Cabo Douglas Galápagos Diving: Iguanas and Penguins

Cabo (Cape) Douglas is a dive site in Fernandina Island, Galapagos Islands.

See below for all liveaboards that dive Cabo (Cape) Douglas.

The liveaboard shown opposite is the highest customer rated liveaboard diving Cabo (Cape) Douglas, scoring 9.7/10. You can easily book the Tiburon Explorer liveaboard using this link.

Tiburon Explorer
Nortada Liveaboard

Cabo Douglas is one of the Galápagos Islands’ most unusual dives, offering the chance to watch marine iguanas feeding underwater alongside penguins, turtles and sea lions. Fernandina’s remote western coast is best reached by liveaboard, with experienced crews timing the dive around current, swell and wildlife activity.

The liveaboard shown opposite is the second highest customer rated liveaboard diving Cabo (Cape) Douglas, scoring 8.7/10. You can easily book the Nortada Liveaboard using this link.

Galapagos Islands liveaboards that dive Cabo (Cape) Douglas

Below are all the dive liveaboards currently found for Cabo (Cape) Douglas in Galapagos Islands, sorted from highest to lowest customer liveaboard rating, with unrated liveaboards shown last.

Tiburon Explorer

Tiburon Explorer

Galapagos Islands

Liveaboard Rated: 9.7/10

SDE Rating: 76%

How SDE Liveaboard Rating works for the Tiburon Explorer Liveaboard: 76%

The SDE Liveaboard Rating for the Tiburon Explorer liveaboard works by taking the six individual SDE Liveaboard Rating scores, with each one being scored out of 10 and then adding them together. For the Tiburon Explorer liveaboard are ([Diving:10/10] + [Cabin:7/10] + [Boat:8/10] + [Dining:9/10] + [Drinks:0/10] + [Non-diver:3/10] = 37/60). This total is compared to the maximum possible score of 60/60 to turn it into an overall percentage – which for the Tiburon Explorer liveaboard is calculated as 37/60 = 76% SDE Liveaboard Rating.

This makes it easy to compare different liveaboards at a glance. See a more detailed explanation of how SDE Liveaboard Rating works together with all dive liveaboards ranked by SDE Liveaboard Rating .

From £573.00 GBP /day

Cabins: 9·Bathrooms: 9·Guests: 16

Length: 129.6 ft·Beam: 24.6 ft

Dive certification:Advanced Open Water Diver
Logged dives:Minimum 100 logged dives
Check Live Availability & Prices
Nortada Liveaboard

Nortada Liveaboard

Galapagos Islands

Liveaboard Rated: 8.7/10

SDE Rating: 73%

How SDE Liveaboard Rating works for the Nortada Liveaboard: 73%

The SDE Liveaboard Rating for the Nortada Liveaboard works by taking the six individual SDE Liveaboard Rating scores, with each one being scored out of 10 and then adding them together. For the Nortada Liveaboard are ([Diving:10/10] + [Cabin:6/10] + [Boat:9/10] + [Dining:7/10] + [Drinks:0/10] + [Non-diver:4/10] = 36/60). This total is compared to the maximum possible score of 60/60 to turn it into an overall percentage – which for the Nortada Liveaboard is calculated as 36/60 = 73% SDE Liveaboard Rating.

This makes it easy to compare different liveaboards at a glance. See a more detailed explanation of how SDE Liveaboard Rating works together with all dive liveaboards ranked by SDE Liveaboard Rating .

From £401.00 GBP /day

Cabins: 4·Bathrooms: 5·Guests: 12

Length: 25.66 m·Beam: 5.4 m

Dive certification:Advanced Open Water Diver
Logged dives:Minimum 50 logged dives
Check Live Availability & Prices
Galaxy Diver II

Galaxy Diver II

Galapagos Islands

Liveaboard Rated: 9.4/10

SDE Rating: 70%

How SDE Liveaboard Rating works for the Galaxy Diver II Liveaboard: 70%

The SDE Liveaboard Rating for the Galaxy Diver II liveaboard works by taking the six individual SDE Liveaboard Rating scores, with each one being scored out of 10 and then adding them together. For the Galaxy Diver II liveaboard are ([Diving:9/10] + [Cabin:6/10] + [Boat:9/10] + [Dining:5/10] + [Drinks:0/10] + [Non-diver:4/10] = 33/60). This total is compared to the maximum possible score of 60/60 to turn it into an overall percentage – which for the Galaxy Diver II liveaboard is calculated as 33/60 = 70% SDE Liveaboard Rating.

This makes it easy to compare different liveaboards at a glance. See a more detailed explanation of how SDE Liveaboard Rating works together with all dive liveaboards ranked by SDE Liveaboard Rating .

From £517.00 GBP /day

Cabins: 8·Bathrooms: 9·Guests: 16

Length: 29 m·Beam: 6.6 m

Dive certification:Advanced Open Water Diver
Logged dives:Minimum 50 logged dives
Check Live Availability & Prices
Galapagos Aggressor III

Galapagos Aggressor III

Galapagos Islands

Liveaboard Rated: 9.1/10

SDE Rating: 58%

How SDE Liveaboard Rating works for the Galapagos Aggressor III Liveaboard: 58%

The SDE Liveaboard Rating for the Galapagos Aggressor III liveaboard works by taking the six individual SDE Liveaboard Rating scores, with each one being scored out of 10 and then adding them together. For the Galapagos Aggressor III liveaboard are ([Diving:9/10] + [Cabin:5/10] + [Boat:6/10] + [Dining:5/10] + [Drinks:0/10] + [Non-diver:3/10] = 28/60). This total is compared to the maximum possible score of 60/60 to turn it into an overall percentage – which for the Galapagos Aggressor III liveaboard is calculated as 28/60 = 58% SDE Liveaboard Rating.

