Ecuador · Western (Isabela/Fernandina)
Best Time to Dive in Western (Isabela/Fernandina), Galapagos
0.28°S 91.55°W
The wildlife shows no season worth planning around, so pick your month on the sea and the sky: October to January.
- Best time
- Oct–Jan
- Water
- 21–26 °C
- Visibility
- 10–20 m
- Dived from
- liveaboard
- Tidal range
- 0.9–1.7 m
- Species logged
- 18
Where it is
111 km across · coastline from Natural Earth 10m
Diving in Western (Isabela/Fernandina), Galapagos — monthly breakdown
A year of scuba diving conditions at a glance. Hover a month to isolate it.
| January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conditions | Good | Moderate | Poor | Moderate | Poor | Good | Good | Good | Moderate | Good | Good | Excellent |
| Water temp (°C) | 24 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 22 |
| Visibility (m) | 10–20 | 10–20 | 10–20 | 10–20 | 10–20 | 10–20 | 10–20 | 10–20 | 10–20 | 10–20 | 10–20 | 10–20 |
| Marine life | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak |
| Best time | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak |
Excellent Good Moderate PoorPeak season Oct–Jan
Long-term averages, 2016–2025. Visibility is estimated from satellite chlorophyll-a. Water temperature is the surface mean; it is cooler at depth.
The Western (Isabela/Fernandina), Galapagos diving season
February to March · Off season
2 monthsJFMAMJJASOND
- Water temperature
- 25–26 °C
- Visibility
- 10–20 m
- Rain
- 24 days a month
Diving conditionsIt rains more.
Marine lifeGalapagos sea lion (near-guaranteed), Oceanic manta (likely) peak at Western (Isabela/Fernandina), Galapagos in these months.
April · Shoulder season
1 monthJFMAMJJASOND
- Water temperature
- 25–25 °C
- Visibility
- 10–20 m
- Rain
- 22 days a month
Diving conditionsIt rains more.
Marine lifeGalapagos sea lion (near-guaranteed), Oceanic manta (likely) peak at Western (Isabela/Fernandina), Galapagos in these months.
May · Off season
1 monthJFMAMJJASOND
- Water temperature
- 23–23 °C
- Visibility
- 10–20 m
- Rain
- 12 days a month
Diving conditionsSwell is common, and crossings can be rough.
Marine lifeGalapagos sea lion (near-guaranteed) peaks at Western (Isabela/Fernandina), Galapagos in these months.
June to January · Peak season
8 monthsJFMAMJJASOND
- Water temperature
- 21–24 °C
- Visibility
- 10–20 m
- Rain
- 5 days a month
Diving conditionsIt rains less.
Marine lifeGalapagos sea lion (near-guaranteed), Ocean sunfish (hit-or-miss), Oceanic manta (likely) peak at Western (Isabela/Fernandina), Galapagos in these months.
- Spring tides run 1.7 m against 0.9 m on neaps, so currents build around the full and new moon.
- Water temperature is satellite sea-surface temperature, so expect it cooler below the thermocline.
- Visibility is estimated from satellite chlorophyll-a.
Galapagos water temperature and weather
1,991 underwater observation records · 29 surveyed years of ocean data · 10 years of sea temperature
Water & weather
Western (Isabela/Fernandina), Galapagos water temperature by month
The dashed line is the monthly average. Eight days in ten fall inside the band.
10th to 90th percentile rangemonthly mean
Rarely
rough enough to cancel
Seas top 2.5 m on 2% of days. Enough to cancel a liveaboard crossing
0
blowy days a month
Gusts over 40 km/h, about where a day boat stays in port
10
wet days a month
2 of them bring heavy rain
| Month | Swell | Gusts over 40 km/h | Wet days | Heavy rain | Air | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 2.0 m | 0% | 20 | 2 | 29 °C | 12.0 h |
| February | 1.8 m | 0% | 24 | 5 | 29 °C | 12.0 h |
| March | 1.9 m | 0% | 23 | 7 | 29 °C | 12.0 h |
| April | 2.0 m | 0% | 22 | 3 | 29 °C | 12.0 h |
| May | 2.5 m | 0% | 12 | 0 | 29 °C | 12.0 h |
| June | 2.2 m | 0% | 4 | 0 | 29 °C | 12.0 h |
| July | 2.2 m | 0% | 3 | 0 | 28 °C | 12.0 h |
| August | 2.1 m | 0% | 1 | 0 | 28 °C | 12.0 h |
| September | 2.2 m | 0% | 1 | 0 | 27 °C | 12.0 h |
| October | 2.1 m | 0% | 3 | 0 | 28 °C | 12.0 h |
| November | 2.0 m | 0% | 3 | 0 | 28 °C | 12.0 h |
| December | 1.8 m | 0% | 7 | 0 | 28 °C | 12.0 h |
Swell is the rough end of the month: nine days in ten come in under it. Sea temperature covers 10 years, waves 4.
