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A
portion of all
Eco Adventure
sales is contributed
to the foundation
for the ongoing
campaigns for
ocean and marine
preservation.
Sky Dancer
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..The
Humboldt Current from the Antarctica and the warm El Nino Current
from Panama fuse together to create a unique mixture of cold
and warm water marine life not found elsewhere. You will dive
among huge sea turtles, marine iguanas, playful sea-lions, colorful
starfish, robin fish, dolphins, hammer head sharks, white-tipped
sharks, eagle rays and depending on the time of the year sperm
whales, killer whales, and even whales sharks, as well as a
spectacular underwater scenery in crystal clear waters.
The Galapagos Islands house many of nature's most bizarre. Almost
one quarter of the marine life in Galapagos is endemic to this
archipelago - 17% of Us fish and 35% of its marine invertebrates—are
found nowhere else in the world. In fact, the marine community
of Galapagos is one of the most unique and exotic. Here, penguins
swim with tropical fish. Iguanas feed underwater. Sea lions
play like puppies in the waves. The creatures of the sea exhibit
the same bold curiosity and lack of fear characteristic of terrestrial
wildlife. Swept by both the cold waters of Antarctica and warm
currents from the tropical Pacific, Galapagos' colorful marine
life is a bizarre mixture of species. Great schools of fish
cruise the open water, at times, so thick they nearly block
our the sun. And the reefs are an amazing profusion of invertebrate
life.
There is a mystical aura about the Galapagos Islands that captivates
all visitors. Its remoteness, untouched landscape, native plants
and animals and dramatic seascapes all combine to assure a most
unforgettable adventure. It truly is a land untouched: a beautiful
land of our past. In order to protect this wealth of sea life
against abuses by man, the Galapagos Marine Reserve, with waters
totaling 27,000 square miles was signed into law in 1985, protecting
marine life up to 15 nautical miles offshore.
A
diving cruise with us will offer 2 to 3 dives a day. A normal
diving itinerary consists of dives together with land visits
to the islands. This will give the visitor the unique opportunity
of experiencing and comparing. He/She will find that life above
water is as spectacular as the one below. On certain dive sites
like Roca Redonda, or the northern most islands of Wolf and
Darwin we might offer 4 dives a day. Night dives are also provided
if conditions are good. All dives in the Galapagos are made
from a dinghy (panga in the islands). Our dive masters are well
trained and knowledgeable about life below and above water,
their job being to teach about the unique Galapagos environment
and to take care of the visitor's safety and enjoyment. They
will make dives a complete learning experience.
Day
1: Depart to Ecuador -Depart to Ecuador. arrive in
either Quito or Guayaquil. Transfer to the selected hotels
for overnight (additional nights can be arranged either before
or after the cruise to include all the activities you would
like while in Ecuador)
Day
2: Galapagos Islands-Transfer to the airport for
the flight to the Galapagos. Arrive in the Galapagos - Please
Note: Galapagos National Park and Municipal taxes are not
included and are payable upon arrival by each passenger -
Transfer to the selected ship for the 3/4 or 7 nights cruise
of the Galapagos with all meals and visits included as per
itinerary.
DIVING PROGRAMS ARE ONLY AVAILABLE ON SOME YACHTS - Itineraries
for diving cruises can also be longer then the regular 7 nights
- Please Note: Each yacht has a slightly different order of
visits to the islands. Itinerary is sent at booking time,
and may vary due to local conditions. Cruise itineraries are
flexible, as they may change due to weather conditions and
the captain may deviate for any reasons he deems advisable
for the safety of passengers. His decision is final
Day
5 - 6 - 7 - 8: Cruise program
Day 9 - 12: Return to Mainland Ecuador -End
of the cruise, transfer to the airport for the return flight
to the mainland (either Guayaquil or Quito). Transfer to the
selected Hotel for overnight
Day
10-13: Transfer to the airport for your return flight.
