Press Release:
Galapagos live-aboard Nortada to start operations on Feb 20.
Galapagos Islands.- Febrary 10, 2015
Starting February 20, Galapagos liveaboard vessel, Nortada (www.galapagosnortada.com), is set to start operating regular liveaboard departures in the Galapagos Islands. Nortadas operations permit from the Galapagos National Park was issued on Feb 9th. The permit is valid for a duration of 15 years, renewed annually. The liveaboard vessel will have regular 7 and 14 night departures with itineraries to Wolf and Darwin for 8 guests.
Dive operations are run by Tip Top Diving (www.tiptopdiving.com), a premiere PADI Dive & Training Facility in the Galapagos Islands. According to Jorge A. Mahauad, owner of Tip Top Diving, the small group setting of Nortada creates a very special environment for our customers. In addition to the benefits of running private charters in a very familiar environment, Nortada offers unique benefits such as full rebreather and technical diving support and photo video or other interest- oriented departures.
Also, according to Mahauad, Nortada will operate with two dive masters in all full departures, diving off two tenders with 4 guests each, a feature that will make diving much safer, more enjoyable and tailored to the customers needs. All other Galapagos liveaboard vessels operate with one divemaster per eight divers, we will have one divemaster for every four, he said.
This divemaster-to-diver ratio is an industry first. In addition, Nortada carries five crew members onboard (excluding the divemasters) a ratio that matches that of luxury liveaboards worldwide. However, the objective is not to provide a luxury option, but rather to maximize diving, dive safety and the ability to provide interest (or need) tailored Galapagos diving liveaboard experiences.
Nortada will be running charters and regular guaranteed FIT departures all year round. Dive itineraries visit the world famous Wolf and Darwin Islands. These islands are the crown jewels of the Galapagos where you consistently see hundreds of schooling hammerhead sharks cruising overhead while Galapagos sharks wander very close, and suddenly, out of the blue appears a bus-sized whale shark.
Nortada also visits Cape Marshall, Manta Ray City and Puerto Coca, sites that allow encounters with giant manta rays and other pelagic species. Dives at Roca Redonda, Cousins Rock, Pinzon and Punta Carrion offer a different environment in which the diver can play with sea lions, observe the elusive red lipped batfish, schools of eagle rays, etc.
In addition to the dive itinerary, there are also land visits to Bartolome Island, Seymour or Plazas Islands and the Charles Darwin Research station. These are prime land visit spots. In selected 15 day departures, Nortada also offers dives at Cape Douglas, Punta Vicente Rocafuerte and Marchena Island.
For more information on availability, FIT departures, travel agent fam trips, media trips and charters contact Nortada via email
or visit the websites.
Galapagos live-aboard Nortada to start operations on Feb 20.
Galapagos Islands.- Febrary 10, 2015
Starting February 20, Galapagos liveaboard vessel, Nortada (www.galapagosnortada.com), is set to start operating regular liveaboard departures in the Galapagos Islands. Nortadas operations permit from the Galapagos National Park was issued on Feb 9th. The permit is valid for a duration of 15 years, renewed annually. The liveaboard vessel will have regular 7 and 14 night departures with itineraries to Wolf and Darwin for 8 guests.
Dive operations are run by Tip Top Diving (www.tiptopdiving.com), a premiere PADI Dive & Training Facility in the Galapagos Islands. According to Jorge A. Mahauad, owner of Tip Top Diving, the small group setting of Nortada creates a very special environment for our customers. In addition to the benefits of running private charters in a very familiar environment, Nortada offers unique benefits such as full rebreather and technical diving support and photo video or other interest- oriented departures.
Also, according to Mahauad, Nortada will operate with two dive masters in all full departures, diving off two tenders with 4 guests each, a feature that will make diving much safer, more enjoyable and tailored to the customers needs. All other Galapagos liveaboard vessels operate with one divemaster per eight divers, we will have one divemaster for every four, he said.
This divemaster-to-diver ratio is an industry first. In addition, Nortada carries five crew members onboard (excluding the divemasters) a ratio that matches that of luxury liveaboards worldwide. However, the objective is not to provide a luxury option, but rather to maximize diving, dive safety and the ability to provide interest (or need) tailored Galapagos diving liveaboard experiences.
Nortada will be running charters and regular guaranteed FIT departures all year round. Dive itineraries visit the world famous Wolf and Darwin Islands. These islands are the crown jewels of the Galapagos where you consistently see hundreds of schooling hammerhead sharks cruising overhead while Galapagos sharks wander very close, and suddenly, out of the blue appears a bus-sized whale shark.
Nortada also visits Cape Marshall, Manta Ray City and Puerto Coca, sites that allow encounters with giant manta rays and other pelagic species. Dives at Roca Redonda, Cousins Rock, Pinzon and Punta Carrion offer a different environment in which the diver can play with sea lions, observe the elusive red lipped batfish, schools of eagle rays, etc.
In addition to the dive itinerary, there are also land visits to Bartolome Island, Seymour or Plazas Islands and the Charles Darwin Research station. These are prime land visit spots. In selected 15 day departures, Nortada also offers dives at Cape Douglas, Punta Vicente Rocafuerte and Marchena Island.
For more information on availability, FIT departures, travel agent fam trips, media trips and charters contact Nortada via email
or visit the websites.
