Oct 4, 2026Diving Destinations
Diving the Galapagos: What to Bring and How to Prepare
Galapagos diving combines cold currents and big animals. Learn what gear to pack, how to prepare, and what conditions to expect.
The Galapagos Islands sit where major ocean currents collide, and that collision is exactly why the diving is extraordinary: whale sharks, hammerhead schools, sea lions, marine iguanas and penguins in the same archipelago. It is also why a trip here rewards preparation more than most. Cold upwellings, strong currents and long boat rides mean your gear has to work the first time, every time.
Expect two seas in one trip
The archipelago runs on the cold Humboldt current, with water temperatures from around 16°C in the west up to the mid-twenties around some central islands. Most divers travel with a 5mm to 7mm wetsuit, hood and gloves. If you run warm, a 3mm shorty may cover the northern sites only - plan for the coldest water you will see, not the warmest.
That temperature gap matters for your masks, snorkels and fins too: cold water stiffens silicone less than it stiffens cheap rubber, and a well-sealed mask with a soft liquid silicone skirt keeps its seal even when your face is cold. Test every seal before you travel.
Currents, drift and surface swims
Several signature sites are drift dives in moving water, and surface intervals can mean holding position on a line in open blue. Efficient travel fins and a dry-top snorkel make those swims far more comfortable. Pack fins you have already used in current - the open ocean is the wrong place to break in new gear.
What to pack
Beyond the wetsuit: two masks if you can (a spare removes the risk of a cracked lens ending your week), a spare fin strap, anti-fog, a safety sausage, and a mesh bag for rinse and transport. Photography gear needs the same cold-water prep as your body - batteries die faster and O-rings stiffen.
How to prepare
Book with operators who limit group sizes and brief currents properly, and be honest about your experience level - Galapagos guides will happily match sites to your comfort zone. Practise duck dives and mask clearing before you go. And give yourself a day in Quito or Guayaquil to adjust before boarding.
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