Experience Academy Bay after sunset: the reef changes its rules at night—octopus emerge, lobsters forage, and familiar fish adopt nocturnal habits. This guided night dive from Puerto Ayora offers close encounters with marine life under careful supervision.
More ways to explore the area's outdoor wonders
The light from Puerto Ayora fades and the bay becomes a low, breathing glow. On a clear night the quay is quiet, the boat’s engine a soft thrum as divers tighten straps and check torches. When you slip beneath Academy Bay’s surface the familiar daytime reef rearranges itself: sleeping parrotfish tucked into mucus cocoons, wary rays gliding like shadows, and octopus hunting in the sand.
Difficulty
challenging
Duration
3–4 hours
Fitness Level
Moderate fitness and comfort in open water; able to swim 200m and manage basic snorkel/scuba tasks.
Wildlife
History
Academy Bay developed as Puerto Ayora’s sheltered harbor and became central to scientific study after the establishment of the Charles Darwin Research Station in the 1960s.
Conservation
Diving operates inside the Galápagos Marine Reserve; follow guide briefings, avoid touching wildlife, and use reef-safe sunscreen to minimize impact.
Reserve your spot on the Night Dive Adventure in Academy Bay today and enjoy a trusted, highly rated experience designed to help you make the most of your adventure.
Carry two lights
Bring a primary dive light and a backup—guides use hand signals and a second light avoids being stranded in the dark.
Use a thicker wetsuit
Water cools after sunset—choose a 3–5mm wetsuit (or a hood) depending on season to stay comfortable after long bottom times.
Bring your certification card
Night dives require an open-water certification; bring your card and logbook if requested.
Protect the marine life
Keep hands off the reef and maintain neutral buoyancy to avoid kicking up sediment and disturbing nocturnal animals.
Primary dive light
Essential for navigation, signaling and observing nocturnal animal behavior up close.
3–5mm wetsuit (season dependent)
Keeps you warm during cool nights and prevents rapid heat loss after extended bottom time.
Personal mask and snorkel
Comfort and fit reduce fogging and improve situational awareness during entries and surface intervals.
Surface signaling device (SMB/light)
Improves visibility to the boat on night surface intervals and during exits.