Gordon Rocks

Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador25 m maxadvanced

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Conditions & tides

Gordon RocksSanta Cruz Island · 25 m

Fair · 4/5

conditions visualisation

Fair4/5

Some chop right now — best window today 6 AM–4 PM.

Wind4 kn S

Current~0.3 kn SE · model

Swell

0.5 m · 4s · SSE

Water

28 °C

Conditions through the day

5 AM5 PM

Calmest current near slack — 06:45 PM & 07:00 AM local

Sunrise 05:49 AM · Sunset 05:55 PM local

Show details

Tide · local

Outlook — select a day for full conditions

On-face swell 0.5 m — the component of the swell aimed at this site’s exposed face. Current is a regional model value (Copernicus, ~9 km grid) — a guide to the area, not a precise reef measurement. Imagery © Esri · not depth or visibility.

Scored by DiveConnect's site-physics model

Marine forecast via Copernicus Marine. Score is a rule-based guide from swell/wind vs. the site's exposure — always dive your own assessment.

Dived here today? How were conditions vs. what we showed?

About this site

Gordon Rocks is a submerged volcanic crater northeast of Santa Cruz Island in the Galapagos archipelago, often nicknamed the washing machine for the strong currents and surge that funnel through its eroded caldera walls. Divers come mainly for the chance to see schooling hammerhead sharks, along with mola mola, eagle rays, manta rays, barracuda, and snapper, and Napoleon wrasse have also been spotted here. The site reaches a maximum depth of around 25 metres over a rocky bottom, and conditions are demanding, with strong currents and surge confirmed here and divers also describing very strong currents, few visual references, and that washing-machine effect of swirling, shifting water. It is rated an advanced dive because of these conditions, and is usually reached by day boat or liveaboard out of Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz.

AI overview

Marine life here

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

Galápagos Sea LionZalophus wollebaekiReported here · unconfirmed
Sally Lightfoot CrabGrapsus grapsusReported here · unconfirmed
Mexican HogfishBodianus diplotaeniaReported here · unconfirmed
Pronghorn Spiny LobsterPanulirus penicillatusReported here · unconfirmed
Razor SurgeonfishPrionurus laticlaviusReported here · unconfirmed
BarracudaBarracudaConfirmed present · 2 independent sources
Eagle rayEagle rayConfirmed present · 4 independent sources
SnapperSnapperConfirmed present · 2 independent sources
Manta rayManta rayConfirmed present · 2 independent sources
Mola mola (ocean sunfish)Mola mola (ocean sunfish)Confirmed present · 2 independent sources
Napoleon (humphead) wrasseNapoleon (humphead) wrasseReported here · unconfirmed
Hammerhead sharkHammerhead sharkConfirmed present · 7 independent sources