DIVE ADVICE TRAVEL - Galapagos Humblodt Explorer

A Note from Dom

I'm really pleased to announce a brand new boat coming to Galapagos in May, 2010.

The M/V Humboldt Explorer is under construction in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Named for the current that brings life to the pristine and world-renowned Galapagos Islands, she has secured one of the valuable diving permits for the Galapagos Islands and joins the elite group of vessels diving Darwin and Wolf Islands.

She will depart on her maiden voyage from Galapagos in May 2010. The exact weekly schedule will be confirmed by the Galapagos National Park in late 2009 and we'll bring you updates here as we get them.

Cheers, Dom

THE BOAT
The Humboldt Explorer was designed by one of the premier marine architects in Ecuador, and is the first of her kind.

She is a 106 foot, 2 level steel mono-hull vessel built for stability on the long crossings to Darwin and Wolf. With a cruising speed of up to 10 knots she should be able to offer greater itinerary options for your cruise in the Galapagos.

A teak sundeck features open and covered areas, a Jacuzzi, wet bar, BBQ grill and ample seating for all. The indoor dining and lounge area comfortably seats all guests as well and provides a bar & entertainment center.

A large dive deck with camera rinse tank, large camera table, wetsuit drying area and hot showers accommodates 16 divers with ease.

ACCOMMODATION
Accommodating 16 guests in 8 air-conditioned staterooms, she features lower deck staterooms which have been raised to a level which allows a window in every room.

She has 6 lower and 2 upper staterooms, each with private baths, full-size twin beds that can convert to queen beds and large windows. All rooms have flat screen TV/DVD.

WHAT WILL I SEE?
Whale sharks, hammerheads sharks, Galapagos sharks, white tip sharks . . . . . tunas, mantas, stingrays, eagle rays, . . . . . . barracudas, snappers, goatfish, wahoo, groupers & mola mola . . . . . dolphins, sea lions, penguins, moray eels, turtles & red-lipped batfish . . . . possibly even sailfish, tiger sharks, marlin and killer whales.

And that's not all. There is a broad spectrum of marine life that make the Galapagos Islands one of the world’s foremost diving wonders. Exactly what you see, of course, will depend on the time of year, the region of the Galapagos and, needless to say, the weather & current conditions.

ITINERARIES
You will have 2-4 dives daily, depending on weather and sea conditions. All itineraries will be 8 day/7 night trips.

Sample itinerary: All departures for 2010 and onwards will be from San Cristobal for 2010.

Monday: San Cristobal
Guests fly to the Galapagos Islands from Mainland Ecuador, arriving in the late morning. Guests are met at the airport and taken to the vessel. Boarding the vessel after 11:00am, guests will depart for a short crossing to the canal for a check out dive and safety briefing. The vessel will make a late day departure to the next destination.

Tuesday: North Seymour
6:30, 9:30, dives. Sightings include turtles, hammerheads, sea lions. Afternoon/overnight transit to Darwin (20 hours).

Wednesday: Darwin
6:30, 9:30, 1:30 and 4:00 dives. Sightings often include hammerheads, whale sharks, eagle rays, Galapagos sharks, and silky sharks. Night at anchor.

Thursday: Darwin Island
6:30, 9:30, 1:30 and 4:00 dives. Sightings often include hammerheads, whale sharks, eagle rays, Galapagos sharks, and silky sharks. Evening crossing to Wolf Island (2.5 hrs).

Friday: Wolf Island
6:30, 9:30, 1:30 and 4:00 dives. Sightings often include hammerheads, eagle rays, Galapagos sharks, turtles and silky sharks. Overnight transit to Isabela Island (15 hours).

Saturday: Isabela Island – Cabo Marshall
6:30, 9:30, 11:30 and 3:00 dives. Sightings include giant manta rays, mobula rays, turtles, hammerheads.
Overnight transit Cousins Rock (8 hours).

Sunday: Cousin’s Rock
6:30 dive – macro diving with excellent chance of seeing sea horses, frog fish, sea lions, eagle rays. Lunch and transit back to Santa Cruz (3 hrs). Land trip to see the giant tortoises in the highlands of Santa Cruz and possible visit to the town of Puerto Ayora. Dinner ashore.

Monday: Baltra/San Cristobal
Early morning trip to the beach to see sea lions and marine iguanas.
Breakfast; depart the vessel by 9 am . Transfer back to the airport for flight back to Quito or Guayaquil.

For those flying to and from the Galapagos on Mondays to join the vessel, a guide will meet you upon exiting the baggage claim area for transfer to the vessel.

WHAT ABOUT THE WEATHER?
Water temperatures in the southern islands can get as low as the mid sixties in the cooler season, but the northern islands of Darwin & Wolf are usually 10 degrees warmer.

Because of the currents in Galapagos the temperatures can change rapidly.

Outside the water, temperatures are generally pleasant & shorts and t shirts are comfortable attire. Still, we recommend carrying a sweatshirt as evenings on the deck can be cool. Definitely expect some challenging diving in many areas where the currents are strong.

Photos thanks to our friend, Photographer Steve Rosenberg

WHAT'S INCLUDED?
Per Galapagos National Park regulations, these cruises will be diving cruises only.

We encourage you to spend time before or after your trip in the Galapagos Islands to enjoy a naturalist tour of the islands to view the extraordinary animal life on land.

EXTRAS
Fuel surcharge @ $150 per person, hyperbaric fee $35 per person, optional Nitrox $150 per person.

Galapagos National Park fee currently @ $100 pp, Ingala card @ $10 pp
All flights and hotels

WHEN TO GO
Galapagos is a year-round destination.
In general, May to November, the time of cooler water temps, is the best season for Whale Sharks.
During the warmer water season, December to April, there will usually be a greater preponderance of ray species.
But there is so much all year round that it doesn't make a great deal of difference when you choose to go.
You are always assured of a magical adventure.

RATES & AVAILABILITY
Visit our Availability page for dates & spaces currently open. Rates are listed at the bottom of the availability page.

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