Galapagos Islands

Scuba diving in Ecuador is mostly about the Galapagos Islands, a world-class scuba diving destination best explored from a liveaboard. There are many fantastic dive sites in the archipelago, and many feature some of the best variety and density of sharks. Green sea turtles, manta rays, sea lions, and nearly 500 species of fish draw divers from all over the world here. And around 25 percent of marine life is endemic to the Galapagos. Some of the most popular destinations here include Darwin’s, Wolf, Isabela, and Daphne islands.

Machalilla National Park

About 20 dive sites suitable for divers of all levels of experience are found in the waters of the Machalilla National Park. The region was named Poor Man’s Galapagos and is defined by coral reefs with a diversity of marine fauna like sea turtles, sea lions, octopuses, lobsters, manta rays, and many species of fish and crustaceans. Many of the endemic species found in the Galapagos archipelago are found here as well. The Machalilla National Park incorporates two islands - Salango and Isla de la Plata, the latter being the best diving destination in the area.

Isla de la Plata

Isla de la Plata is a small island off the coast of Manabi, part of the Machalilla National Park. Some of the animals you can observe here include white-tip sharks, spondylus oysters, and manta rays. One of the most sought-after activities here involves swimming with giant manta rays. These fabulous creatures make their way to the area from July to early October to feed on plankton before being dragged by the Humboldt current in the south of Ecuador. Reef manta rays, however, can be seen year-round, as they are resident to the area.