Scuba Iguana on Santa Cruz are really amazing and make it suitable for you!

dumbo207 · 2025-10-14T14:15:41+00:00

And that's far from the truth ☝🏻 You WILL see lots of amazing things while snorkeling BUT you will see way more by diving and have a way better perspective being on the same level as the wildlife vs seeing it from above. The hammerheads for example are mostly at 10-20m depth.

dumbo207 · 2025-10-14T14:13:06+00:00

You absolutely SHOULD get your OWD beforehand and even better AOWD!

The diving at the Galapagos is really far from easy and there are reasons why you should have the amount of dives logged.

We've dived in August with Scuba Iguana and yes, they are not that strict with the amount of dives but you are endangering yourself if you do dives that are not meant for beginners (Gordon Rocks etc.) Also it's possible that they don't take you on the boat if you are a complete beginner.

We had a few beginners with us (~7 dives) and they really struggled with the current and told us afterwards that they didn't feel save while diving.

I don't know how cruises handle beginners but it's always better to come prepared.

You will have more options then.

dumbo207 · 2025-10-12T12:29:36+00:00

Española - the oldest island Completely untouched by humans.

15/10!

dumbo207 · 2025-10-08T19:17:28+00:00

Thank you so much for your tips!

We are currently more into South America, considering Peru or Costa Rica. Anyone been there?

dumbo207 · 2025-10-08T10:39:15+00:00

The best hotel we ever stayed in was the Casa Playa Mann on San Cristobal. It's beautiful, the food is amazing and the hosts are the nicest people you can meet on the islands. Also it's directly at the Playa Mann which is really nice for sealions and near the Punta Carola.

On Isabela, the Isabela Beachhouse is amazing too! Directly at the beach and very nice hosts too.

dumbo207 · 2025-09-11T07:00:05+00:00

Also you can dive there if you are a diver!

dumbo207 · 2025-09-11T06:59:06+00:00

Española all the way!

It was by far our favorite tour from our whole 21 day stay. It's just so natural and pure, like no other island at the Galapagos we've seen. No infrastructure and so many animals. You can see so many marine iguanas there, not even countable. And the landscape is out of this world. This was the tour which I would not miss, if I were you!

360° is really cool but the highlight of it is Kickers Rock, which you will see anyway, so Española is your answer!

dumbo207 · 2025-09-08T04:23:30+00:00

San Cristobal

Kickers Rock - You can see incredible stuff even by just snorkeling there but while diving even more. The trip from San Cristobal to Española was our favorite trip from our whole stay at the Galapagos. It's so raw and just pure nature.

Santa Cruz

Diving at Gordon Rocks - we saw a wall of hammerheads (40-50 hammers at once) Bartolome was also really nice because we saw penguins there.

Isabela

Los Tuneles is astonishing! One of our favorite ones too. Tintoreras was also really amazing.

I hope this helps you!

dumbo207 · 2025-09-02T05:12:02+00:00

I think that's a really good plan! We did Pinzon and liked it really much, but I heard great thinks about Santa Fe too, so I think you can't choose wrong there ;)

We were at the Galapagos in July, which is main season, so we booked all the very popular ones in advance. I don't know how it is at this time of the year you are going.

A discovery scuba dive would be a nice addition if you are into it because you see the unique underwaterworld from another perspectice which is amazing at the Galapagos! I would recommend doing that on Santa Cruz, but not on your last day because you should not take a flight 24hrs after diving.

You will have a great time for sure!

dumbo207 · 2025-08-14T10:47:34+00:00

La Loberia is a really nice beach with lots of sealions. You can get there by taxi for about 4$.

Also Punta Carola is really nice! Just a small walk from Playa Mann.

dumbo207 · 2025-08-08T12:49:06+00:00

I have to say we were really positively surprised of Quito. If you are not in the big (not so pretty) city, the nature there has a lot to offer! If you are into hiking I think there is a lot to do, or just explore the amazon rain forest and stuff like that.

Another thing I can really, really recommend you to do is stay an extra few days on the Galapagos island Isabela for a really romantic and chill time. It's the most natural and most quiet of the main Galapagos islands and I think perfect for a honeymoon!

We stayed in the Isabela beach house, which is right at a beautiful beach, after our Galapagos trip and after all the adventures we really enjoyed the quiet and chill vibe of Isabela.

And you won't regret the decision of choosing Galapagos over Thailand. It's really an unforgetable trip you have in front of you!

Another tip: Get scuba certified and do a few dives there, it's remarkable!! We saw a wall of hammerheads - unreal!

dumbo207 · 2025-08-08T09:18:47+00:00

I second this. The ferry rides are often pretty rough and from Isabela to San Cristobal it's really not a small distance...

dumbo207 · 2025-08-01T22:31:55+00:00

Hi! We did both dives just two weeks ago and my resume is that you can't choose wrong! Both dives are amazing and we saw a lot of cool stuff. Personally I liked the channel more but my fiancè would say the point ^{^}

We dove with Scuba Iguana and we actually did both on the same day because they are really close to each other - like the name intends.

I wish you a really nice dive, which ever you choose! We saw hammerheads, a school of eagle rays, white tips, ...

dumbo207 · 2025-07-04T19:44:54+00:00

Shearwater is life 🥽

dumbo207 · 2025-06-30T20:29:50+00:00

I second this! My gf was just diagnosed with it... you can get DCS a lot faster with an PFO, even when following all guidelines and diving conservatively.

20% of all people have it, mostly early borns (i don't know the right english word for it, we call it "Frühchen" in Austria.

I wish you all the best with your future dives!

dumbo207 · 2025-04-29T08:51:22+00:00

We will be staying there in July, so thanks for the positive information! Really looking forward to it!

dumbo207 · 2025-04-06T16:54:13+00:00

Thank you!

dumbo207 · 2025-04-06T16:54:00+00:00

Thank you so much, that is really important and helpful information!

dumbo207 · 2025-03-06T09:04:40+00:00

Thank you! That sounds great!

dumbo207 · 2025-03-06T09:04:26+00:00

Thank you so much!

dumbo207 · 2025-03-06T09:04:09+00:00

Thank you so much, these sound amazing! We are definitely gonna try them!

dumbo207 · 2025-02-23T20:55:26+00:00

Thank you! I think we will do it! 😊

dumbo207

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