Course overview

Get your first real diving qualification with the SSI Basic Diver / Scuba Diver programme out of Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island. Over a couple of days you complete confined-water skills and supervised open-water dives in sheltered Galapagos shallows where sea lions and turtles are common, earning a recognised entry-level rating that lets you dive with a professional. It's a faster path to certification than a full Open Water course.

What you’ll learn

• Assemble, check and use basic scuba equipment
• Breathe, equalise and descend with control
• Clear your mask and recover and clear your regulator
• Maintain buoyancy and move efficiently underwater
• Dive safely alongside an SSI professional within limits

Prerequisites

• Minimum age 10 (Junior)
• No prior certification required
• Basic comfort and ability in water
• Diver medical questionnaire completed beforehand

What's included · What's not

Probability of sightings · month-by-month

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

Day-by-day itinerary

1. Day1
   Skills & first dive

   Core academics and confined-water skills, then a first supervised open-water dive in a sheltered Santa Cruz bay.
2. Day2
   Second open-water dive

   A second supervised dive applying your skills, with sea lions and turtles often nearby, completing certification.

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