Pick your week
48 weeks from the daily record. Darker is better, against this site's own year. Pick a month for the detail.
| Week 1 | January week 1: Excellent | February week 1: Moderate | March week 1: Poor | April week 1: Moderate | May week 1: Poor | June week 1: Moderate | July week 1: Moderate | August week 1: Good | September week 1: Moderate | October week 1: Good | November week 1: Good | December week 1: Excellent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 2 | January week 2: Moderate | February week 2: Moderate | March week 2: Poor | April week 2: Moderate | May week 2: Poor | June week 2: Moderate | July week 2: Moderate | August week 2: Good | September week 2: Moderate | October week 2: Good | November week 2: Good | December week 2: Excellent |
| Week 3 | January week 3: Good | February week 3: Moderate | March week 3: Poor | April week 3: Moderate | May week 3: Moderate | June week 3: Good | July week 3: Moderate | August week 3: Good | September week 3: Good | October week 3: Moderate | November week 3: Good | December week 3: Excellent |
| Week 4 | January week 4: Good | February week 4: Moderate | March week 4: Poor | April week 4: Poor | May week 4: Moderate | June week 4: Good | July week 4: Good | August week 4: Moderate | September week 4: Good | October week 4: Moderate | November week 4: Good | December week 4: Good |
Excellent Good Moderate PoorBest week to go: second of December
January, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Excellent | 23 °C | 2.1 m | 8 km/h | 41% |
| Week 2 | Moderate | 23 °C | 2.0 m | 7 km/h | 58% |
| Week 3 | Good | 24 °C | 1.9 m | 7 km/h | 74% |
| Week 4 | Good | 24 °C | 1.9 m | 7 km/h | 81% |
February, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Moderate | 25 °C | 1.8 m | 7 km/h | 81% |
| Week 2 | Moderate | 25 °C | 1.8 m | 7 km/h | 86% |
| Week 3 | Moderate | 25 °C | 1.8 m | 7 km/h | 87% |
| Week 4 | Moderate | 26 °C | 1.8 m | 7 km/h | 82% |
March, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Poor | 26 °C | 1.8 m | 8 km/h | 77% |
| Week 2 | Poor | 26 °C | 1.8 m | 8 km/h | 75% |
| Week 3 | Poor | 26 °C | 1.9 m | 8 km/h | 74% |
| Week 4 | Poor | 26 °C | 1.9 m | 8 km/h | 71% |
April, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Moderate | 25 °C | 1.9 m | 7 km/h | 73% |
| Week 2 | Moderate | 25 °C | 2.0 m | 7 km/h | 75% |
| Week 3 | Moderate | 25 °C | 2.0 m | 7 km/h | 73% |
| Week 4 | Poor | 24 °C | 2.1 m | 7 km/h | 68% |
May, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Poor | 24 °C | 2.2 m | 7 km/h | 62% |
| Week 2 | Poor | 24 °C | 2.3 m | 7 km/h | 52% |
| Week 3 | Moderate | 23 °C | 2.5 m | 7 km/h | 30% |
| Week 4 | Moderate | 23 °C | 2.5 m | 7 km/h | 18% |
June, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Moderate | 23 °C | 2.4 m | 8 km/h | 16% |
| Week 2 | Moderate | 23 °C | 2.3 m | 8 km/h | 14% |
| Week 3 | Good | 22 °C | 2.0 m | 8 km/h | 12% |
| Week 4 | Good | 22 °C | 2.0 m | 8 km/h | 13% |
July, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Moderate | 22 °C | 2.2 m | 8 km/h | 12% |
| Week 2 | Moderate | 22 °C | 2.2 m | 8 km/h | 10% |
| Week 3 | Moderate | 22 °C | 2.1 m | 9 km/h | 11% |
| Week 4 | Good | 22 °C | 1.9 m | 8 km/h | 8% |
August, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Good | 21 °C | 1.9 m | 8 km/h | 4% |
| Week 2 | Good | 21 °C | 2.0 m | 8 km/h | 3% |
| Week 3 | Good | 21 °C | 2.1 m | 8 km/h | 3% |
| Week 4 | Moderate | 21 °C | 2.4 m | 8 km/h | 5% |
September, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Moderate | 21 °C | 2.3 m | 8 km/h | 8% |
| Week 2 | Moderate | 21 °C | 2.4 m | 8 km/h | 5% |
| Week 3 | Good | 21 °C | 2.3 m | 8 km/h | 1% |
| Week 4 | Good | 21 °C | 2.0 m | 8 km/h | 2% |
October, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Good | 21 °C | 2.1 m | 8 km/h | 5% |
| Week 2 | Good | 21 °C | 2.1 m | 9 km/h | 9% |
| Week 3 | Moderate | 21 °C | 2.1 m | 9 km/h | 11% |
| Week 4 | Moderate | 21 °C | 2.1 m | 8 km/h | 11% |
November, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Good | 21 °C | 2.0 m | 9 km/h | 11% |
| Week 2 | Good | 21 °C | 2.0 m | 9 km/h | 9% |
| Week 3 | Good | 22 °C | 2.1 m | 9 km/h | 7% |
| Week 4 | Good | 22 °C | 2.1 m | 9 km/h | 12% |
December, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Excellent | 22 °C | 1.8 m | 8 km/h | 20% |
| Week 2 | Excellent | 22 °C | 1.7 m | 8 km/h | 21% |
| Week 3 | Excellent | 22 °C | 1.8 m | 8 km/h | 21% |
| Week 4 | Good | 22 °C | 2.0 m | 8 km/h | 26% |
10 years of daily records, averaged into weeks.
