Cousins Rock
Depth is the range from the top of the site to its usual maximum; "recommended cert" is the mainstream-agency level operators usually ask for, not a legal rule. Currents and visibility change daily — treat everything here as planning ranges.
A small tilted triangle of rock off Santiago, Cousins packs an unusual amount of the archipelago onto one sloping face. Terraced ledges descend in steps upholstered with endemic black coral, and in those bushes hide Pacific seahorses, hawkfish, and nudibranchs - the closest the Galapagos comes to a macro dive. Off the slope, eagle rays and the occasional passing hammerhead keep wide-angle shooters honest, while the resident sea lion colony provides the finale, corkscrewing through safety stops. Because day boats and liveaboards both call here, it is often the dive where photographers finally put the big lens away and notice the small, strange things.
The moment you come for: Endemic black coral gardens, Pacific seahorses, playful sea lions, passing rays
Topography: Stepped volcanic ledges with black coral bushes and a sandy break at depth
Current: A drift along the sloping side is the standard plan; current is usually workable.
Know before you splash
Hazards: Surge on the shallow ledges; current at the corners.
Conservation: Black coral grows slowly; buoyancy discipline matters more here than almost anywhere in the islands.
Who you'll meet
Galápagos Sea Lion
Green Sea Turtle
Seahorses
Spotted Eagle Ray
Whitetip Reef Shark
For photographers
Wide angle: ★★★★☆ · Macro: ★★★★☆ — editors' 1–5 rating of what this site gives each style of shooting