潜点: Shark Bay

关于 Shark Bay

Shark Bay, known in Spanish as Bahia de Tiburones, is a celebrated dive site located off Wolf Island in the remote northern reaches of the Galapagos archipelago. This site is particularly renowned for its exceptional density of sharks, boasting the largest shark biomass globally, and is primarily accessible via liveaboard cruises. It is one of the premier locations within the Galapagos Marine Reserve, which itself is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The underwater topography of Shark Bay is characterized by rocky walls and slopes, providing a rich habitat for marine life. Divers typically explore these formations where schooling hammerhead sharks, Galapagos sharks, blacktip, and silky sharks are consistently present. The currents in this area contribute significantly to the vibrant marine ecosystem, drawing in large pelagic species. While sharks are the main draw, the site also offers frequent sightings of two species of sea turtles, green and hawksbill, navigating the rocky structures. Eagle rays and vast schools of fish, including snappers, groupers, and jacks, patrol the drop-offs. Dolphins are often encountered, especially at the end of dives when drifting in the blue. The region around Wolf Island, where Shark Bay is located, is also a vital nesting ground for various marine birds, such as Red-footed and Nazca boobies. Diving at Shark Bay typically involves drift diving due to the powerful marine currents, making it suitable for advanced divers. The site is often part of multi-day liveaboard itineraries that dedicate significant time to the Wolf and Darwin Islands, offering multiple dives over two days at these shark-rich locations.

潜点资料: Shark Bay

水流

中等 至 heavy, turbine-like

能见度

8–18 m (25–60 ft)

水温

18–26°C (65–80°F)

入水方式

小艇 / 负浮力入水

等级

高级, 强 流水潜水经验 必需

潜水类型

漂流潜水, big animals, 鲨鱼

地区 / 港口

Wolf Island, Galápagos

坐标

-0.519005, -90.205999

条件与水流

在鲨鱼湾潜水会遇到强大的海流，通常被形容为“涡轮机般”的强劲，这也是这里远洋生物丰富的主要原因。这些水况需要使用放流潜水技术，因此该潜点适合进阶潜水员。通常，潜水员会配备个人定位信标作为标准安全措施，这也突显了这些海流的强度。能见度可能会有变化，在整个加拉帕戈斯地区通常评为3/5分，水温在温和的14°C到24°C之间，较冷的水温可能意味着存在温跃层。由于强劲的水流，入水和出水程序通常会采用活船操作。 导潜通常将这里的水流评定为激流。 通常会将其简报为适合高级级别潜水员的潜水。 该潜点通过船宿到达，因此入水通常从接驳艇或直接从船尾甲板进行。 由于水流可能迅速增强，因此放流潜水、水面浮标和紧密的团队是这里的标准做法，船员的简报始终优先于任何一般性描述。

海洋生物与遇见概率

Hammerhead shark

June-November (peak) · 常见

Galápagos shark

常见

Silky shark

常见

Whale shark

June-November · 偶尔

Galápagos Green Turtle

常见

Galápagos Sea Lion

常见

Spotted Eagle Ray

常见

Dolphin

偶尔

Manta ray

December-June · 偶尔

Galápagos Sting Ray

常见

Whale

June-November · 罕见

潜水剖面与流程

Dives at Shark Bay often begin with a negative entry from a dinghy to quickly get below the sometimes-choppy surface and strong currents. Divers descend immediately to depths around 20-30 meters, following the rocky contours of the reef or wall. The dive typically proceeds as a drift, allowing the current to carry divers along while observing the active pelagic environment. Key areas include specific ledges or points where hammerhead sharks are frequently sighted in large schools, or where other large predators congregate. Dive guides skillfully navigate to maintain proximity to the most active zones, often allowing divers to use reef hooks to hold position against the current for extended viewing opportunities. The turn point is usually dictated by air consumption or bottom time. Safety stops are often conducted in the blue, potentially still in current, or in slightly more sheltered areas if available, before a safety sausage deployment for pickup by the tender.

水下摄影

Photographing at Shark Bay demands skill and appropriate gear due to strong currents and potential thermoclines. A wide-angle lens is essential for capturing the vast schools of hammerhead sharks, whale sharks, and other large pelagics that frequent the area. Dual strobes are highly recommended to balance ambient light and illuminate subjects effectively, especially in the nutrient-rich waters which can reduce clarity. Due to the dynamic conditions, excellent buoyancy control and comfort with drift diving are paramount to avoid disturbing marine life and to compose shots accurately. Patience is key, as conditions can change rapidly, and animals move quickly. Be mindful of not chasing or crowding marine life, particularly the sharks and rays, allowing them to approach naturally for the best photographic opportunities.

可搭配的邻近潜点

• Fondeadero

  Night diving permitted, protected from winds and currents, bioluminescence and Galápagos Fur Seals.

• North Islet / La Banana

  Sheer wall with caverns, depths 9-36m, moderate to heavy current, excellent visibility, sharks and mantas.

• The Cave Dive Site

  Known for hammerheads, Galápagos sharks, and whale shark encounters.

• Landslide

  Highly regarded for hammerhead and Galápagos shark sightings, with whale sharks also possible.

交通与行程

Access to Shark Bay, located at Wolf Island, is exclusively via liveaboard cruises, as Wolf Island is approximately 26 hours of navigation from Santa Cruz and other main islands. Typical liveaboard trips span 7 to 8 days, departing from Baltra (GPS) or San Cristóbal (SCY) airports after initial flights from Quito (UIO) or Guayaquil (GYE) in mainland Ecuador. Divers are advised to arrive at least one day prior to departure to avoid travel delays. Marine park fees and other local taxes are usually paid onboard or upon arrival. These itineraries are specifically designed for serious divers, often combining Wolf Island with other remote sites like Darwin Island to maximize encounters with large pelagic species, requiring an Advanced Open Water certification and often 50-100 logged dives.

安全与环保

Diving at Shark Bay presents significant challenges due to strong, unpredictable currents and varying water conditions, demanding a high level of dive experience and preparation. Divers must carry a surface marker buoy (SMB) and consider a personal location device like an EPIRB, as being pulled away from the group or boat is a realistic possibility. Due to the remote location, evacuation for decompression sickness would be complex and time-consuming, with the nearest hyperbaric chamber in Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island. Comprehensive dive insurance, including coverage for emergency medical evacuation and hyperbaric treatment, is therefore mandatory. It is crucial to adhere strictly to dive leader instructions, manage air consumption diligently in strong currents, and be proficient in negative entries and drift diving techniques. Divers should also be aware of potential thermoclines and ensure adequate thermal protection.

适合谁 — 不适合谁

常见问题

Shark Bay 常见问题

潜Shark Bay的船宿

这些船宿在部分行程中可能前往Shark Bay，具体潜点取决于出发日期、天气与海况。

Galapagos Aggressor III

加拉帕戈斯

16 位客人30.5 m

$913/天

Galapagos Sky

加拉帕戈斯

16 位客人

$937/天

Galapagos Master

加拉帕戈斯

16 位客人

$669/天

Humboldt Explorer

加拉帕戈斯

16 位客人

$612/天

Tiburon Explorer

加拉帕戈斯

16 位客人

$924/天

Calipso

加拉帕戈斯

16 位客人

$819/天