Naturalist Guide I
A level “I” guide is a native of the islands or has been a resident of the archipelago for many years, and has at least a high school diploma.  Level I naturalists must have a good level of knowledge about the islands, and must have passed the Level I exam.  They will speak English well but may not be fully fluent.

Naturalist Guide II
A level “II” guide has passed the Naturalist Guide Level II course, and must be very knowledgeable about all Galapagos Island issues and areas.  This guide will  have at least  a high school diploma often has a university background in biology, biology related fields, or in tourism. The guide must be fluent in English, French or German.

Naturalist Guide III
This guide must have passed the Naturalist Level II course, which certifies that he/she is extremely knowledgeable about all Galapagos Island areas and issues.  This level guide will also have a university degree in biology, biology related fields, or tourism.   He/she must be fluent in Spanish, English, and either French or German.

Some of the primary rules are as follows:

Do not take any food to the islands; Do not throw litter on land or in the water (!!); Do not to remove anything from the Islands; Do not touch or feed the animals and Never leave the marked trail.   Very importantly:  Always follow Leave no Trace policies.

View Galapagos trips here: Galapagos Islands Travel

View Galapagos trips here: Galapagos Islands Tours.

Just as on land, the highlight of your underwater Galapagos experience is the wildlife viewing. The animals seem to be absolutely fearless and unaggressive. In fact, it's only place in the world where human can safely swim beside hammerhead and white-tip reef sharks. Snorkelers usually see sea turtles, manta rays, penguins, sea lions and dolphins. Additionally, the waters around the Galapagos Islands boast hundreds of species of tropical reef fish, many of which are endemic to the area.

Typical trips to the Galapagos feature snorkeling as an option for travelers almost every day. While many boats have snorkeling gear to rent, it's always recommended that you bring your own as it will fit the best. Please check with your individual trip to see if snorkeling gear is available for rent.

The hottest season is generally from December to April with average temperatures ranging from a low of 70 F to a high of 84 F (22 - 31 C). It’s also the rainy season. The sea is generally calm this time of the year and the water temperature is warmer which is ideal for snorkeling. The skies are often clear during the warm rainy season, but heavy downpours are common. 

May to November is considered the "cool" season with average temperatures ranging from a low of 68 F to a high of 82 F (19 – 27 C) and frequent overcast skies.  Normally from June to December, the cold Humboldt Current comes from the South and creates an inversion that traps a cool moist fog called a Garúa near the ocean which creates a cool, dry climate. In December, normally the trade winds die down and the ocean currents change, bathing the Galapagos in the warm Panama Current from the North.

View Galapagos trips here: Galapagos Islands Tours