The very stable Humboldt Explorer is a 106-foot (32-meter) tri-deck steel vessel built for stability on the long crossings to Darwin and Wolf. She takes 16 guests & offers a great itinerary.
A word from Dom : “When she launched, Humboldt Explorer was considered the humble “little sister” to the “big guys” in Galapagos. However, she has turned out to be highly popular and is booked solid most of the year. Budget-friendly, she’s an excellent choice for comfort without luxury… while still providing all the spectacular diving that Darwin’s islands are famous for.” Dominick Macan
2 main deck DOUBLE/TWIN cabins
1 queen bed or 2 twin beds, ample storage & picture windows
4 lower deck DOUBLE / TWIN cabins
1 queen bed or 2 twin beds & window
2 lower deck TWIN cabins
2 adjacent twin beds & window
All cabins have en-suite bathrooms, air-conditioning & flat screen TV/DVD
up to 4 dives per day – diving from tenders/pangas
12L tanks … (15L tanks available at extra cost)
water temperature: 21-30°C (70-86°F) December – May
16-24°C (60-75°F) June – November
7mm wetsuit recommended
divers must have Advanced Open Water & 50 logged dives
accommodation & diving
meals, snacks, water, tea & coffee
alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages (excluding premium alcoholic beverages)
compressed air, tanks, weights and weight belts
certified National Park guide/dive instructor & assistant
airport transfers in Galapagos
international & domestic airfare
scuba rental equipment (please request in advance)
nitrox and nitrox courses
15 liter tanks
premium alcoholic beverages
chamber support fee, fuel surcharge
Galapagos National Park tax & Ingala tourist card fee
Three large decks on Humboldt Explorer provide ample space for divers. The teak sundeck features both open and covered areas, a Jacuzzi, a wet bar, a BBQ grill and a large exterior dining area with ample seating for all. The indoor dining and lounge area on the main deck, with bar & entertainment center, can also accommodate all guests on occasions when the exterior lounges may be either too warm or too chilly. Also on the main deck are two of the guest cabins, while the others are located on the lower deck and all feature windows.
Aft on the main deck is the large dive deck with camera rinse tank, large camera table, wetsuit drying area and hot showers. This easily accommodates 16 divers. The dive deck is equipped with individual gear bins, recharging station.
The Humboldt Explorer is also equipped with a satellite telephone for emergency calls worldwide.
Not to be missed in Galapagos are the land visits, which are included on your cruise itinerary. You can walk the path around North Seymour Island to see the large colonies of blue footed boobies and frigate birds. Sighting of sea lions and marine iguanas are also common. Travel by bus to the Santa Cruz Highlands to visit the giant tortoises in their natural habitat. Visit the town of Puerto Ayora and the Darwin Center on your own. After leaving the vessel at the end of the cruise, guest are encouraged to visit the beach in town to see sea lions and marine iguanas in their natural habitat or take a short walk to the Interpretive Center.
You will fly to the Galapagos Islands from an international airport in Quito or Guayaquil, Ecuador. Flight schedules are subject to change without advance notification and flights often run late, so we strongly encourage you to plan on arriving at least one day prior to your flight to the Islands. It’s important to ensure that your luggage is with you or to make up for any travel delays. We also recommend that guests plan on an extra night in Quito or Guayaquil upon departing Ecuador. We recommend letting us book your domestic flights from Quito or Guayaquil to the Islands – and back – so that we can stay on top of any potential schedule changes for you.
Humboldt Explorer trips depart from San Cristobal in the Galapagos Islands. If you are booking your own domestic flights, it’s important to note carefully that you will fly to and depart from San Cristobal (SCY), not Baltra (GPS). Passengers flying into Baltra must arrange their own transportation to San Cristobal. You will fly to the Galapagos Islands from mainland Ecuador. Your dive guides will meet you at the airport and escort you to the Humboldt Explorer. Boarding is after 1:00pm, followed by lunch and a briefing & departure. After the short crossing to Isla Lobos, you’ll have your check-out dive. After dinner the vessel will depart to the next scheduled destination.
