The Countdown Is On For Our Dive Expedition to the Galápagos Islands

Ben Lair   Jul 21, 2025

Darwin's Domain: The Ultimate Dive Expedition to the Galápagos Islands

For every scuba diver, there is a list. It’s a mental checklist of the world’s most iconic, most thrilling, and most awe-inspiring dive destinations. And at the very top of almost every one of those lists sits a remote, volcanic archipelago that has captivated explorers for centuries: the Galápagos Islands.

Here at 72 Aquatics, we spend our years training divers in Arizona and exploring the world's best dive locations, but the excitement for our upcoming trip—departing this August 25th, 2025—is reaching a fever pitch. This isn't just another stamp in the passport. This is the big one. A journey aboard the fantastic Humboldt Explorer liveaboard to the heart of marine megafauna, the legendary islands of Darwin and Wolf which is the undisputed holy grail of big animal diving. 

A Living Laboratory Where Currents Collide

What makes the Galápagos so special? The magic lies in its isolation and its location. Situated at the confluence of three major oceanic currents, these volcanic islands act as a nutrient-rich magnet for marine life. The cold, deep waters of the Humboldt Current sweep up from the south, bringing the nutrients that form the base of the food chain. This mix of cold and tropical water creates a unique ecosystem where penguins swim alongside sea turtles, and fur seals hunt amongst corals.

This is a place that Charles Darwin described as "a little world within itself," and that sentiment is perhaps even more true beneath the waves. The islands are a protected UNESCO World Heritage site, and the diving experience is one of raw, untamed nature. This is not a calm, placid Caribbean reef; it is dynamic, thrilling, and utterly wild.

The Main Event: The Legendary Islands of Darwin and Wolf

While the entire archipelago is stunning, for serious divers, the names Darwin and Wolf are spoken with a special kind of reverence. These remote, northernmost islands are the crown jewels of Galápagos diving and are only accessible via liveaboard. This is where you find the legendary "theater of sharks."

Diving at sites like the world-famous Darwin's Arch and Wolf Island means descending into the blue and enjoying some of the best pelagic diving on the planet. Divers position themselves on submerged volcanic platforms to watch an unparalleled pelagic show. This is the realm of the scalloped hammerhead shark, and they don't appear in ones or twos. They arrive in vast, schooling squadrons—dozens, sometimes hundreds, of sharks cruising in unison against the deep blue canvas. It’s a sight so powerful and primordial it leaves even the most experienced divers breathless.

But the show doesn't stop there. August and September fall right in the middle of whale shark season. These gentle, bus-sized giants, the largest fish in the sea, frequent the waters around Darwin and Wolf to feed. An encounter with a whale shark is a humbling, life-altering experience.

An All-Star Cast of Marine Megafauna

Beyond the hammerheads and whale sharks, the cast of characters in the Galápagos is staggering.

• Galápagos Sharks & Silky Sharks: These large, curious sharks are a constant presence, often circling divers with confidence.

• Manta Rays & Eagle Rays: Graceful squadrons of rays often glide through the currents, sometimes stopping at cleaning stations.

• Massive Schools of Fish: Prepare to be enveloped by glittering walls of barracuda, jacks, and bonito.

• Sea Lions: The ever-playful Galápagos sea lions are a delight, zipping around divers with acrobatic grace.

• Marine Iguanas: The Galápagos is the only place on Earth to see the world's only sea-going lizard. Watching these unique reptiles dive down to feed on algae is a truly surreal "Darwinian" experience.

• Mola Mola (Ocean Sunfish): The cooler, nutrient-rich waters make the Galápagos one of the best places in the world to spot the wonderfully weird Mola Mola as it comes to the surface to sunbathe.

Living and Diving Aboard the Humboldt Explorer

To access the best of this remote wilderness, a top-tier liveaboard is essential. Our 72 Aquatics group will be calling the renowned Humboldt Explorer home for this adventure. This 16-passenger vessel is purpose-built for navigating the unique conditions of the Galápagos and providing a comfortable, stable base for an intensive dive schedule.

The Humboldt Explorer is designed with the diver's comfort in mind. The accommodations are well-appointed, and the expansive, partially covered sundeck features a jacuzzi—the perfect place to warm up after a cool-water dive and trade stories about the day's sightings. The large dive deck is a model of efficiency, with individual gear stations, rinse tanks, and a camera table for our photographers. Dives are conducted from two large pangas (dive tenders), ensuring divers are dropped precisely on the action points of each site.

With up to four dives offered per day and a menu of delicious, hearty cuisine to keep everyone fueled, the Humboldt Explorer provides the perfect platform for this epic expedition.

As our departure date of August 25th draws near, we want to wish our travelers the adventure of a lifetime. Your logbooks will soon be filled with sightings that most divers only dream of. For the rest of our 72 Aquatics family, let this trip be an inspiration. The world is full of wonders, and with the right training and the right community, no destination is out of reach. Stay tuned for the incredible stories and images that will surely follow!