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Sunrise in the Galapagos

Diving Cruise

Baltra-Santa Cruz - Example 8 Day Cruise aboard Galaxy Diver
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Experience world-class Galapagos diving surrounded by sharks, whales, manta rays, rays, turtles, penguins, iguanas, sea lions, and more on this 8-day diving cruise. Galaxy Diver takes you to the most stunning dive sites in the Galapagos Islands with a team of expert guides and cutting-edge dive equipment. Explore El Derrumbe, La Banana, Shark Bay, Darwin Island, Douglas Cape, Marshall Cape, Cousin Rock, and Bartolome, among others. 



Galapagos wildlifeSea lion pup, Isabella IslandPinnacle RockBartolome at sunsetPinnacle RockA waved albatross coupleGalapagos iguana swimming on a wildlife tour of the GalapagosSunrise in the Galapagos
Highlights
  • Explore El Derrumbe, one of the most famous dive sites in the Galapagos
  • Discover the north islet known by locals as La Banana, a dive site only for advanced divers
  • Dive among Hammerheads and Galapagos sharks in Shark Bay
  • See the impressive stone arch formation, known as Darwin's Pillars
Activity Level: Relaxed
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Full Itinerary

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Day 1: Baltra Airport | Embark | Baltra Northeast

  • Ship
  • 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Travelers are landing from mainland Ecuador. “Welcome to the Galapagos Islands”, arrival at Baltra airport where you will meet your dive guides at designated area. Escorted transfer from airport to the Galaxy Diver. They’ll show your accommodations and the Dive master will hold a short briefing on all safety and emergency protocols.

The first dive in the Galapagos Islands is the moment to test the equipment to allow divers to maintain adequate buoyancy to take care of the bottom and marine life, in addition to checking that the diving equipment works properly. While exploring the site you can enjoy schools of reef fish, skate rays, eagle rays, moray eels, turtles, garden eels, white tip sharks.
Immersions: 1 (Check out Dive)

Day 2: El Derrumbe | La Ventana Islet | La Banana | Shark Bay

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
The Landslide Dive Site in Wolf Island is only accessible from a liveaboard. It is locally known as El Derrumbe and is one of the most famous dive sites in the archipelago. This day you will have one of the most interesting and remote visits. It was named like that, as it was visited by Theodor Wolf, the German geologist who spent considerable years mapping and studying the geology of Galapagos. Wolf Island has a very large colony of seabirds (Nazca boobies, red-footed boobies, frigate birds, swallow-tailed gulls) and under its waters a great variety of reef fish, green turtles, hawksbill turtles, jacks, Galapagos sharks, silky sharks, school of hammerhead sharks, eagle rays, bottle-nosed dolphins, sea lions. From July to November is the whale shark season where you can enjoy sightings of these giant creatures. 

El Derrumbe is particularly well known to see Hammerheads and Galapagos Sharks. Whale sharks have also been encountered here, as well as a huge range of fish, rays, turtles, marine mammals and many more iconic Galápagos creatures.
Immersions: 2 
Difficulty: Moderate
Panga ride and Diving

The north Islet known by locals as La Banana is a wall dive like caverns, tunnels and a pinnacle. There is always moderate to heavy current here and visibility is often limited. Some very impressive and large animals such as whale sharks, hammerheads and dolphins are spotted here. Shark Bay at Wolf Island is an underwater visitor point well known as being among the best dive sites in Galapagos to see Hammerheads and Galapagos Sharks. The giants of the sea “Whale sharks” have also been encountered here, as well as a huge range of fish, Galapagos rays, turtles, marine mammals and many more iconic Galápagos creatures.
Immersions: 2
Difficulty: Moderate
Panga ride and Diving

Day 3: El Arenal | The Darwin's Tower

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Darwin Island, rich on the variety of its pelagic species in the depths of the Pacific Ocean and one of the smallest islands on the archipelago, is a spectacular area for diving as it is considered as one of the Seven Underwater Wonders of the World. It is located close to Wolf. El Arenal is considered one of the best diving points in the entire world, sloping off Darwin’s Arch. The currents are moderate to strong and depth ranges from 46 to 121 ft, with visibility from 40 to 80 ft. There is an amazing array of marine wildlife you can encounter, like dolphins commonly sighted feeding on schools of fish, hammerhead sharks, whale sharks, rays, Galapagos sharks and even tiger sharks and killer whales. It offers a unique experience, not just from the impressive marine life, but the geological formations as well.
Immersions: 2
Difficulty: Moderate
Panga ride and Diving

