Bartolomé is the smallest island 1.2 sq. km (0.74 sq. mi) of the archipelago located east of Santiago Island. Its highest point is 114 m (374 ft) above sea level. The Pinnacle Rock is the icon of the Bartolomé Island, a towering spearheaded obelisk that raises from the ocean´s edge. The dive site encircles the large portion of the island. Species most often seen include penguins, sea turtles, sharks, and rays. Red-lipped are found in the deeper sandy areas. Both swimming and diving are not allowed in front of the southern beach

Itinerary

Departure:at 7:00 am bus pick up from Puerto Ayora

Returning time: approximately at 3:30 pm

Travel Time:speed boat ride takes around 2 hours (August – October the seas can be quite rough). Adventurers with back or neck injuries are not advised to take this journey

Diver level: certified – no minimum experience needed

Degree of difficulty: : intermediate to advance

Depth range: 20 m - 25m

Visibility: 10 m - 15m

Highlight activity: diving next to the amazing marine wildlife

Transportation: shared bus and speed boat

Description

Bartolomé will welcome our guests to the incredible natural wealth of teeming Galápagos wildlife where they will submerge under the most wonderful marine ecosystem view. This small island is known for its unique spear-like pinnacle. Beneath the waves our guests dive over, through and around a rocky platform and float along underwater cliffs that start at 15 m and disappear into the sea bed giving to the divers a good chance to see pelagic animals. Our divers are going to be amazed watching terraced steps which are covered with soft black coral, and it is an excellent place to find the Pacific Seahorse. The overhangs from some of the steps are the perfect place in order to enjoy watching and swimming next to the white tipped reef fish sharks, green sea turtles and large moray eels, as well as octopi. Schools of barracuda and other reef fish can also be observed at this site. Manta rays and hammerheads and often be enjoyed off the steps in the blue. A hot lunch and refreshments are provided on the boat. At the end of the diving journey the boat will come back to Santa Cruz, from the Itabaca Channel divers will be ride back until their comfortable hotel. It is recommended to be knowledgeable that from July to December sea temperature are cooler here, from 65ºF - 75ºF (18ºC – 23ºC) with occasional thermoclines from 60ºF - 64ºF (16ºC - 18ºC). We provide with 5mm or 7mm wetsuits as well as hoods and also have some spare layers. And, January to June water temperature is up 24ºC.

Includes

-Full equipment (5-7 mm wetsuit, regulator, BCD, mask, fins, boots, hoods, gloves-no neoprene-, weight belt, 12 ltr tanks

-Naturalist Tour Guide accredited by Galápagos National Park, English and Spanish speaker

-Snacks, fruit and hot tea, lunch, juice, and drinking water, towels

-Check dive (This is a short weights and gear check in shallow water as Galápagos seas require more weights and neoprene than you may be used to. Also a quick skills refresh if it’s been a while since your last dive).

-Tax

Important Note

Always take with you sun screen, repellent, non-slippery shoes, water proof jacket, hat, and camera.