Accommodation
Each yacht has ten double outside-facing cabins with a window or porthole view, one double bed or two twin lower beds. Cabins are fully air conditioned with private bath, hair dryer, closet, drawers, intercom and climate control.
Transport
Transportation from Island to Island by motor-yacht cruising at 12 knots. You’ll venture ashore in rubber inflatable dinghies (Zodiacs) locally called pangas in small groups of ten lead by one of our experienced English-speaking guides.
Meals
Three meals a day including breakfast and lunch buffet and choice of two entrees at dinner, all non-alcoholic beverages are included as well as after excursion snacks and a welcome and farewell cocktail party.
Staff
Crew of 11 including your Captain, two naturalists guides, and eight dedicated crew members including your waiter/cook, barman, cabin steward, engineer, electrician, panga drivers and sailors will attend your every need.
Age Restriction
Children under 7 years of age are not accepted unless the parents or legal guardians sign a hold harmless release.
We allow only one child discount to be given per every adult fare paid. And, Ecoventura may limit the number of child discounts permitted on any one departure. Children under 18 years must be accompanied by an adult. Children under 12 are not confirmed to Booby deck cabins. When children are accommodated in a triple cabin, the discount is calculated from the double iguana deck rate.
Optional Activities
Snorkeling and kayaking: Passengers can select from new snorkeling equipment (masks, fins and snorkels) in a variety of sizes and a large assortment of custom made full 3mm wet suits. There are two new clear bottom tandem kayaks on board each yacht.
What To Bring
Dress is casual and comfortable, and informality is basic to all activities. We recommend you pack in a collapsible, soft-sided suitcase. Checked bags should be securely locked for your security.
Although provided, you may want to bring your own snorkeling equipment or wet suits (from July to November). Beach towels and hair dryers are provided and therefore it is not necessary that you bring these items.
Group Size
Maximum 20
Other Information
DIVING INFORMATION:
Although not required, we suggest all divers have sufficient experience with at least 20 logged dives or advanced dive certification due to strong currents, cold water, thermo-clines and large marine life. All divers will need to fill out, sign and return an experience form as required by the local dive shop. This form will also request your approximate size in order to have the dive equipment ready for you. In order to participate in all diving activities in Galapagos, all divers must be open water certified and should be an experienced diver with adequate skills. Galapagos is not suitable for beginner or infrequent divers due to strong currents, sea swells, surges, cool waters, up-wellings, poor visibility (at times), and large animals including the harmless Galapagos shark. Divers must have excellent buoyancy control and be totally self-sufficient to handle all gear. Note: All dives are dependant upon weather conditions and the skill level of the divers. Local Dive Operator: Galapagos Sub-Aqua is the oldest dive center in the Galapagos Islands. The dive center is located in Pto. Ayora on Santa Cruz Island, and it opened for business in 1991 by Fernando Zambrano, founder of the company and currently its Executive Director, a professional instructor who has been diving since 1979. He is also an oceanographer, certified commercial diver and naturalist park guide. Today Sub-Aqua is the largest and most prestigious dive center in the Galapagos Islands and consists of an international team of professional dive masters and instructors who follow very high safety standards. They are also certified as PADI Resort under the number 17365 since 2001.
