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Ship Name: Sky Dancer -
Dive boat - 16 passengers
Activities: Hiking, Photography, Scuba Diving, Snorkelling, Wildlife
Viewing
Package - 11 days
Cruise Only - 8 days starts on Day 3 and ends Day 10
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Deluxe |
Master |
| 2007 Cruise Only |
$3,195 |
$3,395 |
| 2007 Package |
$3,520 |
$3,720 |
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Above rates are per person,
double occupancy.
Charter Rates (Cruise Only): 2007: $46,330 (16 passenger
max)
Note: Children under 10 yrs are not allowed on vessel; Children
10 yrs and older are allowed if they are certified divers.
DRY DOCK DATES for 2007: Apr 1 - May 6, 2007 |
 Experience one of the best dive destinations
in the world! In the Galapagos Islands, you will experience a scuba
diving adventure you will never forget with penguins, sea lions, marine
iguanas, sea turtles, angelfish, giant manta rays, whale sharks and schools
of hammerhead sharks by your side. Enjoy up to four dives a day in the world-renowned
northern islands of Wolf and Darwin. (Note: All dives are for intermediate/expert
divers only, due to the strong currents)
Introduction
The marine community of Galapagos is one
of the most unique and exotic in the world. You will see penguins swimming
with tropical fish and iguanas that feed underwater. The creatures of the
sea exhibit the same bold curiosity and lack of fear characteristic of the
terrestrial wildlife. Almost one quarter of the marine life in Galapagos
is endemic to this archipielago-17% of its fish and 35% of its marine invertebrates
are native and found nowhere else in the world. The underwater scene is
rich in nutrients and teems with colorful life. Great schools of fish cruise
the open water, at times so thick they nearly block out the sun. The reefs
are an amazing profusion of invertebrate life. Swept by both cold-water
currents from Antarctica and warm currents from the tropical Pacific, the
marine life is a bizarre mixture of cold and warm water species.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Quito
Arrive in Quito, Ecuador and transfer to your hotel. The rest of the
day is at your leisure. Overnight in Quito at the Hotel Patio Andaluz,
or similar hotel.
Day 2: Quito
Today is at your leisure. A variety of day tours are available for
purchase. Overnight at the Hotel Patio Andaluz, or similar hotel.
Day 3: San Cristobal Island / Embark - Cruise
Only Starts
Upon arrival to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, San Cristobal, the crew of
the Sky Dancer meets you at the airport to escort you to your ship.
After the initial briefing, there is a mandatory check-out dive at Isla
Lobos where you 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. Here you see blue-footed boobies,
masked boobies and magnificent frigate birds on the cliffs.
Day 4: Seymour Island / Cousins / Bartolome Island
In the south side of Seymour Island and no deeper than 50 feet deep, the
northern channel is superb. It features an enormous "field" of garden
eels, stingrays, a school of spotted eagle rays, white tipped reef
sharks, and thick schools of grunts, snappers & goatfish. When Dr.
Silvia Earle described Galapagos as "the fishiest place in the world",
she had probably dived this dive site.
To the North of Bartolome, Cousins is an interesting wall dive. Although
visibility is just fair most of the year, you can find white tipped reef
sharks, hammerhead sharks, sea lions hunting, fur seals, and many
sleeping sea turtles. A highlight is a resident school of up to 30
spotted eagle rays. If you are interested in macro photography, look for
sea horses, frogfish, lobster, arrow crabs, cup coral, long nose hawk
fish, and nudibranchs, etc. A night dive here is possible.
On Bartolome, which seems like the moon, 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 which includes the famous "Pinnacle Rock," an
eroded tuff cone.
Day 5: Wolf Island
One of those magical islands, with several dive sites to choose from,
Wolf will astound dive visitors. If you want to see sharks, you are at
the right spot. This is a place for schooling hammerhead sharks, large
aggregations of Galapagos sharks, and occasionally whale sharks. Seeing
dolphins, large schools of tuna, spotted eagle rays, barracudas, sea
lions and sea turtles is common. The ocean floor here is peppered with
hundreds of moray eels, many of them free swimming. Being several
degrees warmer than the central islands, you can look for many
representatives of the Indo-Pacific underwater fauna.
Day 6: Darwin Island
Considered by many experienced divers as the very best dive site in the
world, The Arch at Darwin Island honors its reputation. It is warmer by
a few degrees than the central islands. In one single dive you can find
schooling hammerhead sharks, Galapagos sharks, large pods of dolphins,
thick schools of skipjack and yellow fin tuna, big eye jacks, Mobula
rays, and silky sharks. From June to November, whale sharks can almost
be guaranteed in numbers of up to 8 different individuals in one single
dive. The presence of occasional tiger sharks, black and blue marlin and
killer whales adds on to this amazing diving experience. If you still
have time to look for smaller stuff, you’ll find octopus, flounders, and
an enormous variety and abundance of tropical fish. Darwin Island is the
biggest jewel on the Galapagos Crown.
Day 7: 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 consistent place to see
hammerhead sharks, contains many warm water fish species found nowhere
else in the islands.
Day 8: Cape Marshall/ Puerto Egas, Santiago
At Cape Marshall, on the eastern side of Isabela island, you encounter
rocky volcanic cliffs, that drops down to the ocean floor as an almost
vertical wall. You might see large animals like manta rays, marbled
rays, hammerhead sharks mola mola (sun fish) and marine turtles, but
also Chevron barracuda, snappers, yellow fin tuna, rainbow runners,
wahoo and groupers. There are also a lot of smaller fishes like creole
fishes, parrot fishes, scrawled filefishes, pacific box fishes and tiger
snake eels.
