Galapagos Dive cruise: Aqua 8 Days

From Baltra Airport to Baltra Airport
  • Ecuador
  • Galapagos Islands
  • Small Ship Cruising
  • Wildlife and Nature
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Tour Description

Dive some of the best sites in the Galapagos on Join this spectacular 8 day  Galapagos Diving Cruise. It's one of the few rare places where you can dive with hundreds of hammerhead sharks and have the chance to see a whale shark cruising by. Dive into beautiful clear waters, and discover the silky sharks, sea turtles, giant morays and schooling fish in their thousands!  Be one of the lucky few that get to experience diving in the Galapagos.

We do multiple dives at Wolf and Darwin Islands where schooling pelagics are the main attraction, as in season hammerheads, white tips and Galapagos sharks. (May-November). One famous diving sites is “Darwin’s Arch”, which provides an amazing drift dive along the wall at an average depth of just 9m. Here schools of jacks are a common sight, along with turtles, angelfish and moray eels olus hammerheads, black tips, silky and Galapagos sharks!  Occasional sightings of tiger sharks, manta rays and bottlenose dolphins make for a  exciting time. Whale sharks may also be seen between May – November.

Also dive at Bartolome, the unique Cousins Rock, Vicente Roca Point, Cape Douglas, Roca Blanca and Pinzon looking for anything from Galapagos penguins, mantra rays, Mola Mola and possibly baleen Whales! No visit to the Galapagos is complete without the iconic Galapagos Giant Tortoise, so we make sure there is time to stop in on Santa Cruz to look out for them in their natural habitat.

This itinerary is for  experienced and certified divers - please ask us about other great liveaboard dive options in the Galapagos.

Viva's Best Bits...

Galapagos is a divers paradise and offer very special opportunities, penguins. marine iguanas, seahorses, hammerheads, rays and sea lions

Whale sharks may be seen between May – November

Visit the best diving sites in the Galapagos, including Darwin’s Arch, Cousin’s Rock and more!

Tour Itinerary

Day 1
Arrive Baltra

Fly from Quito or Guayaquil to the Galapagos Islands. A guide will meet you, help you collect your luggage, and escort you on a short bus ride to the harbour.

PM – BALTRA NORTH EAST
This is the perfect spot to start your adventure with moderate currents.This dive site is for adventurous divers looking to see fascinating lava and rock formations, as well as an incredible number of marine species. At the depth of around 20 m (60 ft) we might see white-tip reef sharks, pelagic fish, reef fish, rays, and turtles. Additionally, sea lions will be your companions upon entry and on the safety stops. Occasionally, hammerhead sharks can be spotted swimming nearby.

Number of Dives: 1

Day 2
Bartolome and Cousins Rock

AM – BARTOLOME
Located east of Santiago Island, this small island is known for its unique spear-like pinnacle. Beneath the waves we dive over, we will go around a rocky platform and float around underwater cliffs that start at 15m and disappear into the sea bed, giving us a good chance to see pelagic animals.
You can expect to see some of the following marine life: seahorses, white tip reef sharks, reef fish (including large schools of hunting yellow tailed surgeonfish), barracudas, turtles, mobula rays, sting rays, scorpion stone fish, and various invertebrates.

Number of Dives: 2

PM – COUSIN’S ROCK
Cousin’s rock is located north-east of Santiago island, near Bartolome. This site has a unique and stunning topography of jagged rocky shelves where animals, both big and small, can be found resting and feeding. It is one of the few places where you can see endemic black coral amongst the riot of colourful clams, algae, flora and fauna that cover the rocks like splashes of paint. During our surface interval, look out for penguins that inhabit the surrounding area.
You can expect to see some of the following Marine Life: sea lions, Galapagos sharks, white tip reef sharks, turtles, seahorses, barracudas, stingrays, eagle rays, manta rays and reef fish (including large schools of floating bullseye pufferfish).

Number of Dives: 1

Day 3
Wolf Island

AM/PM – WOLF ISLAND
Named after the German geologist Theodor Wolf, this extinct volcano reaches 253m (780ft) above sea level and lies around 160km (100m) northwest of Isabela Island. Land visits are not permitted, however, bird life such as: red-footed boobies and vampire finches may be spotted from the boat.
For our dives, we choose from a selection of reefs and walls, most have medium to strong currents, where the use of gloves and reef hooks is advised. Schooling pelagics are the main attraction, but you can also see hammerheads, white tips and Galapagos sharks in the sites (May-November).

Number of Dives: 4

Day 4
Darwin Island

AM/PM – DARWIN ISLAND
A volcano that reaches 165m (490ft) above sea level was named in honour of naturalist Charles Darwin. It is amongst the smallest island within the Galapagos Archipelago and like Wolf Island, no land visits are permitted.
One of the most famed diving sites is “Darwin’s Arch”, which provides an amazing drift dive along the wall at an average depth of just 9m. Medium to strong currents are to be expected, but you bring with them many hammerheads, black tips, silky and Galapagos sharks! Schools of jacks are a common sight, along with turtles, angelfish and moray eels. Occasional sightings of tiger sharks, manta rays and bottlenose dolphins make for a thrilling time. Whale sharks may also be seen between May – November.

