Bartholome

Bartolome sits beside a small volcanic islet just off Santiago Island in the Galapagos archipelago, best known above water for its distinctive Pinnacle Rock. Diving here takes place over a sand bottom in the channel and around the rocky points near the islet, in the cool, nutrient rich waters typical of this part of the Galapagos, with a maximum depth of around 10 metres that keeps it a beginner dive. Manta rays are a regular sighting at the site, and divers have also reported barracuda, hammerhead sharks, marble rays, mobula rays, octopus, reef sharks, sea turtles, seahorses, and stingrays passing through. Beyond the dive itself, the shallower waters here often bring encounters with Galapagos penguins, sea lions, and reef fish associated with these volcanic shorelines. Conditions can be brisk and changeable, which is a factor divers in the Galapagos generally have to plan around regardless of the specific site.

Confirmed by our research team, reported by independent divers, or observed nearby via iNaturalist — each entry is labelled with its source.

• Sea turtleSea turtleReported here · unconfirmed
• StingrayStingrayReported here · unconfirmed
• Marble rayMarble rayReported here · unconfirmed
• Mobula (devil ray)Mobula (devil ray)Reported here · unconfirmed
• Reef sharkReef sharkReported here · unconfirmed
• Hammerhead sharkHammerhead sharkConfirmed present · 2 independent sources
• OctopusOctopusReported here · unconfirmed
• Blue-barred ParrotfishScarus ghobbanReported here · unconfirmed
• Razor SurgeonfishPrionurus laticlaviusReported here · unconfirmed
• Sally Lightfoot CrabGrapsus grapsusReported here · unconfirmed
• Mexican HogfishBodianus diplotaeniaReported here · unconfirmed
• Panamic Cushion StarPentaceraster cumingiReported here · unconfirmed
• King AngelfishHolacanthus passerReported here · unconfirmed
• Orangeside TriggerfishSufflamen verresReported here · unconfirmed
• Panamic Fanged BlennyOphioblennius steindachneriReported here · unconfirmed
• Cortez Rainbow WrasseThalassoma lucasanumReported here · unconfirmed
• Manta rayManta rayConfirmed present · 2 independent sources
• BarracudaBarracudaReported here · unconfirmed
• SeahorseSeahorseReported here · unconfirmed