Gordon Rocks

Gordon Rocks is an extinct volcanic crater dive site located to the northeast of Santa Cruz Island in the Galápagos, reached by a 60–70 minute boat ride from Puerto Ayora. The crater has a sandy bottom at 32 metres, while the wall around the outside drops to more than 65 metres. Three pinnacles are exposed above water, three more are submerged and rise to between 6 and 8 metres at the northern edge of the crater, and a large central pinnacle sits approximately 21 metres below the surface.

The site is renowned for its shark encounters: schools of hammerhead sharks are regularly seen, commonly numbering around 50 individuals. White reef sharks, blacktip reef sharks, and Galápagos sharks also frequent the area, along with green sea turtles, sea lions, stingrays, eagle rays, mobula rays, large schools of barracuda and snapper, and a variety of invertebrates. Manta rays and ocean sunfish (Mola mola) are spotted occasionally, with Mola mola more likely during the cooler months of June through November when water temperatures drop to 18–20°C. During the warmer season (December–May), water temperatures range from 22–27°C.

Gordon Rocks is a boat dive, with two dives completed per trip. The site is known for strong currents, surge, and a disorienting "washing machine" effect in places, with few visual references to aid orientation. Visibility is generally great, but conditions can shift considerably. An Advanced Diver certification is recommended, and divers with fewer than 25 logged dives are advised to seek guidance before attempting the site. Guides may cancel a diver's entry if experience is judged insufficient for safety. If experience is limited, diving Gordon Rocks later in a trip rather than on the first day is strongly advised.