Number of Dives: 4

Day 5
Wolf Island

AM/PM – WOLF ISLAND
Named after the German geologist Theodor Wolf, this extinct volcano reaches 253m (780ft) above sea level and lies around 160km (100m) northwest of Isabela Island. Land visits are not permitted, however, bird life such as: red-footed boobies and vampire finches may be spotted from the boat.
For our dives, we choose from a selection of reefs and walls, most have medium to strong currents, where the use of gloves and reef hooks is advised. Schooling pelagics are the main attraction, but you can also see hammerheads, white tips and Galapagos sharks in the sites (May-November).

Number of Dives: 3

Day 6
Vicente Roca Point and Cape Douglas

AM – VICENTE ROCA POINT
We will cross the Bolivar Channel for the last time to Vicente Roca Point, just at the mouth of Isabela’s seahorse-shape. While entering a dark cave below a spectacular arch, roaring echoes of the waves will accompany you. Just around the corner, the collapsed amphitheatre of Volcan Ecuador offers another impressive view. The calmer waters of the coves are well-protected against the ocean swell and are great place for snorkelling amongst various species of shark, penguins, puffer fish and even seahorses!

Number of Dives: 1

PM – CAPE DOUGLAS
Cape Douglas is sure to provide you amazing opportunities to observe a large amount of marine life, above and under the water! As you prepare for your dive, you can see Galapagos Penguins, Galapagos Flightless Cormorants, and Galapagos Marine Iguanas- animals only found exclusively on the Islands. A sure sight is incredible marine iguanas swimming and feeding on the rocks under the surface. Some marine life you may see are: Red-lipped Batfish, Horn Sharks, Mola Mola, and possibly Baleen Whales!

Number of Dives: 1

Day 7
Roca Blanca and Pinzon

AM – ROCA BLANCA
For divers, Roca Blanca is a mecca for sea life. Located on the South East coast of Isabela Island, it’s one of the best diving sites the central islands offer. Due to the cooler and waters in the central islands, this increases the diversity of marine life. You will get to see amazing life here, such as: shark, manta & eagle rays, sea lions, moray eels, lobsters, and a vast population of tropical fish.

Number of Dives: 1

PM – PINZON
It is a small island located off the western coast of Santa Cruz, about 1 hour from Puerto Ayora. It is a great spot for beginners and experienced divers, offering many playful sea lions, turtles, and red lipped batfish. The deep drop off wall is for more experienced divers, and is a great spot to see sea horses, rays, different species of sharks, and lobster. In the warmer months, Pinzon is a favourite site for the Manta Rays and pods of dolphins

Number of Dives: 1

Day 8
Depart Baltra

AM – HIGHLANDS
The road to the highlands leaves from Bellavista, a small village located a 15-minute drive from Puerto Ayora, and passes through the agricultural zone, near the National Park boundary, the Miconia Zone, and then goes to the Fern and Sedge zone. With clear weather, this area boasts beautiful scenes of rolling hills and extinct volcanic cones covered with grass and lush greenery all year round. Here you will visit the Twin Craters, which are two pit craters, as well as a local ranch where we can observe the giant tortoise of Santa Cruz Island in its natural habitat.

PM – BALTRA AIRPORT

Transfer to Baltra Airport in time for your departing flight




What’s Included

Accommodation
  • Included Copy 20 Accommodation onboard the Aqua for 7 nights
  • Included Copy 31 Solo travellers are able to book a twin cabin on a same sex sharing basis - No surcharge
Food
  • Included Copy 20 All meals, water, tea & coffee
Fees & Services
  • Included Copy 20 All diving and visits as mentioned in the itinerary
  • Included Copy 31 Dive Gear for Hire - Advisable to bring your own gear to ensure comfy fit
  • Included Copy 20 English speaking dive instructor and dive master
  • Included Copy 20 12L Tanks for enriched air; Weights; Belts; Scuba safety equipment eg Personal Marine rescue GPS
  • Included Copy 7 Ingala Tourist Card USD$20 (Payable locally)
  • Included Copy 7 Return flights Quito or Guayaquil / Galapagos Islands
  • Included Copy 7 Galapagos Islands National Park Entrance Fee USD$100 (Payable locally)
Transportation

Aqua - Galapagos Dive & Naturalist Cruises

16 Passengers

Activities

  • Included Visit the best diving sites in the Galapagos, including Darwin’s Arch, Cousin’s Rock and more!
  • Included Observe the Galapgos giant tortoise on Santa Cruz Island
  • Included Observe seahorses, white tip reef sharks, reef fish at Bartolome
  • Included Multiple dives at Wolf Island, with hammerheads, Galapagos sharks and manta rays
  • Included Whale sharks may be seen between May – November
  • Included Cape Douglas - Galapagos penguin, Batfish, Mola Mola, Baleen Whales and more
Click here for dates & prices
Duration

8 days

Price from

$4,450 USD

Per person, twin share

Departs select Tuesdays