VO-GP-101
- Diving like in no other place
The Galapagos Islands is where wildlife surrounds you, where every
day can surprise you with true adventure. Diving with schools of
fish, sea lions, marine turtles, morays, marine iguanas, invertebrates,
giant manta rays, white tip reef sharks, Galapagos sharks, hammerhead
sharks, whale sharks, dolphins, humpback whales, and sperm whales
every day in your personal adventure. With such exotic marine life,
the Galapagos Islands are a photographer's dream come true.
Our
day tours offer first-class Galapagos diving, food, and accommodation
at a lower price than the Galapagos live-aboard scuba yachts. Our
Galapagos day diving tours are a great way to discover the best
in Galapagos diving at an affordable price.
Included: Two dives per day, dive boats,
Dive Master guides, dive gear (Complete wet suit, regulator with octopus,
BC, mask, snorkel, fins, gloves, scuba tuba, tanks, and weight belt),
light breakfast, box lunch, and hot shower. No meals included at Academy
Bay. We dive in dive sites all over the Galapagos Islands. Here, we list
the Galapagos dive sites in the order of their level of challenge to divers'
skills, Academy Bay being the easiest. While we dive at a variety of sites,
all offer excellent opportunities to discover the underwater flora and
fauna of the Galapagos and many offer the chance to do a little shark
diving.
Length of programs: Programs can vary from
8 Days/ 7 Nights up to 15 Days/ 14 Nights on special diving programs.
It is important to take note that divers need one day upon arrival and
one day before departure without a dive.
Diving
Sites Academy Bay, Santa Cruz Island (Length of Trip: 4-5 hours)
This is the bay of Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island. The Bay has
5 dive sites within 10 or 20 minutes from our Hotel by boat. Three
of the sites are generally calm with little current; ideal for students
or novices. At the other two sites, the dives can be a little more
complicated if there is a current so they are suitable for intermediate
or expert divers. It is possible to see reef fish, sea lions, sting
rays, golden rays, eagle rays, invertebrates, morays, garden eels,
turtles, marine iguanas, and white tip reef sharks.
Santa Fe Island (Trip duration: 7-8 hours)
This island is about an hour away from our hotel and has 4 dive sites.
Generally, the waters are clear and the currents are mild, making these
sites ideal for novices. At the same time, the animals and topography
make them interesting for intermediates and experts. We can see reef fish,
sting rays, eagle rays, garden eels, turtles, sea lion colonies, invertebrates,
morays, pelagic fish, and maybe white tip reef sharks and/or hammerhead
sharks.
Floreana Island (Trip duration: 8 - 9 hours)
Floreana is about 90 minutes south from our dive base. The 9 dive sites
here usually have calm waters but when we find strong currents at one
we can quickly move to another. This makes Floreana ideal for all levels
of divers. You may see coral heads, endemic black coral, reef fish, sting
rays, eagle rays, turtles, sea lions, barracudas, pelagic fish, white
tip reef sharks, Galápagos sharks, hammerhead sharks, sea horses,
morays, garden eels, and invertebrates.
North Seymour Island (Trip duration: 8 - 9 hours)
This island is about 90 minutes north of our dive base. There are 5 dive
sites suitable for all levels of divers, although sometimes the currents
can be strong. We can see reef fish, sting rays, eagle rays, a large garden
eel colony, turtles, invertebrates, sea lions, morays, pelagic fish, and,
usually, white tip reef sharks and hammerheads. Occasionally Galápagos
sharks can be seen her.
Cousins Rock (Trip duration 8 - 9 hours)
An islet with a wall dropping from the surface into the deepest
depths, Cousins Rock is full of spectacular endemic young black
corals and is home to a big area of sloping rock plates known as
a "Planchonal". Cousins is about one hour north of Santa
Cruz near Bartolomé Island and two hours from our base. There
can be strong currents here. You may see reef fishes, rays, marine
turtles, sea horses, morays, pelagic fishes, and, usually, hammerheads
sharks
Nameless Island Trip Duration: (Trip duration 7
- 8 hours.)
This is an isolated offshore "sugarloaf" with vertical walls
all around. The distance from our home port is about one hour. The main
dive site is a shelf of boulders at about 60 feet. We usually see many
Galápagos sharks here, some schools of pelagic fish, and multicolored
sponges on the rock wall. Currents and surge are the controlling factors
at Nameless Island.
Gordon
Rocks (Trip Duration: 7-8 hours)
This rock formation is a world famous dive site close to Plazas
Islands, about one hour from our base. There are 4 dive sites in
the area, but only the two at Plazas are for novices. The other
two sites are for intermediates and experts because there can be
strong currents and surge. The Gordon Rocks dive sites are mostly
walls with a deep bottom. Reef fish, large pelagic fish, golden
rays, sting rays, eagle rays, turtles, sea lions, endemic Galapagos
fur seals, morays, invertebrates, white tip sharks, and Galápagos
sharks can all be seen here. Hammerhead sharks are the main attraction,
often appearing in large schools.
Night Dive
Our night dives are at Academy Bay and include all equipment and lights,
boats, and dive guides. You may see various species of invertebrates and
fish that only come out at night. Only for intermediates and experts.
Introductory Dive
This is our special adventure for visitors who want a first look at the
underwater world. This dive is in tranquil waters. You will first have
an orientation with the instructor, including a video and personal instruction
with the dive equipment. You will learn what will happen in the water,
and what you must or must not do for a safe dive. Your instructor will
help you prepare for the dive and accompany you at every moment in the
water. All you need is good health, swimming ability, and a bit of self
confidence. You may see reef fish, sea turtles, sea lions, different types
of rays, and even sharks. The program includes only one dive and the maximum
depth is 10 meters (33 feet).
Longer programs available including Darwin
and Wolf Islets on board top quality serviceyachts
VO-GP-102 - Hiking the
Galapagos
Activities include 2 days hike at the Isabela Island including
the Tears Wall (Muro de las Lágrimas) and the Flamingoes Lagoon
(Laguna de Flamingos), Sierra Negra volcano and highlands. 2 Days hike
at the Santa Cruz Island including Crocker Hill, Twins, Tortuga Bay, and
visit the Charles Darwin Research Station. The program is based on a land
and cruise program, you can select the yacht accordingly to your interest
and budget all of those with a top quality service.
Length of programs: Programs can vary from
7 Nights/ 8 Days up to 13 Nights/ 14 Days depending on the length of cruising
program selected. The land program it self takes 4 Nights/5 Days.
Hiking sites: Isabela Island: This is the largest of the Galapagos
Islands, where five huge volcanoes and Darwin’s saline crater lake
are located. Tagus Cove is a natural, protected harbor where centuries
ago whalers anchored in safety and painted the names of their ships on
rocks. Alcedo Volcano may be visited upon special request.
Santa Cruz Island: Home of the Darwin Station,
staffed with international scientists carrying out biological research
and conservation projects. The giant tortoise breeding center is
to visitors. The mangrove lagoon on the north coast is a favorite haunt
of the green sea turtles. Everywhere are finches, mockingbirds, and lava
gulls.
Included: All meals and accommodations
during the program, expert bilingual naturalist guide, airfare Baltra
– Isabela - Baltra, transportation through the islands during the
program, visits and excursions during the program according to the itinerary.
Our
day tours offer first-class Galapagos diving, food, and accommodation
at a lower price than the Galapagos live-aboard scuba yachts. Our
Galapagos day diving tours are a great way to discover the best
in Galapagos diving at an affordable price.
Diving
Sites 
Gordon
Rocks (Trip Duration: 7-8 hours)
