Due to their position, right on the Equator line, two currents flow towards the Galapagos: a warm one, from Panama, in the North, and a cool one from Peru, in the South. When coming together they deviate to the ocean in the same direction, thus creating a movement of water going off the continental coast. This has prevented many landings in times when only sailing ships existed. Only pirates reached their coasts in search of the huge turtles to feed their crew. This caused the extinction of these animals in some of the islands.

Due to these currents a strange phenomenon occurs: waters in the North are a lot warmer than in the South (some 5ºC higher, 41ºF) This is why sea life is more abundant in the North and in Darwin island whale sharks can be found.

North Seymour Island (North to Baltra Island)

Access: By boat
Required Experience: Intermediate (minimum of 15 logged dives)
Current Conditions: Moderate to strong
Depth: 5 - 30 meters (15 -100 ft)

Water is crystal clear. Visibility can reach 30 meters (100 ft), although most of the times it is 8 to 20 meters (27 to 66 ft)
You can see reef fish, eagle rays, sea turtles, sea wolves, moray eels and garden eels, pelagics, white tip and hammerhead sharks and, occasionally, Galapagos sharks.
This is a drift dive so divers are picked up by the boat upon surfacing.

Wolf and Darwin Islands

Access: By boat
Required Experience: Advanced (minimum of 40 logged dives)
Current Conditions: Strong
Depth: 5 - 30 meters (15-100 ft)

It takes 16 hours by boat to reach this area, at the North end of the archipelago. It is common to find dolphins at some point of the journey. They swim almost touching the bow, as if guiding the boat. They playfully jump by the sides and seem to enjoy it. The few visitors that reach the area are always divers, since it is not allowed to visit land in order to preserve its unique and delicate environment.
Hammerheads are abundant around Wolf island. You can find them by hundreds. They stay at a depth between 5 and 30 meters (15 to 100 ft) However , when water is warmer, they move deeper (+ 40 meters to 130ft) and, only occasionally, they swim shallower. Currents are stronger on the South side (from June to September) They become so strong that you cannot help being dragged away by them, even with a good grip on the rocks. Despite of the fact that there are no coral formations, you can see sea urchins, surgeonfish, barracudas, moray eels, scorpion fish, parrotfish, etc. You can also see whale sharks.

Cousins Rock

Access: By boat
Required Experience: Intermediate (minimum 20 logged dives)
Current Conditions: Moderate to strong
Depth: 5 - 30 meters (15 - 100 ft)

One hour trip from Santa Cruz and opposite to Bartolome, Cousins Rock is an unforgettable experience. On the North side there is a large overhang full of sea life.
It is possible to find a huge school of horse eye jacks that is quite a sight. Eagle Rays are common and if you explore the overhangs you can find seahorses. The South side is plainer and most of the creatures are passing by: sharks, sea turtles, tuna and different big fish. Water is a couple of degrees colder and not as clear but sea life is more abundant.

Gordon Rocks and Plazas Islands

Access: By boat
Required Experience: Beginners (two dive sites)Intermediate to advanced (Minimum 20 logged dives)
Current Conditions: Moderate to strong
Depth: 5 - 30 meters (15-100 ft)

This rock formation is a dive site famous around the world. Gordon Rocks is close to Islas Plazas. There are 4 dive sites around this area, but only two in Plazas are for beginners. The other two dive sites are for experienced divers since strong currents and surge may appear. Dive sites are mostly deep walls. Reef fish, pelagics, eagle rays, sea turtles, sea wolves, local seals, morays, invertebrates, white tip sharks and Galapagos sharks can be seen. The main attraction is hammerheads, which show up in large groups.