Academy Bay Diving
Academy Bay Diving
4.6
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Full view
About
Join us exploring the extraordinary that is diving in the Galapagos Marine reserve. We can help you book a diving adventure you will never forget, with daily dive tours, packages for extreme divers, or packages that include land tours so you can experience all that Galapagos has to offer underwater and on land.
Puerto Ayora, Ecuador
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Awards
Travellers' Choice
2024
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.6
444 reviews
Excellent
345
Very good
55
Average
18
Poor
7
Terrible
19
These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
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Hannah E
1 contribution
Jan 2025 • Solo
The best dive I have ever done and the best dive company! From kit fitting the night before to getting photos of our dives back at the office. They took all the hassle out of diving; easy technique to get thick wet suits on, helping get the gear on and off, clean boat and toilet, friendly expert crew with good english and sense of humour. Not to mention expert guidance in the water and seeing hammerheads, galapagos sharks, all the rays, seals, turtles, fabulously colourful reef and fish. A day to remember forever thank you so much!
Written 24 January 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lars A
San Francisco, CA124 contributions
Mar 2024 • Solo
During a Galapagos Island-hopping trip with my wife, I "took a day off" to go diving at Gordon Rocks with Academy Bay. Snorkeling around the islands had already been good, so I was looking forward to whatever we might see. Two dives by the rocks, visibility was ok, water surprisingly chilly (It was the warm season, and the waters closer to shore had been very pleasant. The recommended 5mm suit was good.) 8 divers divided into two groups with a guide each. Gabi was ours.
Most of us hoped for Hammerhead Sharks, and we saw Hammerhead Sharks, many Hammerhead Sharks. Some circled in the gloomy water by themselves, one group of five animals let us watch them for a while. They were bigger than I had expected. Otherwise fascinating sightings of Blacktip Sharks, Whitetip Reef Sharks, Eagle Rays, Turtles, Morays and various fish paled in comparison.
Awesome day in the water.
Most of us hoped for Hammerhead Sharks, and we saw Hammerhead Sharks, many Hammerhead Sharks. Some circled in the gloomy water by themselves, one group of five animals let us watch them for a while. They were bigger than I had expected. Otherwise fascinating sightings of Blacktip Sharks, Whitetip Reef Sharks, Eagle Rays, Turtles, Morays and various fish paled in comparison.
Awesome day in the water.
Written 17 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Janusz Rosiek
Warsaw, Poland37 contributions
Aug 2024 • Friends
Good center, everything well organized and on time, experienced guides taking care of safe diving in sometimes not so easy conditions. And really great diving spots - in 3 days we've seen numerous hammerhead sharks, all other Galapagos sharks, manta ray, eagle rays, various stingrays, turtles, sea lions and many, many more.
In short, if you only have a chance, go diving in Galapagos, and Academy Bay is a good choice for your diving center.
In short, if you only have a chance, go diving in Galapagos, and Academy Bay is a good choice for your diving center.
Written 22 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
checker72
Heilbronn, Germany955 contributions
July 2024 • Family
An entertaining dive with hammerhead sharks will always be remembered. As if the primordial world were still present, the massive sharks slowly populate the immeasurable vastness of the murmuring grey sea. Intoxicating insights in which I lost all connection to the usual reality in glorious drunkenness.
Automatically translated
Written 25 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Patricia L
3 contributions
Apr 2024 • Friends
A week of pure adventure! Galapagos is a dream place, above and below the water. If we add the quality of service provided by Academy, it becomes extraordinary. From the staff at the place in front of the Port, the guys who took us to the Itabaca Canal, the crew and captains of the boat, the instructors and the owners, all friendly, professional and extremely competent. I don't want to forget the chef, with his variety and quality of food. Soft, clean and fluffy towels every day. Unbeatable experience. I particularly thank Hugo, Alice, Oscar, Leo Dan, Daniel, Gori, Joao and Capi.
I recommend 100x100
And if you ask me, I think she is the best dive operator in the world. At least the best one I know
I recommend 100x100
And if you ask me, I think she is the best dive operator in the world. At least the best one I know
Written 27 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Curious763818
6 contributions
May 2024 • Solo
Absolutely delightful. The staff were welcoming, easy going and very knowledgeable. The office staff are cool too. You can have all the photos and videos that are taken by staff the days you dive.
Love to Caroline (Germany) and Israel (Ecuador) were awesome private instructors
10 out of 10 would recommend
Love to Caroline (Germany) and Israel (Ecuador) were awesome private instructors
10 out of 10 would recommend
Written 25 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cruiser306435
Chicago, IL1 contribution
Feb 2025 • Couples
I cannot thank Academy Bay Diving enough for such an amazing trip! Alice was really easy and lovely to communicate with, she tailored a trip just for us and answered all of our questions. The diving itself was some of the best we have ever done, with skilled guides and a comfortable boat, we always felt safe and also had so much fun! Highly recommend.
