It's already been more than 3 weeks, since we returned from our "Once in a Life time trip" to Galapagos.
In total we had 19 days - including travel days.
Flying KLM from AMS-GYE in business, since this was our (delayed) anniversary trip. I got a great deal (about 1500 us$ extra for the 2 of us) for the flights and being able to lie down and sleep made a great difference to us - not just in getting there, but also going home.
I've written about the land based part of our trip on TA: Here now - March/April - Galapagos Islands Forum - Tripadvisor
For the LOB here are our experience:
4/4-11/4 2023, Aqua liveaboard.
After arriving from Isabela (inter island flight), we looked for a guide from our boat, Aqua. No one was there, so we sat outside the airport in the small cafe area and bought some water and an ice cream. When the planes from Guyanquil started arriving so did the guides from Aqua.
When finally everybody was there we were guided into a bus. Guides/ staff takes care of the luggage. The drive time to the small pier with a souvenir shop was only about 5-6 minutes. We get life jackets and board the panga.
There were guests from Great Britain, US, China and a big group from Israel.
First is a briefing about the dive deck - it’s small, but has a good layout. Everyone picks a spot, all spots have numbers, so you just return to your chosen space after every dive. Under the benches with tanks/bcd etc. are cubbyholes to put stuff like masks, booties, gloves etc. In the middle of the dive deck is a table for cameras- divided into 2 for the 2 groups. Above the table are small cubbies for towels- you take the towel from the number corresponding with your spot number.
We have a nice lunch and briefing about the rules of diving in Galapagos- follow your guide, don’t touch anything, you know the drill. Our dive guides Jose and Joel have clearly done this before and are thoroughly going through the things we need to know - like when you come up after a dive, you wait for the panga, pass your camera, then your weights, followed by BCD and fins last. There’s a ladder to enter the boat - beware of your fingers- grab hold of the ladder above the henges.
As always things are a bit chaotic with people setting up gear, others trying on rental gear etc., but eventually everyone had a spot and equipment ready. We brought our own equipment - I had a new 3 mm full suit and old 7 mm with long sleeve and hood, but short legs (supposed to be used with my long john), husband 7 mm semi dry. For the diving in April is was more than enough - some dives I did in only my 3 mm. We both had kevlar type (garden) gloves that we wore for most dives, but really didn't need that much, since there was not much current. Also brought knee pads - husband brought his old plastic ones from roller skating I had some from volley ball, nice to have, but again with almost no current not really a must.
It was easy enough to board the panga from the boat and vice versa- Actually I think it’s one of the easiest transfers between boat/panga we have ever had - crew is always there to help. Fins stay on the panga the whole time, everything else you need to dive you bring. Once we return from the dive cameras go first (the crew will fix that), then divers and lastly the crew will take weights and bcd’s. Works like clockwork.
Dives are back roll entry, the first 2 with positive buoyancy, rest negative.
Night crossing to Darwin was a bit choppy, but not too bad. Getting in the panga at Darwin was a struggle.
Crossing back to Isabela from Wolf was smooth sailing.
The boat: The name of the boat is Penguino explorer. It’s well used, but maintenance has been good - everything seemed to work fine. (Except for 1 evening, when there was no water, but they fixed it pretty quickly).
As mentioned the dive deck is small, but this was never a huge problem even with both groups getting ready at the same time. Nitrox was consistently between 30-33 % and only one time did my husband have to ask them to top up his tank as he only had 180 bar, all other times we had 200-210.
The dining area is set up in small “booths” with room for 4 persons each, we all moved around and got to talk to different people.
We were in cabin 4 on the main deck. Nice size with a double bed against the wall (I had to crawl over my husband to get in/out), a bit of floor space, chair and small desk along with a cupboard with shelves and hangers. In suite bathroom with nice shower and plenty of hot water. They supply shampoo, shower gel and soap - bring conditioner if you need (recommend).
There’s a nice sun deck on the roof with sun loungers - nice at night for watching the stars. And a covered deck with a “bar”, sofa and beanbags for just chilling out.
Food: food was great! Fresh and tasty if sometimes a bit bland there was always hot sauce. Menu changed every day and included a bbq day, Mexican day etc. often with starter, main course and dessert.
Guides: as I wrote: they’ve clearly done this before. Briefings were very good with all the details you needed during the dive. They made sure we knew the schedule for the day ahead and conducted safe, fun diving. I was thinking for Darwin/Wolf we should maybe go deeper to look for the sharks, but I guess they know and since there was no current that may be the reason for no sharks around.
Staff: very, very helpful! Everyone (even the chef) is on deck for the departure and arrival of pangas. 2 staff in the panga, 2 on the boat to help you get safely into and out of the panga - it was said often: “hold the staff with both hands before you step into/out of the panga”, even with big waves they made sure everyone was safe. On return after the dive, 1 crew member was ready to unzip suits if needed.
Normal schedule for a day is:
5.45 - light breakfast
6.00 - Briefing
6.30 - dive 1
8.30 Breakfast
10.00 dive 2
11.30 lunch
13.00 dive 3
15.45 dive 4
17.30 dinner
In total we had 19 days - including travel days.
