Gordon Rocks

Gordon Rocks is the best big-animal dive available without boarding a liveaboard: an eroded tuff crater off northeastern Santa Cruz whose rim breaks the surface in three stacks. Inside, the crater floor sits around 32 m; the action concentrates along the rim, where scalloped hammerheads patrol singly or in small schools and eagle rays hold formation against the flow. Sea lions dive-bomb safety stops, turtles wedge into the rock to be cleaned, and the current - the site's engine and its hazard - can shift mid-dive. Locals call it the washing machine without exaggerating much. Day boats run it regularly from Puerto Ayora, making it many divers' first hammerhead encounter.

वह पल जिसके लिए आप आते हैं: Hammerheads on a day trip, eagle rays stacked in current, sea lion buzz-bys

टोपोग्राफी: Submerged volcanic crater rim with sand at depth inside

करंट: The eroded crater funnels tide through gaps in the rim - down-currents happen, which is why day boats vet experience.

खतरे: Down-currents and washing-machine turbulence at the rim gaps; surge near the stacks.

संरक्षण: Within the Galapagos Marine Reserve; guided groups only.

Nitrox: यहाँ इसका फ़ायदा है — प्रोफ़ाइल उस रेंज में हैं जहाँ enriched air no-stop समय को सार्थक रूप से बढ़ाता है (इसके उपयोग के प्रशिक्षण के साथ)।