Dive in Darwin and Wolf, Galápagos, With an Unbeatable Value Liveaboard!
Why We Love It
Dive for 7 days on the best dive sites of the archipelago and see schools of hammerhead sharks at Darwin's Arch, Galápagos sharks, eagle rays at Wolf Island, giant manta rays at Cabo Marshall, schooling fish in the thousands, Galápagos endemic sea iguanas, speedy penguins, and sea lions. With only 16 divers on board, and 11 dives at Darwin and Wolf, this is the best value liveaboard in the Galápagos!
Conservation
This liveaboard is committed to following the Green Fins guidelines for responsible diving and provides ecological soap and shampoo on board.
Who Is It For?
This liveaboard is for passionate and experienced divers. The strong currents attract pelagic species, making most sites quite challenging. A minimum of 50 logged dives is required.
7 nights cruise, in a twin shared accommodation with an en-suite bathroom and air conditioning. Upper and main deck cabins are available for a little extra - ask us.
19 dives
All meals (international and Ecuadorian dishes, served in a buffet style). Vegetarian or special meals are available on demand.
Water, coffee, and tea
Weights, belts, and scuba safety equipment (personal marine rescue GPS, storm whistle, diving beacon, and surface marker buoy)
Towels
Transfers in Guayaquil or Quito if the flight has been booked with the dive cruise company (ask us)
All transfers in the Galápagos (airport-yacht-airport) and one land excursion the day of arrival, provided you book the local flights we recommend (ask us)
Additional fees, payable locally: $200 (about ... EUR) Galápagos National Park Tax, payable on arrival in Galápagos and $20 (about ... EUR) Ingala Transfer Card, payable on arrival at Guayaquil or Quito Airport
The Galápagos Marine Reserve, established in 1998, is the second-largest marine preserve in the world.
The Marine Reserve has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001 (an expansion from the Galápagos National Park, which was recognized in 1978).
Located at the confluence of three ocean currents, the Galápagos are a "melting pot" of marine species - the extraordinary diversity of marine life is unmatched anywhere else in the world.
Nearly 20% of marine life in the Galápagos is endemic, found nowhere else on earth, such as the world’s only marine iguana and the most northerly-living penguin.
Due to the island's topography, pelagic species such as tuna, manta ray, and hammerhead shark can be seen extremely close to the shoreline.
The diversity of underwater terrain is exceptional and cannot be found anywhere else in the world.
Dive Conditions
Season: December to May is when manta rays are more commonly sighted. It is the warmest season, but daily rain showers and cloudier skies should also be expected. June to November is when the Humboldt current comes up from the south, bringing with it plankton and making this the best time to see whale sharks. Cooler temperatures with occasional showers should be expected.
Currents: medium to strong
Visibility:10 to 20 m (30 to 66 ft)
Water Temperature:23° to 29°C (73° to 84°F) from December to May and 22° to 27°C (72° to 81°F) between June and November, with some thermoclines.
Depth: shallow and deep dives
Dive Sites
On a typical day, we offer up to 4 dives, totaling 19 dives on 5 different islands of the Galápagos!
DAY 1: Tuesday
Morning: pick-up from Baltra Airport (GPS) at 11 am
Afternoon: North Seymour, Baltra Island (Check Dive)
DAY 2: Wednesday
Morning: Cabo Marshall, Isabela Island (2 dives)
Afternoon: Manta Ray City, Isabela Island (1 dive)
DAY 3: Thursday
Morning: Darwin's Arch (2 dives)
Afternoon: Darwin's Arch (2 dives)
DAY 4: Friday
Morning: Darwin's Arch (2 dives)
Afternoon: Wolf Island (2 dives)
DAY 5: Saturday
Morning: Wolf Island (2 dives)
Afternoon: Wolf Island (1 dive)
DAY 6: Sunday
Morning: Vicente Roca Point, Isabela Island (1 dive)
Afternoon: Cape Douglas, Fernandina Island (1 dive)
DAY 7: Monday
Morning: Cousin's Rock, Santiago Island (2 dives)
Afternoon: Tour of Highlands in Santa Cruz to see the giant tortoise and lava tunnels
DAY 8: Tuesday
Morning: Transfer back to Baltra Airport at 9 am (GPS)
The Team
Dive operator in the area since 2008
Boat renovated in 2019
Languages spoken: English, Spanish
Maximum 8 divers per guide
Safety Information
Equipment Recommended: a 7 mm long wetsuit, a hood, dive gloves, an SMB, a reef hook, and the usual diving equipment. All can be rented on board.
Insurance: Both dive insurance and travel insurance are mandatory. We recommend DAN Europe, which has plans to cover both - ask us for a quote.
Nearest Hyperbaric Chamber: Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island
Visas, Flights, and More!
Visa Requirements
You must have a valid passport to enter Ecuador, and a return ticket
Most citizens do not require a visa to stay in Ecuador for up to 90 days
Ensure your passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond the period you intend to stay
You need to go to Guayaquil (GYE) or Quito first, at the Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO) in Ecuador.
Plan to arrive in Ecuador at least one day before the cruise departure.
The following day, take a domestic flight from Quito to Seymour Airport (GPS) in Baltra Island.
In all cases, we recommend spending an additional night before the cruise in Santa Cruz Island in Galápagos to ensure you don't miss any connections and are well-rested before diving.
More...
Bring reef-safe sunscreen, a hat, mosquito repellent, and long clothing (dengue is present in the Galápagos).
December to May has an average daytime air temperature of 23° (73°F) with daily rain showers and cloudier skies.
June to November is drier, but with cooler temperatures - an average of 21° (70°F) - with local rain showers generally confined to the highlands of the larger islands. Evening temperatures can drop to just 15° (59°F) , so bring extra trousers, jumpers, and a windbreaker.