Liveaboards:
SKY
DANCER:
8 days / 7 nights SUNDAY or - 11 days / 10 nights
Sunday to Sunday
The newest liveaboard boat from Peter Hughes Diving, the M/V
Sky Dancer, will cruise the Galapagos Islands in search of
sea lions, penguins, schooling hammerhead sharks, turtles,
stingrays, and the magnificent mantas. Included in planned
itineraries are visits to the very remote islands of Wolf
and Darwin. The newly constructed Sky Dancer will feature
all the Dancer Fleet amenities you have come to expect including
Nitrox fills, private en-suite facilities, spacious lounge
areas, fine dining and more.
If you have traveled on any of Peter Hughes dive yachts anywhere
in the world within one year of your departure date on the
Sky Dancer, you are eligible for FREE NITROX. The nine-person
crew includes your captain, 2 dive instructors or divemaster
/ naturalist, and 6 crewmembers on hand to ensure that your
Galapagos voyage transcends into a treasured adventure. Radiant
fish and bizarre animals emblazon the waters around the Galapagos
and exhilarate divers and snorkelers. Seventeen percent of
the fish and 35% of the marine invertebrates in the Galapagos
are found only in this isolated archipelago. The abundance
of otherworldly underwater animals evokes a sense of exploration
and mystery.
Swept by both the cold waters of Antarctica and warm currents
from the tropical Pacific, the Galapagos' colorful marine
life embodies an unusual mixture of species. Here, penguins
swim with tropical fish and iguanas feed underwater. The marine
animals exhibit the same bold curiosity and lack of fear characteristic
of terrestrial wildlife. To conserve this wealth of sea-life,
the Galapagos Marine Resources Reserve (GMRR), with waters
totaling 27,000 square miles, was signed into law in 1986.
The law protects marine life 15 nautical miles offshore. In
1998, the Special Law for Galapagos extended the off-limits
restrictions for industrial fishing to 40 miles offshore.
Land based programs
SAN CRISTOBAL ISLAND NORTH SEYMOUR
Arrive at the town of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno (population:
4000). The Sky Dancer crew awaits you at the airport and escorts
you to your dive live-aboard. Your check-out dive takes you
to Isla Lobos where we encounter sea lions. At sunset, circumnavigate
Kicker Rock (Leon Dormido), a vertical tuff cone formation
that abruptly juts up almost 500 feet out of the ocean. Watch
blue-footed boobies, masked boobies and magnificent frigatebirds
on the cliffs. The last morning, visit the Interpretation
Center to learn more about the natural and human history of
the islands before returning to town to connect with your
flight back to the mainland.
The first dive reveals sea lions, reef fish, hammerhead sharks,
giant manta rays, white- tipped reef sharks, and invertebrates.
Occasionally, whale sharks, humpback whales or dolphins swim
in this area. The second dive carries you to either Mosquera
or Punta Carrion depending on the divers interests. In these
water, if you are lucky, you may find the endemic fur sea
lion. At Daphne Minor, an intermediate dive, we find white-tipped
and hammerhead sharks, sea turtles, eagle rays, morays, black
coral, tuna, schools of reef fish, lobsters, sponges and a
volcanic cave. The current varies; maximum depth is 90 feet.
Bartolome
On Bartolome, a lunar landscape stretches out in front of
us. This young Island is inhospitable to most plants and animals.
After a dry landing, climb 30-minutes up a steep slope to
the summit of a once active volcano. Pause along the way to
marvel at lava bombs, spatter cones and cinder cones. From
the top, gaze out across a panoramic view including the famous
"Pinnacle Rock", an eroded tuff cone. Down below,
crystal clear water invites you to snorkel with schools of
tropical fish. Penguins often swim in this area. At Cousins
Rock, an intermediate dive, experience pelagic fish including
white- tipped, hammerhead sharks, manta rays and eagle rays,
An outstanding vertical wall showcases a profusion of black
corals, sponges, reef fish and other invertebrates. Visibility
varies. Maximum depth is 70 feet.
