Aqua Diving Galapagos Small Ship Cruise
The 8 days/7 nights itinerary onboard M/Y Aqua has been carefully designed for travellers who want to travel “deeper” into the enchanted islands. It enables close encounters with marine life in the most spectacular diving sites of the Galapagos Islands.
Highlights
• Dive into a magical world of pure uniqueness!
• Witness incredible marine life, including the whale shark!
• Swim with tropical fish, marine iguanas and even friendly sharks.
• Visit the best diving sites in the Galapagos, including Darwin’s Arch, Cousin’s Rock and more!
AM: Arrival at Baltra airport
Upon arrival, you will have to pay your Galapagos National Park entrance fee and your luggage will be inspected to make sure no foreign substances are introduced.
PM: Baltra Northeast (Checkout dive)
Your first stop will be in Baltra North East, where you will disembark close to the yacht in order to try on your diving suit. Make sure you get comfortable; you’ll be using this equipment during your entire diving journey!
AM: Cape Marshall
This area on the northeast side of Isabela island offers a few great dive spots.. One of them is Ciudad de las Mantas, named for how common it is to see giant mantas. The plankton-rich waters of this area are an attraction for many species of rays, sharks, sea lions, turtles, etc.
PM: City of the Mantas
The main attraction of Cape Marshall is a spot where it is so frequent to see giant mantas that it was named “City of the Mantas”. They come to feed on the plankton-rich waters, which is why visibility can be low.
Darwin and Wolf
Due to the large number of dive sites available in Darwin and Wolf as well as the marked influence that marine conditions can have on the area, the dive sites will be chosen with these factors in mind. On Friday, conditions may be suitable for night diving in one of the two available locations. The regular options include the following:
The Darwin’s Arch (Darwin)
The monumental portal is not even the real highlight, of which treasure is hidden beneath the breakers that splash against the shallow reef platform. It is an outstanding hotspot for schools of scalloped hammerhead and, particularly, whale sharks. This largest fish in the world has almost the size of a bus and let divers get up close and personal.
El Arenal (Darwin)
Sharks, turtles and jacks visit cleaning stations all around Darwin’s Arch, to be freed from parasites. They maintain an incredible symbiotic relationship with the resident barber fishes and king angelfishes. The busiest area is usually the sandy slope right in front of the portal, known as “El Arenal”.
Shark Bay (Wolf)
Shark Bay, located on the exposed east coast of Wolf, is shallower than most sites around, yet for many the most memorable. Besides being another spot where sharks galore, local cleaning stations reveal fascinating symbiotic relationships. Critically endangered hawksbill and Pacific green turtles visit busy king angelfishes.
AM: Vicente Roca Point
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!
PM: Cape Douglas
Cape Douglas is sure to provide you amazing opportunities to observe a large amount of wildlife, above and under the water! Keep an eye out for Galapagos penguins, flightless cormorants, red-lipped batfish, baleen whales, and more!
AM: Cousin’s Rock
This triangular volcanic rock formation with blue-footed boobies, brown pelicans, and Galapagos fur seals is the summit of a great underwater cone. Beautiful shelved reef terraces offer colorful algae, mollusks, sponges, sea fans, and endemic black coral surrounded by a variety of colourful fish as well as a cleaning station of white-spotted eagle rays.
PM: Highlands (Santa Cruz)
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.
Transfer to Baltra Airport
Assisted by the naturalist guide and some crew members, the dinghy will bring you and your luggage to Baltra, where we will take the airport shuttle. Your guide will accompany you to the check-in counters in the departure hall.
We expect you to return home with stunning pictures and unforgettable lifelong memories!
Itineraries are subject to change.
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Additional charges:
Galapagos National Park entrance fee & TCC: 220 USD pp
Vessel Type: Motor Yacht
Length: 26 meters
Passenger Capacity: 16
Built/Remodeled: 1998/2019
Adventurous througout
Meet M/Y Aqua! A comfortable and adventurous expedition boat and diving liveaboard! Enjoy your incredible journey in the majestic islands and relax aboard after every adventure.
Our cosy accommodation
M/Y Aqua offers nine cabins. The main deck and upper deck cabins have picture windows that can be opened. The lower deck cabins have portholes only.
They also include clean private facilities, hot and cold water, low beds, air conditioning and storage space for a comfortable stay.
Spacious social areas
M/Y Aqua has cosy social areas that will complement a comfortable and adventurous stay. Shared with a total of just 16 guests, the library, shaded outside lounge, solarium and dining areas are great choices for you to relax and enjoy the nature that surrounds you.
Greater safety on board
Here at Galapagos, we pride ourselves on our diving safety record. That is why all our staff has been trained in primary first aid and secondary care, and no expense has been spared in relevant safety departments. We have a fully stocked first aid kit on board, as well as emergency oxygen and a trauma kit.
Every effort has been made to attain high-security standards. On the bridge, we have an EPIRB, marine rescue GPS to locate our divers, long-range radio phone (for use in emergencies only), FM and SW Radio, and VHF and SSB radio. There are also fire detectors throughout the boat and a large number of fire extinguishers. All of our staff are trained by a fire control specialist in the unlikely event of an outbreak. There is also an adequate number of personal flotation devices and lifebuoys.
Diving equipment on board
2 dive tank compressors for enriched air and nitrox
12 L aluminium scuba tanks with valves, belts and weights
Full personal diving equipment available for rent (BCD, regulator, mask, fins, 7 mm wetsuit, hood, gloves, boots, dive computer, torch and GoPro underwater camera)
Diving safety equipment provided for free
Personal marine rescue GPS
Storm whistle
Diving beacon and surface marker tube
Inclusions
• Voyage in selected cabin category (Twin/double)
• All meals while on board
• Drinking water, tea and coffee
• Excursions as mentioned in the itinerary
• English speaking naturalist guide
• Transfers between the airport and ship (Transfers airport - yacht - airport only inlcuded for guests who book the flights with the cruise. If you book flights independantly you will be required to make your own way to/from the airport/yacht. If you book flights independantly you will also incur a USD$35.00 per person fee for non use of flights)
• Snorkelling gear and use of kayaks where permitted
Exclusions
• Roundtrip flights from Ecuador to Galapagos Islands (Aprrox USD$550.00 per person)
• National park entrance fee and transit card (Approx USD$220.00 per person)
• Passport and visa costs where applicable
• Travel Insurance
• Wetsuit rental
• Alcoholic and soft drinks
• Gratuities
• Any items of a personal nature
Yacht
Our Associates Include