This makes it easy to compare different liveaboards at a glance. See a more detailed explanation of how SDE Liveaboard Rating works together with all dive liveaboards ranked by SDE Liveaboard Rating .

From £510.00 GBP /day

Cabins: 8·Bathrooms: 11·Guests: 16

Length: 100 ft·Beam: 22 ft

Dive certification:Advanced Open Water Diver
Logged dives:Minimum 100 logged dives
Check Live Availability & Prices
Calipso Dive Liveaboard

Calipso Dive Liveaboard

Galapagos Islands

Liveaboard Rated: 9.4/10

SDE Rating: 73%

How SDE Liveaboard Rating works for the Calipso Dive Liveaboard: 73%

The SDE Liveaboard Rating for the Calipso Dive Liveaboard works by taking the six individual SDE Liveaboard Rating scores, with each one being scored out of 10 and then adding them together. For the Calipso Dive Liveaboard are ([Diving:10/10] + [Cabin:7/10] + [Boat:8/10] + [Dining:8/10] + [Drinks:0/10] + [Non-diver:2/10] = 35/60). This total is compared to the maximum possible score of 60/60 to turn it into an overall percentage – which for the Calipso Dive Liveaboard is calculated as 35/60 = 73% SDE Liveaboard Rating.

This makes it easy to compare different liveaboards at a glance. See a more detailed explanation of how SDE Liveaboard Rating works together with all dive liveaboards ranked by SDE Liveaboard Rating .

From £468.00 GBP /day

Cabins: 10·Bathrooms: 9·Guests: 16

Length: 35.4 m·Beam: 8 m

Dive certification:Advanced Open Water Diver
Logged dives:Minimum 100 logged dives
Check Live Availability & Prices

Galapagos Islands; Cabo (Cape) Douglas Dive Site Details

Cabo (Cape) Douglas Common Sightings

Cabo (Cape) Douglas Diver Details

Useful training for this site
Advanced Open Water Diver, Drift Diver, Good buoyancy control skills

Suggested equipment
7mm wetsuit or semi-dry, Hood, Dive computer, Surface marker buoy (SMB)

Dive type
Volcanic reef, Drift

Entry
Boat

Minimum recommended experience
Advanced

Galapagos Islands; Cabo (Cape) Douglas Dive Site Details

Water type
Salt

Water temperature
14.0°C–25.0°C

Best time to dive Cabo (Cape) Douglas
Year-round; June to November brings the coolest, most nutrient-rich water and active marine iguana feeding.

Depth
5.0m–30.0m

Visibility
8.0m–20.0m

Current strength
Moderate, Strong

Location
-0.3, -91.65

Galapagos Islands’ Cabo (Cape) Douglas dive site map and location

The latitude and longitude for Galapagos Islands’ Cabo (Cape) Douglas dive site are: -0.3, -91.65

Open in Google Maps

Cabo (Cape) Douglas Liveaboard Dive Site

Cabo Douglas lies on the remote western side of Fernandina Island, where cold, nutrient-rich water supports one of the Galápagos Islands’ most distinctive wildlife dives. The headline encounter is the marine iguana: this is one of the rare places where divers may watch these reptiles swim down and graze algae from submerged rocks. Penguins, flightless cormorants, turtles and sea lions add to a dive that feels unlike an ordinary tropical reef.

The western islands can be cold and changeable. Surge, current and thermoclines are possible, and visibility may be lower than at Darwin or Wolf. The reward is extraordinary animal behaviour rather than perfect blue water. A 7mm wetsuit, hood and gloves for warmth are often appropriate, with the final choice guided by the operator.

Cabo Douglas is reached on longer liveaboard itineraries and cannot sensibly be treated as a routine day-boat site. Staying aboard allows the crew to time the entry and combine it with Punta Vicente Roca across the channel. Some routes also include the visitor landing at Espinosa Point, but that is a separate land and snorkelling experience.

The Galápagos Conservation Trust’s Fernandina guide describes the island’s marine iguanas, penguins and flightless cormorants. Wildlife sightings and entry points always depend on National Park rules and conditions.

The Cabo (Cape) Douglas dive site in Galapagos Islands is visited by five dive liveaboards. The highest customer-rated liveaboard scores 9.7 out of 10. Prices across these liveaboards start from £401.00.

If you want a more intimate experience, the smallest liveaboard in this selection of the Cabo (Cape) Douglas dive liveaboards is Nortada Liveaboard, which has 4 cabins, accommodates up to 12 guests, and is 25.66 m in length. If you prefer a larger boat, Calipso Dive Liveaboard, which is 35.4 m in length, has 10 cabins, and accommodates up to 16 guests.

To dive the Cabo (Cape) Douglas dive site, the minimum diver certification is Advanced Open Water Diver, and logged dive requirements range from minimum 50 logged dives to minimum 100 logged dives. So be careful when you choose a liveaboard that has the Cabo (Cape) Douglas dive site on its itinerary, to make sure both your dive certification and level of experience match its minimum levels.

Check Live Availability & Prices