This afternoon, disembark for a land visit along the shore at Puerto
Egas, Santiago (James) looking 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, American oystercatchers and yellow-crowned night herons. Your
walk ends at the grottos, deep pools of clear water where you encounter
fur sea lions once on the verge of extinction. During the night dive at
a depth of no more than 30 feet you may find the red-lipped bat fish.
Day 9: Gordon’s Rocks/ Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz
Gordon Rocks, off South Plaza Island, an advanced dive, is famous for
white-tipped, hammerhead and 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.
Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station on the Island of Santa Cruz.
Scientists from all over the globe work at the station and conduct
biological research from anatomy to zoology. Observe year-old tortoises
and learn about the captive-breeding program. Stroll through the town of
Puerto Ayora (population: 15,000), the largest town in the Galapagos.
Buy souvenirs, mail postcards and absorb local charm in the social heart
of the Islands.
Day 10: Interpretation Center / San Cristobal Island -
Cruise Only Ends
Hotel Patio Andaluz
This morning, visit the Interpretation Center to learn more about the
natural and human history of the Islands. After your visit, transfer to
the airport for your return flight to Quito. This afternoon is at your
leisure. Overnight at the Hotel Patio Andaluz, or similar hotel.
Day 11: Quito / Home
This morning, transfer to the airport for your return flight home.
Notes:
This itinerary is subject to change. ExpeditionTrips.com is not
responsible for itinerary changes.
DRY DOCK DATES for 2007: Apr 1 - May 6, 2007
Included (Package):
3 hotel nights in Quito at the Patio Andaluz, or similar (hotel based on
availability; hotel upgrades available at additional cost); 4 transfers;
adult Galapagos National Park tax, USD$100 (Children under 12 subtract
$50); Cabin accommodation aboard ship; all meals and snacks aboard ship;
shore excursions; guide services, use of snorkeling equipment, sea
kayaks and wet suits; all non-alcoholic beverages; evening cocktail;
transfers between the airport and dock in Galapagos; filled tanks;
weights, weight belt; up to 4 dives per day; service of dive masters.
Not Included (Package):
Fuel surcharge - USD$100 per person (applies to all cruises after Jan 1,
2006); International airfare; airfare to Galapagos; NITROX fills;
gratuities to guides and crew; alcoholic beverages; chamber fee (USD$35
per person); traveler’s insurance; International airport departure tax,
to be paid in cash.
If you are booking a cruise only program, we are happy to add hotels,
air and land arrangements as requested, and you will be quoted for
services.
We recommend that you plan your trip between
mid October and mid July due to the climatic conditions. 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 can fall below 70 degrees in
August and September.
The ship will supply a Galapagos naturalist guide who is also a
certified dive master an instructor to lead dive groups. The guide is a
qualified diver with essential knowledge of specific diving locations
and their respective interest and dangers.
Divers must bring all their own dive equipment,
including the following:
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Mask, fins and snorkel
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Regulator and gauges (depth and
pressure)
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Buoyancy compensator vest
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Wet suit (1/4") thick neoprene is
recommended, hood and gloves
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Flashlight (for night dives)
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Open water diving certification
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Medical certificate showing one is
fit for diving
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Misc. equipment of choice such as,
underwater camera or video camera, dive computer
Divers are required to sign an indemnity
from stating that the operator of the dive boat is not responsible for
any failure in the equipment, which the divers use.
To dive Galapagos, one must be an experienced diver with adequate
skills. Galapagos is not suitable for novice or infrequent divers
due to strong current, sea (well), surges, cool waters, upwelling, 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.
We recommend Advance Certification + 40 dives. Due to the
remoteness of the islands, there are no facilities for hyper panic
treatment of diving injuries. Therefore, there will be no decompression
dives.
Airfare between Quito/Guayaquil and the Galapagos Islands:
Approximate cost: $300-$450 per adult; $200-$275 per child under 12
(copy of passport required). Prices vary based on shipping company and
departure dates. Please note, ExpeditionTrips.com charges a $25 per
person service charge to issue these air tickets.
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Tell me more
about a trip to the Galapagos!
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Galapagos
Cruises
Trips leave year
round |
Santa Cruz
Expedition ship -
families
90 passengers
4/7 days from $1264 |
Santa Cruz
Expedition ship -
families
90 passengers
5/8 days from $1685 |
Explorer II
family vacations, snorkelling,
Natural history "lite"
100 passengers
5/8 days from $1755 |
Cachalote 1
small sailboat, ideal for charter
16 passengers
8/11 days from $1979 |
Sagitta
Classic sailing vessel
16 passengers
8/11 days from $2592 |
Santa Cruz
Expedition ship -
families
90 passengers
8/11 days from $2949 |
Celebrity
Xpeditions
5 star vessel, natural
history "lite"
92 passengers
11 days from $3100 |
Samba
 small motor yacht, snorkelling, diving
options
14 passengers
8/11 days from $1754 |
Eric
small ship vessel, good
guides, diving, kayaking options
20 passengers
8/11
days from $2450 |
Sky Dancer
Dive boat
16 passengers
8/11 days from $3195 |
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Recommended reading |
Galápagos: A Natural History Guide, Michael Jackson.
Galápagos Wildlife: A Visitor’s Guide, David Horwell, Pete
Oxford.
The Beak of the Finch: A story of Evolution in Our Time, Jonathan
Weiner.
Voyage of the Beagle, Charles Darwin.
A Guide to the Birds of the Galápagos Islands, Isabel Castro and
Antonia Phillips |
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