Galapagos Family Dive Trip
The Tiburon Explorer with Kids Sea Camp July 4-11 and July 11-18, 2026.
The Galapagos is truly an unparalleled adventure waiting to unfold! Each day begins with breathtaking sunrises that fill us with hope and ends with stunning sunsets, leaving us in awe of the incredible moments we’ve experienced. Picture the excitement of finback whales leaping into the air, playful dolphins riding alongside our panga, and schools of hammerhead sharks creating unforgettable memories in the wild ocean. Encountering whale sharks, sea lions, and a variety of fascinating rays and sharks adds to the thrill. Marine iguanas and curious turtles approach us, while vibrant octopuses, delicate starfish, and enchanting seahorses showcase the ocean’s wonders. On land, we are captivated by the incredible sights of boobies, frigates, albatrosses, and cormorants as they engage in their natural behaviors. These encounters, both above and below the surface, are nothing short of magical!
If you’re considering a family dive trip to the Galapagos, you can rest assured that you’re in excellent hands with Family Dive Adventures. With over 16 years of experience guiding families and children in this extraordinary destination, we take care of every detail, including round-trip air travel and unforgettable pre- or post-liveaboard tours. Let us help you create memories that will last a lifetime!
Young Divers welcome
We are excited to welcome younger divers aboard our adventures! For those aged 12 to 15, we highly recommend our Kids Sea Camp family trip. This full-boat liveaboard dive charter is specially designed for families, featuring extra staff and guides to ensure a fantastic experience. Your kids will have the opportunity to dive alongside their peers, creating lasting memories with other families on our group trips.
The Galapagos Islands are truly a premier diving destination, renowned for their incredible variety of large marine animals. Given the vibrant underwater world, it’s important that children joining this trip are mature and hold the necessary diving qualifications. With its unique challenges, including larger animals, changing conditions, and currents, the Galapagos stands as an advanced dive destination.
Since 2001, Margo Peyton has passionately shared the wonders of the Galapagos with families, making her one of the few operators worldwide dedicated to ensuring a safe and exhilarating experience for kids and their families. Join us for this unforgettable liveaboard diving adventure in one of the most magical places on Earth!
High Adventure Diving
“The three of us shared an unforgettable moment, swimming together in a small slice of eternity. As I navigated toward the shallows, enveloped by vibrant schools of fish and the majestic presence of Galapagos and hammerhead sharks, I bid farewell to my newfound friends. My attention turned to the extraordinary sharks that encircled me, a testament to the wondrous surprises the Galapagos has in store.” Margo Peyton is the President of Kids Sea Camp and Family Dive Adventures.
The Galapagos Islands are a breathtaking testament to nature’s untamed beauty, transporting you to a world like no other. These striking volcanic islands, though tiny in the Pacific Ocean, are among our planet’s most remarkable biological treasures. Their geographical isolation and youthful landscape have fostered an extraordinary diversity of plant and animal life—a true crossroads of evolution. Visiting the Galapagos is more than just a trip; it’s a fantastic journey through time, full of awe and discovery. Imagine the cherished memories your family will create during this unforgettable adventure!
What drives us to explore? Discover the answers in our Gallery!
Exciting Sample Itinerary
Day 1 (Arrival Day): Welcome to Santa Cruz Island! On Saturday, you’ll kick off your adventure with a delightful check-out dive at Isla Lobos. Get ready to be enchanted by the lively sea lions, vibrant sand dollars, graceful black-blotched stingrays, playful puffers, and colorful sea stars that await you.
Day 2: Prepare for an exhilarating day featuring three dives at the stunning North Seymour and Mosquera. These incredible sites are a haven for diverse marine life, where you may spot Galapagos garden eels, majestic sea turtles, curious sea lions, adorable fur seals, elegant golden eagle rays, and lively schools of yellowtail grunts, bigeye jacks, and snappers. Keep your eyes peeled for the awe-inspiring whitetip reef sharks, hammerheads, and Galapagos sharks that frequently grace these waters!
*Days 3–5: Throughout days 3 and 5, you’ll dive three times at Wolf Island, and on day 4, you’ll explore the wonders of Darwin Island. These extraordinary locations are renowned for their high concentrations of hammerheads and large Galapagos sharks, along with a plethora of marine turtles, various rays, graceful manta rays, playful dolphins, fascinating moray eels, Mola Mola, and even whales!
Day 6: Your journey continues with three dives at Roca Redondo and Vincente Roca, where the thrill of spotting sunfish, hammerheads, white-tipped reef sharks, manta rays, enchanting seahorses, and more Galapagos sharks awaits you.
Day 7: Enjoy two morning dives at Cousins Rock and Bartolome Island, followed by an engaging guided visit to the vibrant town of Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island in the afternoon. Cousin’s Rock is a fantastic spot for witnessing stunning black juvenile corals, captivating Galapagos seahorses, inquisitive octopuses, and the majestic hammerheads, along with graceful green sea turtles, eagle rays, and schools of barracuda!
Day 8 (Departure Day): It’s time to check out! You’ll depart from Santa Cruz at 8 am, with convenient flights to Quito starting at 10:30 am. Safe travels, and we hope to see you again for another unforgettable adventure!
(Please note that the schedule may adjust based on weather conditions!)
