Galapagos Visibility vs. Marine Life

[CareyinFL]

From my googling, it appears that the best time to see whale sharks is October-November. But that's when the water temperature is at its coldest AND visibility is at its worst.

April appeals to me for underwater temperature. But I can't seem to find anyplace that kind of gives me a comparison of visibility vs. marine life. I want to go when we'll see lots of great fish, turtles, sea lions, etc. And when we can really SEE them.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

 

[OnTheSpot]

April should be great, the water temp is more comfortable and the visibility is better, the only animal that is in short supply at that time of year is the whale sharks, the others you want to see will be there in abundance and you'll get better sightings withe the better visibility. You can read our full opinion here. Hope this helps!

 

[DiveTheGalapagos]

It is the currents coming in from the south (the polar Humboldt) and the western Cromwell that bring so many nutrients to the local water that it causes quite the explosion of marine life. So even though visibility is diminished in high season, it's absolutely irrelevant when that much is that close to you. You will not want for sightings even with diminished visibility. Does it really matter if visibility is only 40 ft if you have hundreds of hammerheads parading in front of you at 15 ft away? I would say Jan or May are the best low season months to dive the Galapagos. The water warms up quite a bit at Darwin in Feb, March and April. Hammerheads like cooler water, so those present are deeper. Hammerheads migrate away (to Cocos and Malpelo) mid-to late Feb and return to their normal large populations by May. Galapagos sharks don't migrate, so they are year round. Sea lions, turtles and others likely sightings are always in abundance, so no seasonal worries there. And sometimes, we do get the odd whale shark in May, not often, but it's been known to happen.

 

[peeweediver]

Thanks for this information. I am talking to my LDS about a trip for 2015. The top reason for our LDS to go would be to see hammerheads. We were in the Socorro Islands in February and the vis was so bad that even sightings of hammerheads at 20 feet were not very good. Here's my question: Would early-mid-May, still in the low season, insure sightings of large schools of hammerheads, know that nothing is ever insured? If not, would late May, June or September be better with our top goal in mind? I am a bit concerned about rough, cold water (below 65 degrees F). Though some of us dive Lake Michigan and would be fine, a number of our shop travel folks aren't great in rough, cold water. Thoughts? Thanks.

Rob

 

[tracydr]

We went in June. Saw lots of whale sharks, huge schools of hammerheads and the water was pretty warm. Vis was good to excellent, probably 50-75 feet. No mantas or molas,though. I'd love to go back someday but we have so much on our bucket list that I doubt it will ever happen. It was an amazing experience.
The water was around 67-68, heavy currents but not too rough on the surface. Divers need to be able to do a negative drop and be very comfortable in heavy current. This is not a good place for the typical vacation divers to go. It's for advanced divers although they don't have to be technical divers. Dives are all less than 100 feet, we only did one night dive. But, the currents, negative drop, possibility of needing to hang out waiting for a pick-up on the surface for long periods of time, these are not experiences that a beginner diver would enjoy. In fact, I think a less experienced diver posted a review on SB this summer about the terrible time that she had.

 

[RJP]

My buddy and I went in September and saw hundreds of hammerheads on nearly every day. At least one whale shark on every dive at Wolf and Darwin.

As always, diving is about WHAT you can see, not HOW FAR you can see.

 

[supergaijin]

and appreciating what you do see, not lamenting on what you don't...

 

[peeweediver]

As always, great advice from the SB folks. It's hard to plan an LDS trip when you are somewhat restricted to places that are doable for the least advanced of the group or you're faced with saying, "Not for you". I just may have to take my diving spouse and head there sometime just us. Sounds like the June to December time frame is my best bet for lots of hammerheads and other good stuff.
thanks again.

Rob

 

[Oceanshutter]

I was in the Galapagos in August. Aggressor did 2 for 1 weeks, and so that brought a bunch of very inexperinced divers. I brought a guy who only had 30 dives. and there were others with less than that. they all made it fine. However the current wasn't running as fast as it could have been. I probably wouldn't it for those that aren't comfortable in the water, and not used to 7mm wetsuits.
It is an amazing place!
Dustin

 

[muteki]

I started a Galapagos liveaboard end of October to early November, with only 23 dives, learned a lot in those dives! Some of the more experienced divers were less comfortable than me, though. Visibility wasn't the best I've seen, but the guides were great at spotting whale sharks, and then we made a mad dash and got really close (1-2 meters). We saw 6 whale sharks in our 9 dives at Darwin, tons of hammerheads on almost every dive, and lots of other great stuff.