Dive-site story
Gordon Rocks consists of an eroded volcanic crater protruding just north-east of Santa Cruz Island. Divers face sweeping oceanic currents that funnels pelagic life directly into the caldera, making it one of the premier day-trip locations in the central archipelago. Pinnacles and boulders form the submerged structure, where schooling hammerheads cruise the outer walls while sea lions loop around divers in the shallower surge zones.
Schooling scalloped hammerhead sharks aggregating around the outer walls and current channels
Curious Galapagos sea lions interacting with divers near shallow boulder zones
Passage of spotted eagle rays, stingrays, and occasional oceanic manta rays
Large schools of black-striped salema, barracuda, and green sea turtles sheltered in the crater
Location
Use the map to plan with your operator and confirm the exact entry point on the day.
Seasonality
Warm waters and calmer seas prevail from December through May, while the dry Garúa season from June to November brings cooler upwellings and higher marine activity.
Marine life
| Species | Likelihood | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scalloped hammerhead sharkSphyrna lewini | Common | ||||||||||||
| Galapagos sharkCarcharhinus galapagensis | Common | ||||||||||||
| Galapagos sea lionZalophus wollebaeki | Common | ||||||||||||
| Spotted eagle rayAetobatus narinari | Common | ||||||||||||
| Green sea turtleChelonia mydas | Common | ||||||||||||
| Oceanic manta rayMobula birostris | Seasonal |
Marine forecast
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