Fernandina & Isabela
Punta Vicente Roca, a wall dive, takes you in and out of a
shallow, undersea cave: Here, encounter the Port Jackson or
Horned shark, a species of bottom shark. The wall shows an
incredible variety of sponges, corals and other invertebrates.
Located in the western part of the archipelago, Punta Espinoza,
Fernandina is the youngest and most pristine island found
in Galapagos. Hundreds of marine iguanas, the largest colony
in Galapagos, bask in the sun along the rugged shoreline.
Observe sea lion harems with resident bulls carefully guarding
their territory. Flightless Cormorants build their nest on
the point and Galapagos Hawk fly overhead. Evidence of recent
lava flows formed by an active volcano stretch their way around
the coast. Roca Redonda offers an advanced divers an excellent
opportunity to see hammerhead sharks, groupers, jacks, reef
fish, triggerfish, whales and dolphins. The first dive includes
some rolling swells. Maximum depth is 80 feet. The second
dive, tank intermediate, also contains rolling swells. Maximum
depth is 60 feet.
Wolf & Darwin
Experienced divers agree Wolf & Darwin offer some of the
world's best diving. No land visits here, just some serious
diving. At Darwin's Northern Arch, the northern most point
of the two islands, schools of hammerhead sharks and groups
of bottle nose dolphins often swim in clear view of divers.
Divers often see whale sharks and giant manta rays. At Wolf,
the pinnacle, the reef and the south islet channel offer three
different dive sites. The reef, the most consistant place
to see hammerhead sharks, contains many warm water fish species
found nowhere else in the islands.
Plazas
Gordon Rocks, an advanced dive, is famous for white-tipped,
hammerhead the Galapagos shark, large moray eels, spotted
eagle rays, golden rays, sting rays, fur sea lions, sea turtles,
Amberjacks, reef fish, sponges and black coral. Dive with
wahoo, tuna, sailfish and other big pelagic fish. Divers consider
the wall at Gordon Rocks one of the best dive sites in the
Central Islands. The current is strong and the maximum depth
is 100 feet.
SANTA CRUZ
Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station. Scientists from
all over the globe work at the station and conduct biological
research from anatomy to zoology. Get your picture taken with
the giant tortoises. Observe year-old tortoises and learn
about the captive-breeding program. Next, stroll through the
town of Puerto Ayora (population: 10,000) -the largest town
in the Galapagos. Buy souvenirs, mail postcards and absorb
local charm in the social heart of the islands.
Santiago (James)
This afternoon, stroll along the shore at Puerto Egas and
look for octopus, starfish and other sea life caught in the
tide pools. At low tide, catch a glimpse of marine iguanas
as they feed on exposed green algae. Watch for great blue
herons, lava herons, oystercatchers and yellow-crowned nigher
herons. Our walk ends at the grottos, deep pools of clear
water where we encounter the fur seal lion once on the verge
of extinction. At Albany islet, the current and visibility
are unpredictable with some surge. Find sharks, groupers,
reef fish and some corals.
Floreana Island
Floreana's individual offshore islets offer diving with reef
fish, schooling fish, sea lions, invertebrates, rays, moray
eels, white tip reef sharks, sea turtles, amberjack, red snapper
and grouper and sometimes giant mantas, hammerheads, Galapagos
sharks, whales, seahorse and the bizzare red-lipped bat fish.
At the shallow sunken crater of Devil's Crown encounter a
brilliant array of colorful large schools of reef fish, black
coral and sea turtles. Champion Islet, a little crater, yields
nesting habitat for a colony of boobies, hideouts for sea
lions, and an underwater labyrinth of rocky shelves, coral
and reef fish. Enderby, an eroded tuff cone, often reveals
manta rays, turtles, tunas, and sharks. Gardner Islet displays
a huge natural arch like a cathedrals flying buttresses.
Diving Requirements & Passenger Information
- Itinerary - There will be two to four dives a day alternating
with shore excursions as well as snorkeling and skiff rides.
There will also be some night dives. Shore diving is virtually
impossible as most dives are drift dives along the cliff faces
of off-shore rocks and pinnacles. The itinerary is subject
to change due to weather conditions and readjustment of National
Park policies.
