SSI Discover Scuba in Galapagos - Price, Duration & Booking

Course overview

Take your first breaths underwater with the SSI Try Scuba experience out of Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island. Guided one-on-one by an SSI professional, you learn the essentials and make a shallow dive in a calm, sheltered Galapagos bay where sea lions and turtles often appear. It is the simplest introduction to diving in one of the world's great marine reserves.

What you’ll learn

Breathe naturally underwater on scuba equipment
Use a mask, fins, regulator and BCD with support
Equalise and descend slowly in shallow water
Clear water from your mask and recover your regulator
Move and signal underwater with your guide

Prerequisites

No prior experience or certification required
No swimming certification required, but water confidence helps
Minimum age 10
Reasonable health; a short medical questionnaire is completed first

What's included · What's not

Included

Safety and equipment briefing with an SSI professional
Sheltered shallow-water skill introduction
One supervised shallow dive to a maximum of 12 metres
All scuba equipment provided
SSI Try Scuba digital record

Not included

Flights and airport transfers
Accommodation
Travel insurance
Personal expenses
Gratuities

The SSI Discover Scuba pathway

SSI Try Scuba is an introductory experience rather than a certification. Skills completed can be credited toward the SSI Open Water Diver course if you choose to continue.

Where you'll dive in Galapagos

Try Scuba dives use the calmest sheltered sites near Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz, away from the archipelago's famous currents. Playful sea lions and resting green turtles are frequent companions in these protected shallows.

Prefer a different certifying agency?PADI Discover Scuba in Galapagos →

Not included? Sort the rest of your trip

Flights and accommodation aren’t part of the course price, here’s how to book them around your dates.

Getting there

Fly into Galápagos (GPS) · 24-30 hours from India.

Where to stay

Hotels and stays near the dive sites, compare rates and book direct.

Booking.com Airbnb

Probability of sightings · month-by-month

What you're likely to see each month, based on historic operator logs.

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Day-by-day itinerary

Day1

First breaths underwater

Briefing and shallow-water skill practice, then a guided dive in a sheltered Santa Cruz bay where sea lions and turtles are often nearby.

Verified through iDive

Every partner school in the iDive network is vetted on safety, instructor credentials, equipment standards and student feedback. Talk to a iDive dive pro on WhatsApp for current availability and reviews specific to Galapagos.

Frequently asked questions

Does Try Scuba certify me?

No. It is a guided introduction, and some skills can later credit toward the SSI Open Water Diver course.

Do I need to swim well?

No swimming certificate is needed, though basic comfort in water makes it more enjoyable.

How deep do we go?

Try Scuba dives are limited to 12 metres under direct supervision of an SSI professional.

Is it safe given the strong currents?

Yes. Calm, sheltered sites are chosen specifically to avoid the strong currents found at advanced Galapagos sites.

When is the best time to dive Galapagos?

Peak season is Jun–Nov, clearest visibility, calmest seas. Shoulder (May, Dec) is still good with fewer crowds.

Do Indians need a visa for Ecuador?

Visa-free. Confirm latest requirements before booking flights.

How long is the flight from India?

24-30 hours · one-way fares around ₹100K-150K.

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