Divers coming to the Galápagos for the first time are often prepared for the marine life and less prepared for the conditions. Between June and November, water temperatures typically run 16–22°C, currents can range from 1 to 5 knots, and visibility sits somewhere between 10 and 25 meters — numbers that add up to genuinely demanding diving rather than a relaxed tropical dive vacation.
Because of that, physical readiness is treated as a real factor, not a formality. Cardiovascular and strength conditioning beforehand is recommended, and a warm-up dive somewhere with cool water and strong current — before arriving in the Galápagos — is a reasonable way to find out how a diver's body actually handles conditions like these. Being able to hold a position, manage a descent, and stay oriented in moving water matters more here than at an easy reef dive.
In the water, the basics get emphasized precisely because currents raise the stakes of skipping them: attending every dive briefing, keeping close communication with a buddy, and actively monitoring a dive computer for depth, time and nitrogen loading rather than treating it as background information. Equipment gets checked before each dive — regulator, BCD, computer — as routine, not an afterthought.
The environmental side runs alongside all of this: no touching marine life, careful buoyancy control, and participation in citizen science recording where guests are able. Beyond the water, practical extras matter too — sturdy shoes or sandals for land excursions, spare memory cards for underwater cameras, a dive log app, and simply staying hydrated and rested between dives on a multi-dive schedule.
Source: adapted from Galápagos Shark Diving's own published article of pro tips for diving in the Galápagos.