On May 17th, 2022 the famous Darwin's Arch crumbled at the top of its structure, leaving a "pillar" shape, but this new shape has not affected its marine life. Like Wolf, Darwin has a large colony of seabirds (red-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, frigate birds) and is also a hot spot for the giant whale sharks that visit the Galapagos Islands every year from July to November. What is unique about the whale shark populations is that 99% of the sightings are apparently pregnant females. The abundance of marine life surrounding the famous Darwin's Arch is unique, a great variety of reef fish, hammerhead sharks in cleaning stations, Galapagos sharks, silky sharks, hawksbill turtles, green turtles, moray eels, lobsters, jacks, bottlenose dolphins.
Immersions: 2
Difficulty: Moderate to Advanced
Panga ride and Diving

Day 4: Shark Bay | La Ventana Islet | El Derrumbe | La Banana

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Shark Bay at Wolf Island is an underwater visitor point well known as being among the best dive sites in Galapagos to see Hammerheads and Galapagos Sharks. The giants of the sea “Whale sharks” have also been encountered here, as well as a huge range of fish, Galapagos rays, turtles, marine mammals and many more iconic Galápagos creatures.
Immersions: 2
Difficulty: Moderate to Advanced
Panga ride and Diving

El Derrumbe is particularly well known to see Hammerheads and Galapagos Sharks. Whale sharks have also been encountered here, as well as a huge range of fish, rays, turtles, marine mammals and many more iconic Galápagos creatures. The north Islet known by locals as La Banana is a wall dive like caverns, tunnels and a pinnacle. There is always moderate to heavy current here and visibility is often limited. Some very impressive and large animals such as whale sharks, hammerheads and dolphins are spotted here.
Immersions: 2
Difficulty: Moderate to Advanced
Panga ride and Diving

Day 5: Douglas Cape | Vicente Roca Point

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
You dive Douglas Cape in the morning to observe the gracious marine iguanas feeding on algae, underwater. First, you can observe them catching sun to warm them up and later they will go into the sea to feed themselves for around 20 minutes, they return to the shores and warm up again. It will be different to see them lying on the beach, but their appearance is different, even elegant in the water. A dive with unique species in the world such as red-lipped batfish, fur seals, and the famous Galapagos marine iguana, also you can have encounters with the Galapagos penguin and flightless cormorants that are usually hunting.
Immersions: 1
Difficulty: Moderate
Snorkeling, Panga ride, and Diving

Vicente Roca Point, is on the northwest coast of Isabela Island. There are few colorful dives in Galapagos and this site is one of them, the abundant concentration of corals and gorgonians make this site one of the best to enjoy with macro life such as seahorses, different species of nudibranchs, toadfish, cat shark, possible sightings of penguins and flying cormorants, green turtle, and one of the main attractions of the site is the largest bony fish in the world the Mola Alexandrini (a species of Mola Mola).
Immersions: 1
Difficulty: Moderate
Snorkeling and Diving

Day 6: Marshall Cape | City of the Mantas

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Marshall Cape, located on the Northeast side of Isabela Island, with its populations of giant mantarrays, mobulas, enormous schools of barracudas, Galapagos sharks, sea lions and the, by now, traditional host of Galapagos critters. All these species are possible to see due to the plankton-rich waters on this area. Marshall Cape has another important attraction, the flightless cormorants, which can be seen resting on the shores.
Immersions: 2
Difficulty: Moderate
Snorkeling, Panga ride, and Diving

Giant Manta Rays are highly migratory, however in this dive site there are sightings all year round, with high peaks in the season from July to November where the Humboldt current attracts more plankton which is the main diet of these species, as well as mobulas, sea turtles, skate rays, schools of reef fish, schools of barracudas.
Immersions: 1
Difficulty: Moderate
Snorkeling, Panga ride, and Diving