Flying KLM from AMS-GYE in business, since this was our (delayed) anniversary trip. I got a great deal (about 1500 us$ extra for the 2 of us) for the flights and being able to lie down and sleep made a great difference to us - not just in getting there, but also going home.
I've written about the land based part of our trip on TA: Here now - March/April - Galapagos Islands Forum - Tripadvisor
For the LOB here are our experience:
4/4-11/4 2023, Aqua liveaboard.
After arriving from Isabela (inter island flight), we looked for a guide from our boat, Aqua. No one was there, so we sat outside the airport in the small cafe area and bought some water and an ice cream. When the planes from Guyanquil started arriving so did the guides from Aqua.
When finally everybody was there we were guided into a bus. Guides/ staff takes care of the luggage. The drive time to the small pier with a souvenir shop was only about 5-6 minutes. We get life jackets and board the panga.
There were guests from Great Britain, US, China and a big group from Israel.
First is a briefing about the dive deck - it’s small, but has a good layout. Everyone picks a spot, all spots have numbers, so you just return to your chosen space after every dive. Under the benches with tanks/bcd etc. are cubbyholes to put stuff like masks, booties, gloves etc. In the middle of the dive deck is a table for cameras- divided into 2 for the 2 groups. Above the table are small cubbies for towels- you take the towel from the number corresponding with your spot number.
We have a nice lunch and briefing about the rules of diving in Galapagos- follow your guide, don’t touch anything, you know the drill. Our dive guides Jose and Joel have clearly done this before and are thoroughly going through the things we need to know - like when you come up after a dive, you wait for the panga, pass your camera, then your weights, followed by BCD and fins last. There’s a ladder to enter the boat - beware of your fingers- grab hold of the ladder above the henges.
As always things are a bit chaotic with people setting up gear, others trying on rental gear etc., but eventually everyone had a spot and equipment ready. We brought our own equipment - I had a new 3 mm full suit and old 7 mm with long sleeve and hood, but short legs (supposed to be used with my long john), husband 7 mm semi dry. For the diving in April is was more than enough - some dives I did in only my 3 mm. We both had kevlar type (garden) gloves that we wore for most dives, but really didn't need that much, since there was not much current. Also brought knee pads - husband brought his old plastic ones from roller skating I had some from volley ball, nice to have, but again with almost no current not really a must.
It was easy enough to board the panga from the boat and vice versa- Actually I think it’s one of the easiest transfers between boat/panga we have ever had - crew is always there to help. Fins stay on the panga the whole time, everything else you need to dive you bring. Once we return from the dive cameras go first (the crew will fix that), then divers and lastly the crew will take weights and bcd’s. Works like clockwork.
Dives are back roll entry, the first 2 with positive buoyancy, rest negative.
Night crossing to Darwin was a bit choppy, but not too bad. Getting in the panga at Darwin was a struggle.
Crossing back to Isabela from Wolf was smooth sailing.
The boat: The name of the boat is Penguino explorer. It’s well used, but maintenance has been good - everything seemed to work fine. (Except for 1 evening, when there was no water, but they fixed it pretty quickly).
As mentioned the dive deck is small, but this was never a huge problem even with both groups getting ready at the same time. Nitrox was consistently between 30-33 % and only one time did my husband have to ask them to top up his tank as he only had 180 bar, all other times we had 200-210.
The dining area is set up in small “booths” with room for 4 persons each, we all moved around and got to talk to different people.
We were in cabin 4 on the main deck. Nice size with a double bed against the wall (I had to crawl over my husband to get in/out), a bit of floor space, chair and small desk along with a cupboard with shelves and hangers. In suite bathroom with nice shower and plenty of hot water. They supply shampoo, shower gel and soap - bring conditioner if you need (recommend).
There’s a nice sun deck on the roof with sun loungers - nice at night for watching the stars. And a covered deck with a “bar”, sofa and beanbags for just chilling out.
Food: food was great! Fresh and tasty if sometimes a bit bland there was always hot sauce. Menu changed every day and included a bbq day, Mexican day etc. often with starter, main course and dessert.
Guides: as I wrote: they’ve clearly done this before. Briefings were very good with all the details you needed during the dive. They made sure we knew the schedule for the day ahead and conducted safe, fun diving. I was thinking for Darwin/Wolf we should maybe go deeper to look for the sharks, but I guess they know and since there was no current that may be the reason for no sharks around.
Staff: very, very helpful! Everyone (even the chef) is on deck for the departure and arrival of pangas. 2 staff in the panga, 2 on the boat to help you get safely into and out of the panga - it was said often: “hold the staff with both hands before you step into/out of the panga”, even with big waves they made sure everyone was safe. On return after the dive, 1 crew member was ready to unzip suits if needed.
Normal schedule for a day is:
5.45 - light breakfast
6.00 - Briefing
6.30 - dive 1
8.30 Breakfast
10.00 dive 2
11.30 lunch
13.00 dive 3
15.45 dive 4
17.30 dinner