What is included in the liveaboard scuba diving trips? Accommodations aboard the vessel, diving, dive master lectures, compressed air, tanks, weights and weight belts, land-tours, airport transfers on day of arrival and departure in Galapagos, 3 meals a day and snacks, non-alcoholic beverages are included.

Diving rental equipment ?, most of the live aboard diving yachts have personal diving rental equipment, you need to let us know what you will need , we pass on the information to the Yacht,you will need to pay in cash at the Yacht,a complete set is normally about between $300-$350, for the week, 

What does not include in the scuba diving trip ? Hotels in Quito or Guayaquil, transfers, unless is a package deal, USD $100 Galapagos National Park entry fee, needs to be paid at any of the Galapagos Airports, Cristobal or Baltra airports, .Alcoholic beverages consumed on board
Personal diving equipment, and/or personal expenses,
Decompression Chamber Fee $35.00
International Air tickets .
Gratuities for crew members and guides. ..

When should I arrive in Ecuador-mainland? You MUST arrive in Ecuador at least one day prior to the vessel's departure, preferable 2 days, in order to meet the flight schedule to Galapagos from the mainland. If you do not make this flight schedule, you will not meet the vessel's departure time. Your travel arrangements should include a one night stay-over (prior to the vessel departure) in either Guayaquil or Quito, mainland Ecuador, the flights to Galapagos from Quito or Guayaquil departs in the morning see the flights schedule and prices here. 

-Do I need a visa to visit Ecuador and passport? Some countries and U.S. citizens don,t need a visa for Ecuador and you are required to have a valid passport with at least 6 months before expiration date. Non-U.S. citizens should check with the appropriate consulate.

  How do I meet the Galapagos Yacht on my arrival to the islands? Once you arrive at any the airports , either Baltra or Cristobal, depending on the Yacht Itinerary, you will be asked to pay the National Park fees at the airport (in cash only). The yacht Guide will be there to welcome you, take care of your luggage, and drive you to the vessel, ten minutes bus ride to the Dock from the Airport.

  Can I stay in the islands after or prior my departure diving trip? Yes you can stay in any of the 2 major inhabited islands, Santa Cruz-Puerto Ayora with its nearest airport Baltra, or Cristobal island where its airport is right besides the Town and the main dock.  

What is unique diving in the Galapagos? Lots of large pelagics, particularly the schools of scalloped hammerhead sharks. White-tip reef sharks and Galapagos sharks, are also abundant, as are manta rays, eagle rays, golden rays, turtles, sea lions, fur seals, schools of tuna, jack and snapper. Whales sharks and dolphins are frequently sighted. There is also the opportunity to snorkel with penguins and marine iguanas.  

What is the water temperature? The waters of the Galapagos Islands are a unique mixture of warm and cold water, ranging between ,

bathed by the cold Humboldt Current from about June to the end of November. We recommend a 1/4" or(7mm) wet suit with hood and booties, specially for these months, or 3 mm. Dec, to June

AIRLINE TRAVEL, WEIGHT RESTRICTIONS, GENERAL INFORMATION Regularly scheduled flights to Ecuador are available on American, Delta, Continental, AeroGal, TACA, Lan Ecuador and . They depart from Miami, New York, Atlanta or Houston.
On local flights, All airline companies passengers are allowed a carryon bag with weight limit of 22 lbs. and one or two pieces of checked luggage, which is limited to 20 kg. (approx. 44 lbs) total or 35 kg. (77 lbs) if tickets are purchased through

CURRENCY, TIME, LANGUAGE The U.S. dollar is Ecuador’s standard currency. Ecuador is in the same time zone, as Eastern Standard Time in the U.S.A. Daylight Savings Time, however, is not observed. There is a sales tax of 12% on all purchases in Ecuador. Spanish is the official language of Ecuador.

INSURANCE We strongly recommend each guest purchase comprehensive accident, medical, baggage and trip cancellation and interruption insurance when space is reserved. Trip insurance will protect you from financial disappointment if you are prevented from making your scheduled trip due to illness, family illness or in the event that unforeseen circumstances prevent the airline or yacht from making its scheduled trip. In the event you cancel your trip, be familiar with Galapagos Divers cancellation policies.

FEES & TAXES (per person)The following taxes and fees are charged during your trip to Galapagos:
$100 Galapagos Park Entry fee (cash only)
$10 Galapagos Visitors Card (cash only)
12% Sales tax on all onboard services
Onboard fees and charges may be paid in cash, Travelers Checks or credit card. Government fees are subject to change without notice. Fees, taxes and fuel surcharge (when applicable) are not included in the charter rate.

INTERNET/EMAIL On most yachts, Email is available onboard through the satellite system. Check with your booking agent. Internet services depends on the yacht. There is a charge for incoming and outgoing email. Private calls may be made from the yacht by satellite phone.

FOOD The menu aboard is varied and plentiful, with a variety of American feasts, barbecues and local cuisine. If you have any special dietary requirements, please add this to your reservation through your booking agent and speak to the yacht chef once onboard so he/she can adequately prepare to meet your needs. You will wake up to fresh fruits, hot entrees, cereals and juices.
Lunches are buffet-style, featuring hot soups, homemade breads, salads and sandwiches and/or entrees. Dinners are chef prepared and served each evening and include salads, vegetables, seafood, beef or chicken with a fresh homemade dessert.

