Country Guide
Best Scuba Diving in Ecuador
3 dive sites in Ecuador, ranked by our data-driven Score across 12 categories including marine life, coral health, visibility, operator quality, and value. Average score: 62.9/100.
Ecuador's Galápagos Islands are the Serengeti of the sea: no other dive destination on Earth concentrates so many large pelagic species in one place. Hammerhead schools, whale sharks cruising Darwin's Arch, marine iguanas, Galápagos penguins underwater, and sea lion colonies that treat divers as playmates all await within a few days of liveaboard sailing. The cold, nutrient-rich Humboldt Current drives extraordinary marine productivity and keeps the experience unlike anywhere else.
- Best For
- Hammerhead SchoolsWhale SharksPelagicsLiveaboard ExpeditionsBig Animals
- Best Months
- June to November (whale sharks at Darwin); December to May (warmer, calmer)
- US Visa
- US passport holders do not need a visa for stays up to 90 days. A separate Galápagos Transit Control Card (~$20) is required and purchased at the mainland airport.