You need a boat to reach the best dive sites in Galapagos, but that does not mean you have to stay on a boat.  This 11-day trip (12 to 13 day including international flights) reaches some of the best dive sites in the islands on daily dive trips arranged using a combination of land transport and speed boat.  Dive sites may include locations such as Gordon's Rock which is an excellent location to see sharks and rays and probably the Galapagos' most challenging dive.  North Seymour is another great place to see sharks, as well as rock covered in literally hundreds of blue nudibranchs and sandy beds where sand eels rise and retreat in time with each other.  Lunch on a dive here is likely to be with a family of sealions and a cliff covered in blue-footed boobies and other native birds.

Other dive sites you may be able to visit include:

Beagle Rock

These are 3 exposed rocks located south of Santiago Island which is north of Santa Cruz .  This is a beginner to intermediate level dive where hammerheads, Galapagos sharks and rays can be seen as well as mantas during the hot season.  You will also find black corals on the rock walls.

Cousins Rock

Cousins Rock is an islet which by boat ride is just beyond the famous island of Bartolome.  It is characterized by steep walls and rock plates known as "Planchonal".  Currents here can be strong. The dive site is rich in endemic black corals and underwater sightings may include frogfish, fur seals, sea turtles, sea horses, and hopefully, hammerhead sharks.

Daphne

Daphne is situated between the twin bays of Bartolome and North Seymour.  Diving here is characterised by vertical walls surrounding an isolated offshore tuff cone. The main dive site is a shelf of boulders at about 60 feet.  Diving can be difficult depending on the currents and surge. This is often a good place to see Galapagos sharks, schools of pelagic fish, and multicoloured sponges on the rock wall.

Floreana Island

Floreana is one of the southern most islands of the Galapagos.  There are nine dive sites on Floreana so actual dive spots will be selected according to prevailing winds and currents.  One of the best features about Floreana is the opportunity to see significant colonies of corals including pebble corals and endemic black coral.  Of the fish life, barber fish are often seen here cleaning parasites from turtles.  This is also one of the best places in the Galapagos to dive with sealions.

Accommodation: for people with a focus on the diving, we offer this experience at a comfortable but economical hotel, or at one of the best hotels on Santa Cruz island.  This is also very close to the Charles Darwin Research Station which you can walk to a free afternoon. Price: £1,250 per person sharing           or £1,490 for premium hotel Our prices include Return flights Quito-Galapagos 3 nights boutique Cafe Cultura Hotel* in Quito 7 nights hotel accommodation in Galapagos. Breakfasts (except for early morning transfers) 4 airport - hotel transfers in Quito Airport and boat transfers between Baltra Island airport and hotel on Galapagos 12 dives Scuba diving equipment including full wetsuit with hood Lunches when out diving A year's free membeship to the Galapagos Conservation Trust (*subject to availability) Our prices exclude International flights to Quito Galapagos National Park entrance fee - $100** per person to be paid in cash at the airport in Galápagos). Local air taxes - $40.80** Drinks, tips, snorkeling equipment and wet suits (depending on the ship). Travel insurance. (**correct at time of writing)

Day 1
Arrive Quito.
You will be met at the airport and transferred to the boutique Cafe Cultura Hotel.

Day 2
Day in Quito to acclimatise.

Day 3
You will be collected from your hotel early and transferred to the airport.
Fly Quito - Baltra Island.
Upon arrival you will be met and transferred from Baltra Island to Puerto Ayora.  Watch for Frigate Birds as you take the ferry from Baltra Island to Santa Cruz.
Check in to Hotel and then to the Dive Centre to be fitted out with dive equipment and briefed on the week's diving.

Day 4
Breakfast.
2 dives at North Seymour.
Return to base.

Day 5
Breakfast.
2 dives at Beagle.
Return to base.

Day 6
Breakfast.
2 dives at Cousins.
Return to base.

Day 7
Breakfast.
2 dives at Gordon Rocks.
Return to base.

Day 8
Breakfast.
2 dives at Floreana.
Return to base.

Day 9
Breakfast.
2 dives at Nameless.
Return to base.

Day 10
Breakfast.
Check out of hotel.
Transfer Puerto Ayora to Baltra Island.
Fly Galapagos - Quito where you will be met and transferred back to your hotel.

Day 11
Transfer to airport for flight home.