Written 21 March 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
whosgoingtobali
Concord175 contributions
Mar 2024 • Solo
The best experience imaginable, I couldn't be more pleased with Academy Bay Diving. The professional staff kept us safe and entertained. I scheduled 3 days of diving 2 dives per day. Saw white tip, black tip, manta rays and hammer heads. The locations were incredible, got to explore Floriana, Seymour and Gordon Rocks. Thanks to the Javier's the crew and enjoyable lunch it was truly a great experience and they shared their amazing photos with us, so thankful for this expedition.
Written 11 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
joshua h
Frederick, MD20 contributions
May 2024 • Couples
We chose Academy Bay for a land based dive trip in May. We’re happy we did. They arranged everything we could’ve possibly wanted to do and more. Transfers from the airport and accommodations included.
The diving was world class. The divemasters/guides (Leo, Gabby, Israel) were great at pointing out the big pelagic animals we showed up for. Hammerheads, Galapagos sharks, eagle and mobula rays, turtles, sea lions. Some on every dive. It’s about as good as it gets for megafauna outside of a liveaboard trip.
Safety is paramount on the dives and every new diver gets a weight/gear check at a shallow site before heading off to the main dives. For those who don’t carry a camera the guides film the action and the shop provides it to all divers free of charge at the end of the day. Easily uploaded to your device. Lunch on the boats was tasty and plentiful. Pretty great operation.
Aside from the diving, they arranged land tours to El Chato, North Seymour and Espanola for us which were equally impressive.
We would recommend this operation and will dive with them again if we ever return.
PS. Thanks for finding the bag we left on the bus after a long day. You’re the best.
The diving was world class. The divemasters/guides (Leo, Gabby, Israel) were great at pointing out the big pelagic animals we showed up for. Hammerheads, Galapagos sharks, eagle and mobula rays, turtles, sea lions. Some on every dive. It’s about as good as it gets for megafauna outside of a liveaboard trip.
Safety is paramount on the dives and every new diver gets a weight/gear check at a shallow site before heading off to the main dives. For those who don’t carry a camera the guides film the action and the shop provides it to all divers free of charge at the end of the day. Easily uploaded to your device. Lunch on the boats was tasty and plentiful. Pretty great operation.
Aside from the diving, they arranged land tours to El Chato, North Seymour and Espanola for us which were equally impressive.
We would recommend this operation and will dive with them again if we ever return.
PS. Thanks for finding the bag we left on the bus after a long day. You’re the best.
Written 3 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fran M
2 contributions
Apr 2024 • Friends
We were a group of 12 divers. Top class service from start to finish. Great staff, friendly helpful and fun to spend the holidays with. The company also arranged extra day trips for us which was really helpful and saved us time. We got to see much more of the Island than if we tried this ourselves. Airport pick-up and drop off were also arranged too. Really does help and made the holiday a lot easier. The diving was top class with our guides have great knowledge on where to see the marine life. It's nature so guaranteed sightings. But local knowledge didn't let us down. We hope to be back in 2026 🤿🤞
Written 21 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
How was the dive gear? What was the water temperature?
Written 31 January 2020
For us the gear was top notch. As the other person said from December, water temp starts to increase. We were there from 13 till 21 Dec and had around 23 I believe (need to check my logbook to confirm). Anyway they have 7mm suits and offer body/hoodie. I never felt cold this way and usually I am.
Written 1 February 2020
Hola!!pienso viajar en noviembre a Puerto Ayora y quisiera saber si en esa época preciso llevarme el traje de neopreno.
Written 8 August 2019
Hi, just saw your review of this company. I have had trouble getting them to respond to my emails and have paid a deposit to them with no confirmation. How did you communicate with them? My trip isn't until January but it seems irresponsible not to reply to several emails and I''m concerned since the paypal payment is called a donation. Thanks.
Written 12 November 2016
I guess I was really late in responding. I hope your dive went well. I am new to this trip advisor thing.
Written 28 April 2017
Hola , voy con mi hijo en octubre , ambos padi advanced , quisiera saber valor en dólares por cada excursión ( 2 inmers.) y si incluye equipamiento completo , etc.
Gracias
Written 6 September 2016
Alexander K
Quito, Ecuador
hi we would like information about your tours we want a course for 2 adults and 3 kids. mi cel phone 0999234277. tks!!
Written 25 March 2015
divingalapagos
Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
Hello Alexander
Sorry for the delaying in getting back to you, I didn't see your enquiry.
The cost for the PADI dive course is $650 per person and runs over 3 days. Your children must be over 10 years of age to do it.
If you have any questions please contact us through email us through our website.
Written 14 May 2015
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