Meet Academy Bay Diving in Galapagos
If you dream is to dive with hammerhead sharks, be immersed in schools of fish, get intimate with the sea lions and turtles, look no further. Dive with Academy Bay Diving in Galapagos and make you dreams come true.
Video by Rob Murray @ Wild Nature Films...thank you!!
Academy Bay Diving in the Galapagos Islands
Scuba diving, PADI courses, Daily dives, Snorkeling trips, Tours to Isabela island, Highland tours
Galapagos Port Ayora diving Gordon Rock
Academy Bay Dive Center was the first dive shop we used to go to Seymour Point
Las Grietas, Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, South America
Las Grietas are volcanic rock walls where it enters the sea. They are spectacular and the path that leads to them offers very interesting natural features (beaches, mangroves, iguanas breeding areas, salt). Be part of the other side of the port of Puerto Ayora and you just have to follow directions. Wear good shoes because the trail is quite rocky in some sections. You can not do any other way. Puerto Ayora is a town in central Galápagos, Ecuador. Located on the southern shore of Santa Cruz Island, it is the seat of Santa Cruz Canton. The town is named in honor of Isidro Ayora, an Ecuadorian president. The town is sometimes mistakenly referred to as Santa Cruz. Puerto Ayora at night on the Island of Santa Cruz in the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador. Fresh Water Swimming in Puerto Ayora, Galapagos on the Island of Santa Cruz. Puerto Ayora is the most populous town in the Galápagos Islands, with more than 12,000 inhabitants. Puerto Ayora has the best developed infrastructure in the archipelago. The larger of the two Galápagos banks, Banco del Pacifico, is located in Puerto Ayora, as well as schools, hotels, restaurants, clothing stores, hardware stores, grocery stores, marine stores, tourist shops and night clubs. It is the best place in Galápagos for communicating with the outside world via numerous cybercafes with Internet access or telephone offices. Puerto Ayora emergency medical facilities include a new hospital opened in 2006 and the island's only hyperbaric chamber. The main Avenue is named Avenida Charles Darwin and begins on the main dock of Puerto Ayora and finish in the Charles Darwin Research Station. Home to both the Charles Darwin Foundation and the Galápagos National Park, Puerto Ayora is the center of the Galápagos conservation efforts. Island visitors may visit the Charles Darwin Research Station to learn the history of the islands and future conservation plans. North Seymour Island is an hour away by boat and has a wide array of animals with no people living on the island. Tortuga Bay is a short walk from center of Puerto Ayora where you can view marine iguanas, birds, galapagos crabs and a natural mangrove where you can spot white tip reef sharks and the gigantic galápagos tortoise. Puerto Ayora has a protected location, along the shores of Academy Bay, where a refreshing breeze often provides pleasant weather. Temperatures vary between 18 and 29 °C (64 and 82 °F). The hot season usually runs from December to May.The Itabaca Channel is located between two islands in the Galápagos, Baltra Island, also known as South Seymour Island and Santa Cruz Island. The Itabaca Channel is used by water taxis who take people from Baltra to Santa Cruz. Academy Bay is a busy harbor, normally full of boats cruising the islands, passing private yachts and local fishing boats. This bay is a good location to spot brown pelicans, golden rays, marine iguanas, herons, lava gulls, frigate birds, Galápagos sea lions, and large numbers of blue-footed boobies, which fish by spectacular plunge diving. Fresh water is at a premium on the island and in this town. Locals practice water conservation and typically collect rainwater during the rainy season. There is a desalination plant on the island. Many facilities have separate water systems with varying degrees of use/quality. For example, water used for cleaning/showering may not be potable.
Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz, Galapagos Islands, Galapagos, Ecuador, South America
Puerto Ayora is a town in central Galápagos, Ecuador. Located on the southern shore of Santa Cruz Island, it is the seat of Santa Cruz Canton. The town is named in honor of Isidro Ayora, an Ecuadorian president. The town is sometimes mistakenly referred to as Santa Cruz. Puerto Ayora at night on the Island of Santa Cruz in the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador. Fresh Water Swimming in Puerto Ayora, Galapagos on the Island of Santa Cruz. Puerto Ayora is the most populous town in the Galápagos Islands, with more than 12,000 inhabitants. Puerto Ayora has the best developed infrastructure in the archipelago. The larger of the two Galápagos banks, Banco del Pacifico, is located in Puerto Ayora, as well as schools, hotels, restaurants, clothing stores, hardware stores, grocery stores, marine stores, tourist shops and night clubs. It is the best place in Galápagos for communicating with the outside world via numerous cybercafes with Internet access or telephone offices. Puerto Ayora emergency medical facilities include a new hospital opened in 2006 and the island's only hyperbaric chamber. The main Avenue is named Avenida Charles Darwin and begins on the main dock of Puerto Ayora and finish in the Charles Darwin Research Station. Home to both the Charles Darwin Foundation and the Galápagos National Park, Puerto Ayora is the center of the Galápagos conservation efforts. Island visitors may visit the Charles Darwin Research Station to learn the history of the islands and future conservation plans. North Seymour Island is an hour away by boat and has a wide array of animals with no people living on the island. Tortuga Bay is a short walk from center of Puerto Ayora where you can view marine iguanas, birds, galapagos crabs and a natural mangrove where you can spot white tip reef sharks and the gigantic galápagos tortoise. Puerto Ayora has a protected location, along the shores of Academy Bay, where a refreshing breeze often provides pleasant weather. Temperatures vary between 18 and 29 °C (64 and 82 °F). The hot season usually runs from December to May.The Itabaca Channel is located between two islands in the Galápagos, Baltra Island, also known as South Seymour Island and Santa Cruz Island. The Itabaca Channel is used by water taxis who take people from Baltra to Santa Cruz. Academy Bay is a busy harbor, normally full of boats cruising the islands, passing private yachts and local fishing boats. This bay is a good location to spot brown pelicans, golden rays, marine iguanas, herons, lava gulls, frigate birds, Galápagos sea lions, and large numbers of blue-footed boobies, which fish by spectacular plunge diving. Fresh water is at a premium on the island and in this town. Locals practice water conservation and typically collect rainwater during the rainy season. There is a desalination plant on the island. Many facilities have separate water systems with varying degrees of use/quality. For example, water used for cleaning/showering may not be potable.
Wreck Bay Diving Center Galapagos
Galapagos.tv - Academy Bay snorkelling tour
Territorial fish defending its space
Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz, Celebrity Xpedition
Videos by Mogens Hallas! See full review at
Here we first visited the Darwin Centre (see other video) and then we went for a walk in the city - the most interesting seeing was the local fish market, where the fishermen just had landed catch of the day and was cleaning the fish - sea lions, frigate birds and pelicans were fighting for the remains, and fishermen had a hard time keeping sea lions and the large birds away from the fish - a fun experience - late morning we went back to the ship for lunch.
Puerto Ayora
Santa Cruz hosts the largest human population in the archipelago at the town of Puerto Ayora, a port city located along Academy Bay on Santa Cruz Island, with more than 12,000 inhabitants, the largest city in the Galapagos. The city is home to the National Park Tortoise Breeding Center and the Charles Darwin Research Station and a center of tourism in the islands. There are many trips from Puerto Ayora to the different islands in the Galapagos.
Snorkle and Scuba with Sea Lions - Galapagos Islands
Most of this video was taken on a dive trip with Academy Bay Dive Center. We were diving off Floreana Island in the Galapagos. I highly recommend diving with Academy Bay if you are looking to dive in Puerto Ayora.
Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz, Galapagos Islands, Galapagos, Ecuador, South America
Puerto Ayora is a town in central Galápagos, Ecuador. Located on the southern shore of Santa Cruz Island, it is the seat of Santa Cruz Canton. The town is named in honor of Isidro Ayora, an Ecuadorian president. The town is sometimes mistakenly referred to as Santa Cruz. Puerto Ayora at night on the Island of Santa Cruz in the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador. Fresh Water Swimming in Puerto Ayora, Galapagos on the Island of Santa Cruz. Puerto Ayora is the most populous town in the Galápagos Islands, with more than 12,000 inhabitants. Puerto Ayora has the best developed infrastructure in the archipelago. The larger of the two Galápagos banks, Banco del Pacifico, is located in Puerto Ayora, as well as schools, hotels, restaurants, clothing stores, hardware stores, grocery stores, marine stores, tourist shops and night clubs. It is the best place in Galápagos for communicating with the outside world via numerous cybercafes with Internet access or telephone offices. Puerto Ayora emergency medical facilities include a new hospital opened in 2006 and the island's only hyperbaric chamber. The main Avenue is named Avenida Charles Darwin and begins on the main dock of Puerto Ayora and finish in the Charles Darwin Research Station. Home to both the Charles Darwin Foundation and the Galápagos National Park, Puerto Ayora is the center of the Galápagos conservation efforts. Island visitors may visit the Charles Darwin Research Station to learn the history of the islands and future conservation plans. North Seymour Island is an hour away by boat and has a wide array of animals with no people living on the island. Tortuga Bay is a short walk from center of Puerto Ayora where you can view marine iguanas, birds, galapagos crabs and a natural mangrove where you can spot white tip reef sharks and the gigantic galápagos tortoise. Puerto Ayora has a protected location, along the shores of Academy Bay, where a refreshing breeze often provides pleasant weather. Temperatures vary between 18 and 29 °C (64 and 82 °F). The hot season usually runs from December to May.The Itabaca Channel is located between two islands in the Galápagos, Baltra Island, also known as South Seymour Island and Santa Cruz Island. The Itabaca Channel is used by water taxis who take people from Baltra to Santa Cruz. Academy Bay is a busy harbor, normally full of boats cruising the islands, passing private yachts and local fishing boats. This bay is a good location to spot brown pelicans, golden rays, marine iguanas, herons, lava gulls, frigate birds, Galápagos sea lions, and large numbers of blue-footed boobies, which fish by spectacular plunge diving. Fresh water is at a premium on the island and in this town. Locals practice water conservation and typically collect rainwater during the rainy season. There is a desalination plant on the island. Many facilities have separate water systems with varying degrees of use/quality. For example, water used for cleaning/showering may not be potable.
Punta Pitt Day Trip
Famous singer Ivan Lopez, Scuba Instructor and Naturalist guide of Galapagos National park, invites you to visit Punta Pitt
on san cristobal Galapagos. An amazing place with geological landscapes and sea birds like Red footed boobies, blue footed boobies also scuba dive or snorkel with sea lions and beautiful colorful fishes. contact Wreck Bay Diving center and Join us wreckbay.com
Galapagos in August
A stunning experience ,even in the dry season!
We sailed on the Angelito to the western islands : Santa Cruz (Mosquera Islet, Dragon Hill, Puerto Ayora), Isabella (Tagus Cove, Urbina Bay, Elizabeth Bay, Punta Morena, Sierra Negro volcano), Fernandina (Punta Espinoza), Floreana (Punta Cormorant, Devils Crown, Post Office Bay).
Music - Epic Motivational Dubstep by Alex Zavesa (CC)
Galapagos Tip Top Dive & Training Facility - About us
Galapagos Tip Top Dive & Training Facility is a PADI 5* Star Instructor Development Dive Resort located in Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island. Galapagos Tip Top Diving is also the management company of dive live-aboard Galapagos NORTADA. For more information tiptopdiving.com
Charles Darwin Center - Galapagos, Puerto Ayora
Don't miss the Charles Darwin Center, and the Galapagos tortoises.
Walk down into the earth in what looks like a subway tunnel, but was made by hot lava!
See the sea lions. One mom was still wet and the baby too as she was just born.
Visit for more information.
Diving in Gordon Rocks Galapagos Islands september 22
This was a nice video in Gordon Rocks, we saw hammerhead sharks, Galapagos sharks, school of barracudas, sea turtles, sea lions, etc.
The Galapagos Marine Reserve is considering one of most amazing dive sites and most impressive diving destinations. Our well training Eagleray Tours staff can show you this unbelievable world like no other dive center, and make your trip in the Archipelago the best that you ever had.
Galápagos Islands on a Budget - Scuba and Backpacker Crusie For Young Travelers
We had the Galápagos Islands trip of a lifetime. It was always on our bucket list, and we made it happen while living in Cuenca, Ecuador.
Getting there:
Our trip began in Puerto Ayora on the island of Santa Cruz. We landed in Baltra Airport via Quito. There is a mandatory $100 National Park fee per person before you take your flight to the Galápagos Islands.
Once at Baltra Airport, you can connect directly with your cruise (as most people opt to do - most cruise operators even book your flights from the mainland). We headed into Puerto Ayora for a few days to scuba dive and explore. We highly recommend booking in Puerto Ayora. From the airport, you take a bus to the ferry (to get from Baltra to Santa Cruz) to another taxi (or bus).
In Puerto Ayora, the bus will drop you off at the Terminal Terrestre station. The trip takes 1-1.5 hours. From there, you can take any taxi to your hotel.
Puerto Ayora:
The tourist hub of the Galápagos Islands. There are plenty of hotels, restaurants, and tourism agencies hawking deals on trips and cruises. Don't forget to spend a day between Las Grietas and Tortuga Bay, if not scuba diving. Also, the Charles Darwin Station and tortoises at El Chato are cool if they aren't included in your cruise itinerary.