Galapagos Dive sites
The Galapagos is well known for its large schools of hammerhead sharks. Besides the hammerheads, we also find Galapagos, white-tipped, reef, silky and whale sharks in addition to spotted eagle rays, cow nose rays, mantas, sea lions, sea turtles, penguins, marine iguanas and thick schools of tropical fish. Here is a sample of some the dive sites you may visit. The final sites will be determined by Sub-Aqua on the day of the service, taking into consideration the experience level of diver and weather conditions including currents. Most dives are drift dives along the cliff faces of off-shore rocks and pinnacles. Academy Bay, This area is great for introductory diving, beginner and intermediate divers and is not far from the dive shop so divers have time to visit the Darwin Station and the town of Puerto Ayora. The Academy Bay area is easier diving with very little current. Some of the sites at Academy Bay include Punta Estrada (sea turtle canyon), Caamano Islet (plenty of sea lions), Punta Nunez Cliffs (wall diving with a cave) and El Bajo Solmar (a submerged shoal). It is up to the dive shop to select the dive sites according to the divers skills and the conditions of the day. Cousins Rock, is an intermediate dive, experience pelagic fish including white- tipped, hammerhead sharks, manta rays and eagle rays, an outstanding vertical wall showcases a profusion of black corals, sponges, reef fish and other invertebrates. Visibility varies. Maximum depth is 70 feet. North Seymour, our first dive may reveal sea lions, reef fish, hammerhead sharks, giant manta rays, white- tipped reef sharks, and invertebrates. Occasionally, whale sharks, humpback whales or dolphins swim in this area. The second dive carries you to either Mosquera or Punta Carrion depending on the divers interests. In these water, if you are lucky, you may find the endemic fur sea lion. Daphne Minor, an intermediate dive, we find white-tipped and hammerhead sharks, sea turtles, eagle rays, morays, black coral, tuna, schools of reef fish, lobsters, sponges and a volcanic cave. The current varies; maximum depth is 90 feet. Gordon Rocks, an advanced dive, is famous for white-tipped, hammerhead the Galapagos shark, large moray eels, spotted eagle rays, golden rays, sting rays, fur sea lions, sea turtles, Amberjacks, reef fish, sponges and black coral. Dive with wahoo, tuna, sailfish and other big pelagic fish. Divers consider the wall at Gordon Rocks one of the best dive sites in the Central Islands. The current is strong and the maximum depth is 100 feet. Marine Reserve and Park Regulations The following rules have been established in order to preserve the Islands marine ecosystems. One should respect the marine environment and do not engage in any activities that might damage it. Control your movements while diving. Practice neutral buoyancy control during all dives. Catching or collecting marine life is strictly forbidden with few exceptions. Spear fishing is also forbidden. Any artifacts found on the bottom may not be removed. Equipment provided: Divers are required to bring their own mask, snorkel and open water diving certification. The dive shop will supply you with filled tanks, weights and weight belt, a wet suit 5-7mm, hood, fins and boots, regulator and guages (depth and pressure) and buoyancy compensator vest. You may want to bring an underwater camera, computer, video camera and gloves. Divers are required to sign an indemnity form stating that the operator of the dive boat is not responsible for any failure in the equipment which the divers use. Galapagos dive guides: We will supply an expert dive Instructors and/or dive master. The guide is a qualified diver with essential knowledge of specific diving locations with their respective interest and dangers. Water temperature: From November to June, the water temperature averages 75 degrees ferenheit with February to April the warmest time. Water temperature from July to October averages 70 degrees ferenheit and can fall below 70 degrees in August and September. Water Currents: There are several major currents that influence the water temperatures throughout the archipelago. It is a general rule that the northern islands (Wolf, Darwin, Marchena, Genovesa and Pinta) are the warmest. The central islands are cooler but highly variable, depending on localized upwelling (Santa Cruz, Santiago, Floreana, Espanola, Pinzon and Santa Fe). The coolest part is located on the western side (Isabela and Fernandina). Some currents run parallel to the coast and are greatly influenced by tidal change. They are also localized down currents and upwelling. Even though divers may be experienced, it is a good idea to take the advice of the Divemaster. Insurance and safety: There is no insurance included in the programs and we highly recommend all divers to have their DAN (Divers Alert Network) insurance before going to the Galapagos (cost per year for Standard Insurance US$ 69 and for Master Insurance US$ 79 including the annual membership). For more information visit the Divers Alert Network website. Hyperbaric chamber fee: Located in Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz, a hyperbaric chamber has the most recent technology and trained professional medics to treat dive related illness. Note: Sub-Aqua is the operator and responsible party of the diving programs available to passengers on the Eric, Flamingo or Letty. Ecoventura, S.A. and its affiliates act only as a coordinator in the organization of the services.
Operator Remarks
Ecoventura reserves the right at its sole option and discretion and that of the Captain of the vessel without liability for damages or refund of any kind to deviate from the vessel's advertised or ordinary itinerary providing substitutions. Ecoventura will not be held responsible for any refunds whatsoever for changes to the printed or scheduled itinerary
On a 7 night / 8 day itinerary, passengers are scheduled to visit twelve visitor sites. The first and last day of the cruise are transportation days and there is no guarantee of a land visit or shore excursion. Visits scheduled for the first and last day may often change due to airline schedule changes or delays.
Ecoventura is a family-owned company based in Guayaquil, Ecuador with sales offices in Quito and Miami. Since 1990, Ecoventura transports 3000 passengers every year aboard a fleet of four expedition vessels. The company has set the standard for high environmental policies through conservation efforts including SmartVoyager, Carbon offsetting and setting up a fund with WWF called the Global Marine Biodiversity Fund, Ecoventura’s goal is to safeguard the environment by offering environmentally friendly cruises that minimize the environmental impact of its operations.