Registry: Pto Baquerizo Moreno, Galapagos Islands
Length overall: 111.5 ft (34 meters)
Beam: 21.3 ft (6.5 meters)
Draft: 8.2 ft (2.5 meters)
Tonnage: 169 ITC
Main engines: Detroit Diesel 6V92, 350 hp
Generators: 2x Perkins 73 kw
Maximum Speed: 10 knots
Fuel Capacity: 5,300 gallons (20,000 liters)
Range: 1,800 nm
MACHINERY
Twin diesel engines on all steel and aluminum yachts
Two or more generators, 110-208 ac voltage, each capable of supplying the yachts needs independently
Two SCUBA air compressors with cascade storage
Nitrox membrane system with cascade storage
Watermaker with ample storage
Support dinghies with outboard motors for shore excursions and scuba diving
SAFETY EQUIPMENT
Life rafts (2), life rings/strobes, life vests/strobes, emergency position locator, flares, oxygen and first aid equipment
Air Systems:2 electric Bauer compressors with nitrox membrane, 32% nitrox, bank storage
Tenders: Rigid hull inflatables (2), used for passenger transport and diver pickup
Accessories: Diving Equipment
Itinerary for Humboldt Explorer. Up to 4 dives per day …. including Darwin & Wolf. The exact itinerary is always weather and conditions dependent … however, this itinerary is valid unless conditions dictate a change and the plan will always be to visit the following sites
Sample Itinerary – there may be slight variations due to weather and/or sea conditions, but in general, this is the itinerary approved by Galapagos Park Service for this liveaboard.
Days aboard either the M/V Humboldt Explorer or M/V Tiburon Explorer, generally involve a 6:30am dive followed by breakfast, a dive at 10:30am, lunch at 12:00pm, and afternoon dives at 2:00pm and 4:30 pm (On days with long transits between islands, the number of dives will be reduced to 2-3 dives – see itinerary)
Monday: San Cristobal (1 Check Out Dive at Isla Lobos)
Arrival & boarding
Check-out dive at Isla Lobos
Tuesday: Punta Carrion (2 Dives)
6:30 and 9:30 dives Sightings include rays and schools of fish.
Afternoon North Seymour land visit. Walk the path around North Seymour Island to see the large colonies of blue footed boobies and frigate birds. sighting of sea lions and marine iguanas are also common.
Depart for Northern Islands. (16+ hour transit)
Wednesday: Wolf Island (4 Dives)
6:30, 10:30, 2:00 and 4:30 dives. Possible night dive. Sightings often include hammerheads, whale sharks, eagle rays, sea lions, Galapagos sharks and silky sharks.
Night anchor at Wolf Island.
Thursday: Wolf Island (2 Dives)
6:30 and 9:30 dives
Transit to Darwin Island (2 Dives)
2:00 and 4:30 dives. Sightings often include hammerheads, red-lipped batfish, eagle rays, sea lions, Galapagos sharks and silky sharks.
Friday: Darwin Island (4 Dives)
6:30, 10:30, 2:00 and 4:30 dives. Sightings often include hammerheads, whale sharks (in season) eagle rays, Galapagos sharks and silky sharks.
Transit to Wolf Island.
Saturday: Wolf Island (3 Dives)
6:30, 9:00 and 11:00 dives. Sightings often include hammerheads, whale sharks (in season), eagle rays, Galapagos sharks and silky sharks.
Long transit to Cousin’s Rock (20+ hours)
Sunday: Cousin’s Rock (1-2 Dives)
6:30 and 9:30 dives (number of dives dependent on travel time from Wolf Island). This is a great macro diving with an excellent chance of seeing sea horses, sea lions and eagle rays.
Lunch will be served while transiting to Santa Cruz (3 hours).
Travel by bus to the Santa Cruz Highlands to visit the giant tortoises in their natural habitat. Visit the town of Puerto Ayora and the Darwin Centre on your own. Dinner on your own in Puerto Ayora. Return to the Humboldt Explorer at 8:30pm.
Monday: San Cristobal
Depart the vessel by 9 am. Guests are free to visit the beach in town to see sea lions and marine iguanas in their natural habitat or take a short walk to the Interpretive Center. Transfer back to the airport for flight back to Quito or Guayaquil.
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