Darwin's Arch

Darwin Island, Galapagos Islands, Ecuadorwalladvanced

Conditions & tides

Darwin's ArchDarwin Island

Rough · 3/5

conditions visualisation

Rough3/5

Rough at the surface right now — rough all day, no calm window.

Wind6 kn SE

Current~0.4 kn SE · model

Swell

1.1 m · 11s · SSW

Water

29 °C

Max depth

Not confirmed

Conditions through the day

5 AM5 PM

Calmest current near slack — 19:15 & 07:45 local

Sunrise 05:50 · Sunset 17:53 local

Show details

Tide · local

Outlook — select a day for full conditions

On-face swell 1.2 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

Darwin's Arch, now often called Darwin's Towers, is a dive site off Darwin Island in the Galapagos, named for Charles Darwin. The rock arch collapsed on 17 May 2021, but the currents, cleaning stations and structures that hammerheads and whale sharks use are all still there.

Expect strong upwellings and strong currents, with visibility generally 10 to 30 m and water of 21 to 27 degrees C, though thermoclines can appear suddenly. The site is rated advanced.

Large schools of scalloped hammerheads are the main event, along with mature whale sharks from July to October, and blacktip, silky, tiger and Galapagos sharks. Eagle rays, dolphins and tuna also pass through. Watch your air closely because the current is stronger than it looks, and fighting it will wear you out.

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