Will Rogers
Contributor
Ah the fun of commencing planning a new trip.
We are looking at visiting Ecuador and the Galapagos next summer with two teens who will be 14 & 16.
My wife and I have dived all over the world - but not the Galapagos. Strong currents are not an issue, though the colder water might be. Brrr.
But our children were just certified last summer and have together barely 10 dives. They are absolute beginners having played around in a Bahamian bathtub. Keen, but not likely ready for a liveaboard. May not even be welcome or fair to others.
So, how to craft such a trip.
1) Timing. It sounds as if June - August is not such a bad time to go. That is really our window with kids in school. July might be better from a diving standpoint. Any other timing considerations?
2) Liveaboard. Darwin and Wolf look to be the places to try and get to, but only by dive liveaboard. And this is where the hammerheads most reliably school and in the greatest numbers. True? These islands are some distance away, so visited only on week long cruises?
3) Other options. Naturalist cruises? Land based destinations? I have much research to do, but any suggestions to get me going?
4) Amount of time. We could like take three weeks, but would want to explore mainland Ecuador (about which I know very little) and possible the Amazon. Doable?
Many thanks. I thought I would start my search with my fellow divers on the Scuba Board!
Will
We are looking at visiting Ecuador and the Galapagos next summer with two teens who will be 14 & 16.
My wife and I have dived all over the world - but not the Galapagos. Strong currents are not an issue, though the colder water might be. Brrr.
But our children were just certified last summer and have together barely 10 dives. They are absolute beginners having played around in a Bahamian bathtub. Keen, but not likely ready for a liveaboard. May not even be welcome or fair to others.
So, how to craft such a trip.
1) Timing. It sounds as if June - August is not such a bad time to go. That is really our window with kids in school. July might be better from a diving standpoint. Any other timing considerations?
2) Liveaboard. Darwin and Wolf look to be the places to try and get to, but only by dive liveaboard. And this is where the hammerheads most reliably school and in the greatest numbers. True? These islands are some distance away, so visited only on week long cruises?
3) Other options. Naturalist cruises? Land based destinations? I have much research to do, but any suggestions to get me going?
4) Amount of time. We could like take three weeks, but would want to explore mainland Ecuador (about which I know very little) and possible the Amazon. Doable?
Many thanks. I thought I would start my search with my fellow divers on the Scuba Board!
Will