Gear & storms
What to wear
Off the coldest water of each month, not the average — that is what the suit has to cope with.
| January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suit | January: 5 mm | February: 5 mm | March: 3 mm | April: 5 mm | May: 5 mm | June: 5 mm | July: 5 mm + | August: 5 mm + | September: 5 mm + | October: 5 mm + | November: 5 mm + | December: 5 mm + |
- Jan–Feb5 mm full suit
- Mar3 mm full suit
- Apr–Jun5 mm full suit
- Jul–Dec5 mm with hood and gloves
Swell through the year
The rough end of each month — nine days in ten come in under it.
Amber is over 2.5 m.
Tides
Tropical storms
No tropical storm has come within 250 km in 30 years of records. Swell and wind set the season, not cyclones.
- NOAASea surface temperature, from OISST and MUR
- ERA5Wind, waves, rain and air temperature, via Open-Meteo
- OBISMarine species records within 60 km
- IBTrACSTropical cyclone tracks, 1996 to 2025
Western (Isabela/Fernandina), Galapagos marine life — what you'll see diving
| Species | When | Observed window | Reliability | Evidence | Records |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Galapagos sea lion | All year | Near-guaranteed | 493 | ||
| Galapagos penguin | All year | Near-guaranteed | 330 | ||
| Green turtle | All year | Near-guaranteed | 363 | ||
| Bump-head sunfish | All year | Likely | 41 | ||
| Marine iguana | All year | Likely | 248 | ||
| Ocellated eagle ray | All year | Likely | 31 | ||
| Bottlenose dolphin | All year | Likely | 73 | ||
| Orca | All year | Hit-or-miss | 39 | ||
| Humpback whale | Aug–Oct | Hit-or-miss | 28 | ||
| Common dolphin | All year | Hit-or-miss | 79 | ||
| Sperm whale | All year | Hit-or-miss | 83 | ||
| Bryde's whale | Oct–Dec | Hit-or-miss | 40 | ||
| Ocean sunfish | Sep–Nov | Hit-or-miss | 12 | ||
| Blue whale | Aug | Hit-or-miss | 13 | ||
| Whitetip reef shark | Dec–Jan, Jul, Oct | Likely | 29 | ||
| Oceanic manta | Feb, Apr, Jun, Oct | Likely | 24 | ||
| Short-finned pilot whale | Jan, Jul–Aug, Oct | Hit-or-miss | 20 | ||
| Minke whale | Mar, Jul–Aug | Hit-or-miss | 8 |
Peak Present
- Observed window
- Months with records. Peak is where most of them fall.
- Reliability
- Near-guaranteed in 60% of surveyed years or more
- Likely 30% to 60%
- Hit-or-miss under 30%
- Evidence
- Years it was seen, out of the years anyone surveyed.
- Records
- OBIS sightings within 60 km.
These are sightings people logged, not a full survey of the reef. A species missing from a month may just mean nobody recorded one.
Diving Western (Isabela/Fernandina), Galapagos — common questions
- When is the best time to dive Western (Isabela/Fernandina), Galapagos?
- The wildlife shows no season worth planning around, so pick your month on the sea and the sky: October to January.
- When is the diving season in Western (Isabela/Fernandina), Galapagos?
- The diving season in Western (Isabela/Fernandina), Galapagos runs October to January.
- Is the diving in Western (Isabela/Fernandina), Galapagos good for beginners?
- Not really. It is for experienced divers, so it is not a place to learn or to make your first dives after certification.
- How warm is the water in Western (Isabela/Fernandina), Galapagos?
- Between 21 and 26 °C at the surface across the year, coldest in September and warmest in March. It runs cooler below the thermocline.
- What wetsuit do I need in Western (Isabela/Fernandina), Galapagos?
- A 5 mm with hood and gloves covers the coldest water of the year. In the warmest months a 3 mm full suit is enough.
- What is the visibility like in Western (Isabela/Fernandina), Galapagos?
- Roughly 10 to 20 m depending on the month. That is estimated from satellite chlorophyll-a rather than measured in the water.
- What will I see diving Western (Isabela/Fernandina), Galapagos?
- The most consistently recorded species are Galapagos sea lion (near-guaranteed), Galapagos penguin (near-guaranteed) and Green turtle (near-guaranteed), from 1,991 records within 60 km.
- Does Western (Isabela/Fernandina), Galapagos get tropical storms?
- No. None has passed within 250 km in 30 years of records.
- Is there current in Western (Isabela/Fernandina), Galapagos?
- The tide rises and falls 1.7 m around the full and new moon, against 0.9 m in between. How much of that becomes current depends on the shape of the channel.
- When should I avoid Western (Isabela/Fernandina), Galapagos?
- March is the weakest month for conditions.
- How do you dive Western (Isabela/Fernandina), Galapagos?
- Mostly from liveaboards. Trips run through the season, Oct–Jan.