Day 7: Cousin Rock | Bartolome

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Another colorful place to dive in Galapagos, a beautiful wall with corals and gorgonians where you can see macro life such as seahorses, reef fish, toad fish, coral hawks, a variety of nudibranchs, you can also see a school of eagle rays, white tip sharks, mobulas, school of barracudas, sea lions.
Immersions: 2
Difficulty: Moderate
Snorkeling, Panga ride, and Diving

Bartolome is one of the most iconic places in the Galapagos and one of the few where you can see penguins without going to the remote areas of western Isabela and Fernandina. You will get great views of Pinnacle Rock, located in the northern side of the island, right next to a beautiful peach-color sand beach. The hike to the top of the island is fantastic and will offer you incredible views of lunar landscapes with scattered volcanic cones. Many islands are visible from this outlook, as well as the bay of Sullivan and the Pinnacle rock.
Snorkel: You will have the option to swim or snorkel from the beach. This area holds a well-deserved reputation of being one of the best snorkeling places in the Galapagos, not only because it’s clear and calm water, but also because of the presence of penguins, which are relatively easy to find while snorkeling, along with an incredible diversity of fish, colorful invertebrates, sea lions, turtles, rays and reef sharks.
Hiking, Snorkeling, and Panga ride

Day 8: Twin Craters | Disembark

  • 1 Breakfast
The Twin Craters or also known as “Los Gemelos”, are located on the way to the Highlands of Santa Cruz Island. You will find them on both sides of the road leading from Puerto Ayora to Baltra. In fact, they are not real craters, they were created by the collapse of surface material in underground fissures and chambers. You will have a wonderful view of the local flora, like Scalesia plants. On this site it is also possible to observe the endemic short-ear owl.
Hiking

Then, transfer to the airport to take your flight back to continental Ecuador.

Ship/Hotel

Galaxy Diver

Galaxy Diver's Matrimonial Cabin
Galaxy Diver's Dining Room
Best spot to eat- galaxy diver's dining room

Dates & Prices

My Preferred Start Date

Per person starting at
$5,850
Galaxy Diver's Matrimonial Cabin
Select a Date
Matrimonial Cabins
-Equipped with a private bathroom, hot/cold water, air conditioning, a hair dryer, a towel, internal phone, safe box, closet, and speaker. Ideal for couples and provides a well-deserved rest.
Galaxy Diver's Normal Twin Cabin
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Normal Twin Cabins
-Equipped with a private bathroom, hot/cold water, air conditioning, a hair dryer, a towel, internal phone, safe box, closet, and speaker. This cabin has 2 beds ideal for families with children, friends, or couples who like independent comfort.
Galaxy Diver's Pulldown Cabin
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Pulldown Twin Cabins
-Equipped with a private bathroom, hot/cold water, air conditioning, a hair dryer, a towel, internal phone, safe box, closet, and speaker. This type of cabin can be convertible into a triple with a pulldown bed ( subject to availability)

Child Discount

10% discount for children under 12 (between 6 to 11 years old). Child discounts are conditional and may not apply to certain departures. Please contact us for more information.

Children under 12 may receive discounts on Galapagos flight fares and entrance fees. Contact us for details.
Included
  • 7 Breakfasts, 7 Lunches, 7 Dinners
  • 7 Nights Accommodations
  • Accommodations as listed
  • Ground transportation as listed
  • Activities as listed
  • Meals as listed
  • Snorkeling equipment, wetsuits, transparent sea kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards are all included in the cruise cost and are available for your use onboard.
  • Bilingual Naturalist Guide 
  • Adventure Life Pre-departure Services and In-Country Assistance (Quito Representative)
  • Shore Excursions, Swimming and Snorkeling 
  • Transfers and Baggage Handling in the Galapagos
Excluded
  • Gratuities
  • Travel Insurance
  • Personal Expenses
  • Flight costs (please request a quote)
  • Additional excursions during free time
  • Fuel and transportation surcharges (when applicable)
  • Galapagos Park Entrance Fee: $100 per adult, $50 per child under 12
  • Internal Flights: Mainland Ecuador - Galapagos - Mainland Ecuador: $475-675

Map

When to Go

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Good to ideal period to travel, and many people choose to visit at this time.

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The trip might have been the absolute best of our lifetime (thus far). We particularly want to commend our guide Peter in the Guilin area-he was so incredibly attentive, energetic, enthusiastic-and absolutely dedicated to ensuring that our meals were 100% vegetarian.
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