Marine Reserve and Park Regulations:
The following rules have been established in order to preserve
the Islands' marine ecosystems: One must respect the marine
environment and not engage in any activities that might damage
it. Touching, catching or collecting underwater wildlife is
strictly forbidden.
Requirements:
Divers are required to bring their own dive equipment, including
the following: Mask, fins and snorkel, regulator and gauges
(depth and pressure), buoyancy compensator vest, wet suit
(1/4") thick neoprene, hood and gloves, flashlight (for
night dives), open water diving certification, camera or video
camera. Divers are required to sign a waiver release.
Equipment
Provided:
Air tanks, weights and weight belts. Rental equipment available
upon request.
Best Time Of Year To Dive:
We recommend that you plan your trip between November and
June due to climatic conditions. Divers are required to sign
an indemnity form stating that the operator of the dive boat
is not responsible for any failure in the equipment which
the divers use.
Water
Temperature:
Central Islands - December to March: 75 - 78 degrees Fahrenheit
Wolf & Darwin - December to March: 76 - 80 degrees Fahrenheit
Central Islands - April to November: 65 - 72 degrees Fahrenheit
Wolf & Darwin - April to November: 74 - 78 degrees Fahrenheit
Water temperature From November to June, the water temperature
averages 75 degrees Fahrenheit, with February to April the
warmest time. Water temperature from July to October averages
70 degrees Fahrenheit and falls well below 70 degrees in August
and September.
Restrictions:
One must be an experienced diver with adequate skills. Galapagos
is not suitable for novice or infrequent divers due to strong
currents, sea-swells, surges, cool waters, up-swellings, poor
visibility (at times), and large animals including the harmless
Galapagos shark. Divers must have excellent buoyancy control
and be totally self-sufficient to handle all gear. The only
satisfactory way to dive Galapagos is on a live aboard boat
for 7, to 14 nights which must be arranged well in advance.
Due to the remoteness of the Islands, there are no facilities
for hyperbaric treatment of diving injuries. Therefore, there
will be no decompression dives. Special Note: Since diving
the Galapagos is not for everyone, diving boats are often
chartered for pre-arranged groups. It is wise to make reservations
as soon as possible for any open dive boat and have an alternative
departure date if the first one sells out before you make
up your mind!
There are no dive shops in Galapagos, therefore,
divers must bring all their own dive equipment, including
the following:
-
Mask
- Fins & Snorkel Regulator and gauges (depth and pressure)
- Buoyancy compensator vest Flashlight (for night dives)
- Wet suit (1/4") thick neoprene is recommended
- Open water diving certification
- Medical certificate showing one is fit for diving
- Misc. equipment of choice: gloves, hood Underwater camera
Video camera
- Equipment Provided - Aluminum 80 lb. dive tanks, weights,
weight belt, - Bauer air compressor (5000 psi), snorkeling
gear, oxygen and medical supplies. We comply with PADI safety
requirements on board all of our yachts.
Galapagos Dive Guides:
A Galapagos Naturalist guide who is also certified by the
Ecuadorian Navy to lead dive groups is along with every departure.
The guide is a qualified diver with essential knowledge of
specific diving locations with their respective interest and
dangers.
Marine Reserve & Park Regulations: The
following rules have been established in order to preserve
the Islands' marine ecosystems.
- Control your movements while diving. Practice natural buoyancy
control during all dives.
- One should respect the marine environment and do not engage
in any activities that might damage it.
- Catching or collecting marine life is strictly forbidden.
Any artifacts found on the bottom may not be removed.
Suggested Reading & Guide Books
- The fishes of the Galapagos Islands, Jack Grove and Robert
Lavemberg,1977
- A
field guide to the fishes of Galapagos, Godfrey Merlen,1988
- Marine life of the Galapagos, Pierre Constant, 1992
- Reef Fish identification Galapagos, Paul Humman,1993
- Galapagos, a terrestrial and marine phenomenon, Paul Humman,1988
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