Galápagos Underwater Wildlife: Snorkel with Sea Lions, Marine Iguanas, Hammerheads & Penguins

This Pacific archipelago, 1,000 km off Ecuador's mainland, is renowned as evolution in action, a living museum, and a 'little world within itself.' All descriptions ring true.

Travelers flock to admire the iconic wildlife—giant tortoises roaming the highlands, comical blue-footed boobies, and yellow-scaled land iguanas grazing on cacti.

Yet, the underwater realm surrounding these volcanic islands delivers even more extraordinary wildlife encounters for enthusiasts.

Frolic with Sea Lions

Sea lions thrive across the archipelago: clumsy on shore, they transform into agile, playful acrobats underwater.

No diving required—snorkel near their favored rocks or beaches, and the excitement begins. Entire families often swirl around you, curiously approaching before darting away, sometimes playfully nipping at your fins.

The channel between North and South Plaza Islands hosts a large, inquisitive population. At tiny Mosquera Isle, between North Seymour and Baltra, snorkel amid a sea lion crèche of tumbling youngsters.

Snorkel with Marine Iguanas

The Galápagos marine iguana, the world's only seagoing lizard and estimated at nine million years old, resembles a Jurassic Park escapee—making encounters surreal.

Though reaching just 1m, sharing water with these scaly black 'dragons' as they graze on underwater algae can feel thrillingly unnerving. Pristine Fernandina, the westernmost central island, offers prime shallow-water swims; watch them emerge to bask and snort saltwater from their nostrils.

Dive with Hammerhead Sharks

Hammerheads have outsized heads but small mouths—a reassuring fact amid schools of 300–400 in Galápagos currents.

Gordon Rocks, north of the Plazas, are an extinct volcano's remnants. At the caldera wall's drop-off, hammerheads join eagle rays, whitetip sharks, and turtles in whirlpools.

For peak action, sail to remote Wolf and Darwin islands: massive hammerhead schools, barracuda, jacks, and occasional whale sharks await.

Play with Penguins

The Galápagos penguin, the northernmost flightless species, numbers around 1,500—yet sightings are possible in shallows.

Bartolomé Island shines, with million-strong salema fish schools drawing penguins, sea lions, black coral, and moray eels. Off Isabela Island's Punta Vicente Roca, spot penguins alongside flightless cormorants, another endemic.

And So Much More

The waters teem with life: manta rays in squadrons off Mosquera, Seymour, Wolf, and Darwin; turtles everywhere, especially Floreana's islets; odd red-lipped batfish at Isabela's Tagus Cove.

Plan your trip with Lonely Planet's Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands guidebook.