Diving with Dive Encounters or the Explorers Venture fleet
The Liveaboards
Tiburon Explorer (liveaboard): 2026 Pricing from $7397.00 per diver
The packages include
- Northern Itinerary: Wolf and Darwin diving
- Seven nights diving
- Land tours
- Free nitrox
- Private divemasters
- Hammerheads
- Turtles
- Giant oceanic mantas
- Whale sharks
- Four dives per day
- All meals
- Beverages
- Not included in the packages
- Airfare (international and domestic). Flights should be booked to and from Quito, Ecuador (UIO). Jen Cummings with Tiburon Explorer will book the domestic flights for each guest from UIO to Galapagos. The cost can range from $400 to $600 round-trip. A 50lb luggage allowance for one checked bag is included; additional luggage costs approximately $55-$75 per extra bag.
- Trip Insurance. Information for CFAR USI.
- Equipment rentals (5m wetsuits, vests, gloves, BCD, Regulators) are available for rental. A 5mm wetsuit with a hood and gloves is recommended.
- Certification or specialty courses
- Hotel stays and day rooms, pre- or post-trip, are available; just give us a call.
- Crew gratuity
- International Govt Tax and service fee 12%
- Port/park fees and/or taxes. Galapagos park fees for 2025 were $ 200 per person and must be paid in USD cash upon arrival in the Galapagos. Please contact us for current rate.
- Fuel surcharge: $150 per person, payable at checkout on Tiburon. Payment can be made with a credit card or in cash on board. This rate is subject to change.
- TCT card on arrival in Galapagos $20 pp. This is a Govt fee and subject to change. CTD card should be completed 48 hours prior to arrival in the Galapagos.
- (When applicable, cancellation/trip, and dive insurance are highly recommended)
- Planning a trip to the Galápagos Islands? Whether you’re coming for the wildlife, the landscapes, or the once-in-a-lifetime adventure, it’s essential to first understand the entry requirements before you go. Since the Galápagos is one of the most ecologically sensitive destinations on Earth, it enforces strict regulations to protect its unique environment. As a result, all visitors are expected to comply.
Before boarding your flight from Quito or Guayaquil, ensure you have all required documents ready and clearly understand the rules for entering both the province of Galápagos and the Galápagos National Park. To help you prepare, this guide breaks down everything you need to ensure a smooth arrival and a responsible, unforgettable experience in the Islands.
Galápagos travel requirements:
1. Valid ID or Passport
Must be current and match the name on your airline ticket and TCT registration.
2. Round-Trip Airline Ticket
You must show a personal, non-transferable round-trip ticket, with a maximum stay of 60 days in the Galápagos.
3. Transit Control Card (TCT)
All visitors must obtain a TCT, which can now be completed online within one week of departure or at the airport. Cost: $20 per person
4. Tourist Days Available
Remember, if you’ve visited the Islands previously, ensure you haven’t exceeded the permitted 60-day limit within 12 months, as per Ecuadorian regulations.
5. Galápagos Biosafety Sworn Declaration
To protect the fragile ecosystems of the Galápagos Islands, all travelers must complete a Galápagos Biosafety Sworn Declaration. Submit this form online at declaracion.abgalapagos.gob.ec within 48 hours prior to your flight. It asks you to declare any biological materials, food items, or equipment that could pose a risk of introducing invasive species.
After you submit the form, you’ll receive a confirmation email with a QR code. When you arrive in the Galápagos, present this QR code to biosecurity officials—either digitally or as a printed copy. If you don’t complete the form in advance, officials may ask you to fill it out at the airport or during your flight. Given that they’re phasing out the paper version, we highly recommend submitting it online beforehand.
6. Galápagos National Park Entry Fee
This fee is collected upon arrival in the Galápagos and supports conservation and community development.
$200 for international tourists (ages 12 and older),$100 for children under 12
Hotel Information (pre and post trip)
Below is a list of hotels that Explorer Ventures recommends in Quito, Guayaquil, and Santa Cruz. Hotels are booked through Explorer Ventures
Quito Hotels:
Hotel Mercure Alameda Quito
Hacienda Jimenita
Wyndham Quito Airport
Guayaquil Hotels:
Wyndham Guayaquil
Hotel Macaw
Santa Cruz Hotels:
Galapagos Suites Hotel
Hotel Pelican Bay
Ikala Galapagos Hotel
Mainland Ecuador Tour Information
If you would like to do some tours before or after the liveaboard, Explorer Ventures, please let us know, and we can also arrange these for you.
Contact Family Dive Adventures directly for the most up-to-date information and pricing. Pricing is not guaranteed until payment is made in full. Package prices may not include some or all of the following: departure tax, round-trip airline reservations, luggage fees, gov’t taxes, port taxes, fuel surcharges, and marine park fees. These conditions are beyond our control and are generally payable directly to the vendor. Family Dive Adventures and its agents act solely as a reservation service for selected suppliers and operators. It is your responsibility to provide proper documentation for international travel. Travel insurance is highly recommended for all trips. Kids Sea Camp is not an insurance company and does not collect payment for any insurance purchased with DAN, MASA, or CFAR USI. We provide links to sources that may assist you on our website, www.familydivers.com
Terms & Conditions: A no-refund policy applies to all payments made to Kids Sea Camp Inc. This includes disruptions due to weather, illness, pandemics, epidemics, acts of God, war, government mandates, canceled/delayed flights, and all unforeseen circumstances outside of Kids Sea Camp Inc.’s control.