The Basics in Puerto Ayora:
There are ATMs in the town. Tipping is typically 10% if not already included. The best WiFi is in the cafeteria above the Proinsular Market grocery store (also has healthy food and views!)
Scuba Diving in Puerto Ayora:
Scuba Iguana, Academy Bay Diving, and Macarron Scuba Diver. When we arrived, most shops were sold out. We went with Macarron, although the others came highly recommended. Our dives were $160 per person for a two-tank dive. There is one place YOU MUST dive: Gordon Rocks. That's where you're most likely to spot pods of hammerhead sharks (we saw a pod of 30 up close!) To dive Gordon Rocks, dive shops require at least 25 prior dives. The concern is real due to the depth and strong current. We also dove at Seymour and Mosquera. Great dives, but no hammerheads.
Restaurants in Puerto Ayora:
You'll want to eat cazuela at the kioskas which pour out onto the street at Charles Binford at night. Great spot! Our favorite restaurants were the Lo & Lo and the Galápagos Deli for breakfast and lunch. For dinner, our favorite spot was La Garrapata, right along the shore.
Cruises from Puerto Ayora:
We booked a last minute cruise price 2 weeks before departure from a Quito tour company called Carpe Diem. We went on the 8 Days Adventure Cruise on the Darwin Yacht. This was one of their budget options and came to $1700 per person without flights. From talking to other passengers, it sounds like we got a good price by booking early, and we were given a prime room on the third floor of the ship. We are not sure if it is because we were celebrating our honeymoon, or if it was because we didn't book just days before.
We had a great time on our cruise. We were curious to see how our budget cruise would pan out (the most expensive ones are closer to $10,000 a trip), and it was better than we could have hoped. With more expensive cruises, you risk being in an elderly crowd. Our cruise had people ages 20-60, but with most in their 20s and 30s. We had a faster-paced snorkel and hiking experience. Aside from the clientele on the boat, the Galápagos National Parks require official and highly trained guides. Our guide, Rafael, was incredibly knowledgeable. There are also several workers on the boats. We had phenomenal meals. They even accommodated vegetarians! The one thing we would recommend you bring from either the airport or from Puerto Ayora is your own beer, wine, and alcohol. The boat's crew didn't mind us drinking our own bottle of wine. The boat only had beer. Also, Dramamine is good to have just in case.
Most boats go on 15-day tours and make stops to the islands to drop off and pick up new passengers in between to create two tours of 8 days and three tours of 5 days. We recommend an 8-day cruise, but if you're short on time, spend time on Isabela on your own (you can get there by speed boat from Puerto Ayora.) You can also check out San Cristobal, which was a close second favorite (and you can stay in town at Puerto Baquerizo Moreno.)
We loved our cruise and saw all the amazing wildlife. Our cruise itinerary can be found here:
If you've been meaning to start making GoPro videos of your travels, check out our guide:
For those fit and adventurous couples out there, head over to our website, and sign up for our newsletter so we can help you engineer your best life!
Best,
Ryan and Alex
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Galextur Galapagos Expedition Tour
Filmed at DEMA 2016 in Las Vegas with a GoPro Hero 4 silver or Canon Vixia with blue tooth microphone. Check out all 800 dive related videos on Youtube under Mike Hughes Scuba. Mike Hughes has written for dive magazines the last 14 years. He is the author of The Northwest Dive Guide, The North American Dive Guide, To Kill a Diver : a murder mystery, and Whoops Divers Guide: a scuba cartoon book. He has also made several parody songs on youtube under mike hughes scuba such as: I'm too sexy for scuba and The Dive Shop Song. He also has a degree in Marine Biology. The Dive Equipment and Manufacturing Association is open to anyone Divemaster certified or above, dive retailers, dive resorts, and manufacturers that may have products that the diving public may enjoy using before , during, or after dives. These videos are lighthearted, because those serious videos bore the heck out of the majority of Youtube viewers. Also visit Santa's Story Time on Youtube with over 50 Christmas time stories read by Santa Claus himself. Ho Ho Ho!
Diving in North Seymour -Galapagos Island
Diving with white tip sharks!!
Fish Market, Puerto Ayora, Galapagos Islands
Fish Market, Puerto Ayora, Galapagos Islands
Galapagos Islands
Clip of Andre and Jenny in Galapagos 2015