James Bay
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 - James Bay offers some of Galápagos Islands's richest reef diving. Water ranges 23-28°C, warmest February, March, April.
James Bay, off Santiago Island, gives you a good look at the rocky reef environment the Galápagos is known for. We've seen sea lions darting through the shallows here, especially playful pups. It’s a solid dive for newer divers or those who prefer a relaxed pace, with plenty of reef fish and often a few white-tip reef sharks cruising by. Not a big pelagic site, but a pleasant introduction to the area.
Safety Notes
Strong currents typical this month (avg 36 cm/s). Good buoyancy control essential.
Reviews for James Bay
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for James Bay
James Bay Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for James Bay, 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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