Bartolome and Cousins Rock
Protected Area
Galápagos
Why dive here
With 131+ marine species recorded in the area - including dolphins, humpback whales, seals & sea lions, sea turtles and sperm whales - Bartolome and Cousins Rock offers some of Galápagos Islands's richest diving. Water ranges 23-28°C, warmest February, March, April.
Bartolome and Cousins Rock is a good spot for a few reasons. We usually drop onto a series of terraced steps here, descending to about 30 meters, then it slopes to a sandy bottom at 40. The soft black coral is a real highlight, giving you plenty of chances to find Pacific seahorses tucked away. Keep an eye out for whitetip reef sharks resting on the sand, green sea turtles cruising past, and big moray eels peeking from the cracks. If you drift off the steps a bit, you might catch a glimpse of a manta ray or a hammerhead shark passing through. It's a relaxed dive, good for taking your time and spotting the smaller stuff as well as the larger pelagics.
Typical Bartolome and Cousins Rock Dive Profile
Illustrative profile based on site depth and type. Actual dive profiles vary - always follow your dive computer and training.
Safety Notes
Depth of 30m - Advanced Open Water certification recommended.
Strong currents typical this month (avg 36 cm/s). Good buoyancy control essential.
Always perform a 3-minute safety stop at 5m before surfacing.
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Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Bartolome and Cousins Rock
Bartolome and Cousins Rock Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for Bartolome and Cousins Rock, sourced from Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU) - nearest station: Open-Meteo marine grid (-0.32, -90.55) (15km away)
October Averages
Sea Temperature
23°C
74°F · Range: 20.2–26°C
Current Speed
36.24 cm/s
Direction: SW (230.6°)
Chlorophyll-a
0.886 mg/m³
Moderate productivity
Salinity
33.88 PSU
Based on 4 years of monitoring data · Data sources: Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU)
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