BEVERAGES All yachts selection includes fruit juices, soft drinks, iced water, iced tea, coffee, and a limited selection of local beer and wine, which are complimentary. Due to the high duty charged on liquor, we suggest you bring your favorite brand. Drinking and diving do not mix..

CLOTHING Please plan to travel light as on all live-aboard dive yachts, space is limited. We recommend that you pack your gear in soft luggage such as a duffel bag for easy stowage and to add to your comfort in your cabin. Clothing should be lightweight, comfortable sportswear and swimsuits and sunscreen are a must. A windbreaker or sweatshirt and sweatpants are ideal for evenings. Dress is always casual and informal. Additional items you may want to bring are sunglasses, insect repellent, a hat and walking shoes for your time on shore.

The Galapagos Islands have many different climates, which change with the seasons. The cooler months are June through
November, when the air temperatures range from 65?F (evening) to 85?F (day). During the warmer months from December
through June, the temperature ranges from 75?F (evening) to 100?F (day). If you need additional clothing items see our
onboard boutique..

DIVING TIPS Most of diving yachts have a trained crew, who offers the ultimate in service, to assist you,.
onboard you may pick a buddy of your choice or dive with one of the yachts crewmembers. There is ample storage space for your diving equipment in your personal locker. They provide with 80 cubic feet tanks, weight belts, and weights. Currents can range from 1 to 5 knots at the dive sites, and visibility is generally between 30 and 80 feet.Most divers are comfortable with a 7mm wetsuit June-November with a hodded vest and gloves and a minimum 5 mm wetsuit December-May,

Gloves and hoods are strongly recommended,

We suggest you pack the following: mask, fins, snorkel, regulator with visible pressure gauge, depth gauge, dive computer, buoyancy compensator, light for night diving, batteries and dive gloves. Strongly recommended: Spare mask, safety sausage, whistle, Dive Alert, mirror and/or other safety devices. Dive computers are mandatory for each guest. Each piece of gear should be marked with your name or tape.
The waters of the Galapagos Islands are a unique mixture of warm and cold water, ranging between 65°F and 85°F, with thermoclines about 65°F. We recommend you bring a 5mm-7mm wet suit with hood and gloves or a dry suit with light underwear all year round. The cruises to some of the islands can be rough and we recommend you take precautions against motion sickness.
The diving in Galapagos can be strenuous, due to its currents and surge, varying water temperatures, limited visibility, and diving from dinghies. The trip is recommended for intermediate and advanced divers.
The primary attraction in Galapagos is the large pelagics such as schooling Hammerhead sharks, Galapagos sharks, Silky Sharks, Bullhead Sharks, Reef Sharks Mola Molas and Whale sharks. Occasionally, there is sighting of Whales, Marlin,dolphins , orcas between islands, You will see a rare combination of warm and coldwater creatures including Sea Lions, Mantas, Penguins, Flightless Cormorants, Sting Rays, Eagle Rays, Turtles, Moray Eels, Sea Horses, Marine iguanas and and enormous schools of unusual fish. Many of the marine creatures are found nowhere else on earth!
The best diving around the Galapagos Islands is made possible through the use of dinghies (or inflatable’s) manned by our crewmembers. Few dives are directly from the main vessel itself. Dinghy diving is made easy for you!

The Galapagos Islands are a National Park and a Marine Reserve. Conservation laws do not permit spear fishing,  

What type of terrain are the walking trails in Galapagos? The islands are volcanic in origin and the walking trails are rocky along the shores and mountainous on the highlands, you are able to see some volcanoes still active.We give our passengers personal attention from the beginning of the tour to the end:
Our trip services begin when our passengers arrive at the international airport of their first destination. Our representative, accompanied by an informative guide, transfers them to their hotel and assists with check-in. They do the same for all other airport transfers during the trip.
A guide familiar with the destination accompanies the group on most tour segments.
Unneeded luggage is stored. We hold on to tickets (except for E-tickets obtained pre-flight) and any hotel vouchers until the day they are needed.

To ensure the safety of our travelers, our guides are linked with outside services 24 hours a day in all locations to provide assistance when necessary.
Galapagos Divers and its operators take all precautions to ensure that your adventure is safe and enjoyable, certain risks are involved while traveling. We recommend that you purchase your own short-term travel insurance. Cost effective and simple, travel insurance protects you and your equipment from any problems that might arise, such as damage or loss of baggage, health problems, cancelled or delayed trips, and other unanticipated disturbances. We encourage you for the following travel insurance as you prepare for a safe and enjoyable trip.

safety standards:

All divers must be certified as open water scuba divers by an internationally recognized certification organization.
• All divers must be experienced divers (we recommend that you have more than 100 logged dives) and have logged at least one dive within the 6 months prior to boarding the vessel. Dives are very often at an advanced level.
• Currents can be very strong and often divers are required to swim against them.
• All dives are guided by an instructor/naturalist guide and due to Galapagos National Park regulations all divers must dive with the guide at all times.
• All divers must log in and out of the water with a member of the diving staff.
• All divers must have a submersible console including SPG & depth gauge, time piece or dive computer with these functions.
• Decompression diving is not allowed under any conditions. The maximum allowed depth is 130' (110' on nitrox).
• Diving activities must cease when the consumption of alcohol begins.
• All divers must present proof of dive insurance per Galapagos National Park regulations.
• All divers must also carry a DiveAlert, a surface signaling device, and an electronic beacon while diving (all available on board).