The 38-meter (125-foot) Tiburon Explorer, the newest purpose-built Galapagos liveaboard, launched in 2020. She takes 16 guests in 9 cabins & includes the best of the Galapagos islands diving.
A word from Dom : “The spacious & tasteful Tiburon Explorer was purpose-built for Galapagos diving. She’s the newest & perhaps the most luxurious of your choices for diving Darwin’s magical isles and, while I haven’t been on her yet myself, I can tell you that our clients rave about her. Higly recommended.” Dominick Macan
2 main deck DOUBLE cabins
1 queen bed & picture windows
4 main deck DOUBLE / TWIN cabins
2 twin beds or 1 queen bed & picture windows
3 lower deck DOUBLE / TWIN cabins
2 twin beds (adjacent) or 1 queen bed & port windows
All offer individually controlled air conditioning, ample storage & en-suite bathrooms
3 – 4 dives per day … diving from 2 large pangas (tenders)
12 liter alu tanks (DIN & INT valves)
15 liter aluminum tanks (at extra cost)
nitrox available
water temperature: 60 – 75F, 16 – 24C … 5 -7mm wetsuit recommended
divers should ideally have Advanced Open Water & 100 logged dives
accommodation & diving
meals, snacks, water, tea & coffee
alcoholic & non-alcoholic beverages
(not premium alcoholic beverages)
compressed air, tanks, weights & weight belts
airport transfers in Galapagos
international & domestic airfare
scuba equipment rental & 15 liter tanks
(please request in advance)
nitrox
fuel surcharge, Galapagos National Park tax & Ingala tourist card fee
premium alcoholic beverages
Friday night dinner on shore
The elegant Tiburon Explorer is the latest addition to the Explorer Ventures fleet in Galapagos. She is scheduled to launch in April 2020 and will be a fine complement to the existing options for Galapagos diving..
On the top deck, you’ll find covered & uncovered lounging space with plenty of seating. A hot tub & a bar are also located on this deck along with the covered al-fresco dining area. On the main deck, the roomy air-conditioned interior dining & salon with TV, CD/DVD, plus bar offers a comfortable area for relaxing after a challenging day’s diving. A large covered outdoor seating area is located at the stern on this deck. The cabins are spread across all 3 decks and the Tiburon upper deck & main deck cabins all feature a window with sea view. There are 9 cabins for 16 passengers
The large dive deck is equipped with a bathroom, individual gear bins, camera table, recharging station, air and Nitrox filling stations in addition to tank racks and a separate fresh water rinse tank for underwater camera equipment.
Tiburon will serve hearty meals for divers. They don’t boast “gourmet” food – just solid, nutritious food and plenty of it. If you have any dietary restrictions or requests, please indicate this on your application form.
You will fly to the islands from international airports in Quito or Guayaquil, Ecuador. Flight times, prices and the Galapagos airport of arrival are all subject to change with little or no notification, and flights often run late. We strongly encourage our guests to plan on arriving at least one and preferably two days prior to your flight to the Galapagos Islands, 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.
Tiburon Explorer trips depart from Baltra (GPS) not San Cristobal (SCY). Passengers flying into San Cristobal must arrange their own transportation to Baltra where the Tiburon Explorer will depart from. Guests fly to the Galapagos Islands from Mainland Ecuador, arriving in the late morning. The dive guides will meet the guests at the airport and escort them to the Tiburon. You will will board the vessel after 1:00pm, have lunch and attend the briefings. At that time the Tiburon Explorer will depart for a short crossing to Punta Carrion for a check out dive. After dinner the vessel will depart to the next scheduled destination.
We recommend that you let 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.
Length overall: 125ft (38 meters)
Beam: 24.6 ft (7.5 meters)
Maximum Speed: 12 knots
Up to 9 crew and 2 guides in the Cruise Director Cabin.
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, producing 32% nitrox
Tenders: Rigid hull inflatables (2), used for passenger transport and diver pickup
Accessories: Diving Equipment
Tiburon Explorer itineraries include Darwin & Wolf. The exact Galapagos diving 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
Itinerary & map for Tiburon Explorer
Tiburon Explorer – Sample Itinerary – This is the itinerary approved by Galapagos Park Service for this liveaboard. Please note the start from BALTRA …. not San Cristobal.
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)
Saturday: Baltra (1 Check Out Dive at Punta Carrion)
Arrival & boarding
Check-out dive at Punta Carrion
Sunday: Baltra North (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 Western Islands. (long transit)
Monday: Cabo Douglas (2 Dives)
Sightings include marine iguanas.
Transit to Punta Vicente Roca
Punta Vicente Roca (2 Dives)
Sightings often include mola mola, turtles and macro life.
Depart for Northern Islands (long transit).
Tuesday: Wolf Island (4 Dives)
6:30, 10:30. 2:00 and 4:30 dives. Possible night dive.
Sightings often include hammerheads, whale shark (in season), eagle rays, sea lions, Galapagos sharks and silky sharks.
Wednesday: 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
Thursday: 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)
Friday: 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. Transfer to the town of Puerto Ayora. Dinner on your own in Puerto Ayora. Return to the Majestic Explorer at 8:30pm.
Saturday: Baltra
Depart the vessel by 9 am. Transfer to the airport.
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