Exclusive Diving Trip on the Galapagos Sky Liveaboard
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Discover the Galapagos in Luxury
Experience the beauty of the Galapagos Islands in ultimate luxury aboard the Galapagos Sky. Nothing is to much during this exclusive diving trip! Dive at famous sites such as Wolf and Darwin, enjoy three planned landtours and experience a unique dive with marine iguanas.
Spectacular dives
The Galapagos Sky’s carefully mapped itinerary include the most iconic dive sites, including extensive stops at Darwin and Wolf. Here you will dive among hammerhead sharks and in the right season, whale sharks. In addition, Cabo Douglas offers the chance to dive with marine iguanas and Punta Vicente Roca is a hot spot where the rare Mola Molas can often be seen.
Luxury on Board
The Galapagos Sky, a 100ft (33m) luxury liveaboard can accommodate 16 divers and is specially designed for diving on the Galapagos. Since its launch in 2001, the “Sky” has provided thousands of divers with extraordinary moments. Enjoy luxurious accommodations, exquisite food, and extra amenities, supported by the best and most qualified crew in the Galapagos. The crew makes sure your trip on board is perfect.
Best travel time for diving in the Galapagos Islands
January to May is the “warm” season on the Galapagos, characterized by calm oceans and favorable diving conditions, ideal for beginners and diving with manta rays. Water temperatures range from 24-28°C, with daily air temperatures of 25-28°C and variable weather. During this period, water productivity is low, making large animals such as whale sharks less common. Hammerhead sharks do tend to still be there in large numbers.
June to November is the “cold” season, influenced by the Humboldt Current, with colder waters (19-23°C) and more marine megafauna, such as whale sharks and hammerhead sharks. Daily air temperatures range from 21-24°C, with often gray skies and fog.
This trip requires an Advanced Open Water certification with a minimum of 60 dives. A Nitrox certification is strongly recommended to cover all dives at Darwin and Wolf.
Average Temperatures
Wetsuit advice for diving Galapagos Islands
We recommend a 7mm wetsuit + gloves + cap.
What will you experience on this diving holiday?
View itinerary here
Day 1 & 2 | The journey to Ecuador
Today your adventure begins with a flight from Europe to Quito or Guayaquil. Several efficient routes are available, often with a short transfer. At EWDR, we are happy to think with you about the best options, but you can also book your flight yourself. Total travel time is between 11 and 15 hours. Upon arrival, you will be picked up and taken to a comfortable hotel near the airport, where you can relax and recover from the long journey. This is the beginning of an unforgettable diving vacation in the Galapagos Islands. After a good night’s sleep and breakfast at the hotel, you are ready for the next part of your adventure.
Nb. The Galapagos Sky always starts its trip on Sunday, which means leaving Europe on Friday/Saturday.
Day 3 | Arrival at San Cristobal
Today you will fly from mainland Ecuador to the Galapagos Islands, to San Cristobal, arriving in the late morning. The crew of the Galapagos Sky will meet you personally, pick up your luggage and escort you to the ship, where your luggage will be taken to the dive deck. At 11 a.m., all guests must be on board for an introduction to the boat, safety briefings and drills. You will then sail to Los Lobos for your check-out dive, where you will meet playful sea lions and fur seals. So on the first day, you will already see the diverse land formations and unique underwater world of the Galapagos.
Day 4 | Bartolomé & Cousin's Rock
Today you will start with a dive at Bartolomé, followed by a land tour in the same area. The day concludes with two spectacular dives at the popular Cousins Rock dive site.
Both sites offer platforms that descend to 30 meters before emerging on a sandy bottom at 40 meters. These platforms are covered with soft black coral and are an excellent place to find Pacific seahorses. White tip reef sharks, green sea turtles, large moray eels and octopus often lurk under the overhangs. Schools of barracuda and other reef fish can also be seen here, while manta rays and hammerhead sharks often swim around the terraces.
Bartolomé also offers a wonderful land tour where guests can climb to the top of the hill for breathtaking views and, conditions permitting, snorkel with penguins.
Day 5 to 7 | Wolf & Darwin
The next three days offer up to four dives per day, on the legendary islands of Wolf and Darwin. Tuesday you will dive four times at Wolf, including a night dive. Four dives at Darwin are scheduled for Wednesday. Thursday concludes with two dives at Darwin and an afternoon dive at Wolf before returning to the central islands.
Wolf and Darwin are known as the best dive sites in the world, famous for their large schools of hammerhead sharks, Galapagos sharks, whale sharks (from May to November) and bottlenose dolphins. The dives here are unforgettable and are the highlights of the Galapagos. During the night dive at Wolf, you have the chance to spot the unusual red-lipped batfish .
Nb. In 2021, the famous Darwin’s Arch collapsed, due to natural corrosion. Since then, the place is now called Darwin’s Towers.
Day 8 | Marine Iguanas & Mola Molas
On Friday morning, your diving adventure begins at Cabo Douglas on the west side of Isabela. Here you can see penguins, marine iguanas, cormorants, sea lions, seahorses, sea turtles, and occasionally hammerhead sharks and whitetip sharks. There are also many smaller fish such as creole fish and parrot fish.
Later we move to Punta Vicente Roca for up to two dives. Punta Vicente Roca is a great place to see the famous Mola Mola or “moonfish.” This site has a long, sloping underwater wall that extends to a depth of 28 meters. The shallower areas are rich in marine life, where you also often see penguins frolicking gracefully around divers. Playful sea lions also often swim with snorkelers and divers here.
Day 9 | Isla Pinzon & Santa Cruz
We start today with a dive at the northeast tip of Isla Pinzon/Islote Dumb, where you can encounter a diversity of sharks, sea lions, manta rays, eagle rays and moray eels.
After the dive, sail on to the Itabaca Channel. Guests will be transported by bus for an approximately two-hour transfer to the Highlands of Santa Cruz, where you can see Galapagos tortoises in their natural habitat and visit Puerto Ayora. You will then be taken back to the Itabaca Channel to board the Galapagos Sky around 7:00 pm. The Sky then returns to San Cristobal, where the cruise concludes on Sunday morning.
Day 10 to 12 | Excursion San Cristobal & return home
The liveaboard
The ship and cabins
Galapagos Sky
Galapagos Sky is a 33-meter luxury liveaboard yacht designed specifically for diving in the Galapagos Islands. Launched in 2001 by Santiago Dunn, this yacht has been offering extraordinary dives in the Galapagos Archipelago to 16 passengers for nearly a decade. The ship offers luxurious cabins, excellent food, high-end amenities and is manned by the best and most qualified crew in the region.
All meals and snacks on board are included in the cruise price. The dishes, prepared by chefs trained at culinary schools, consist of locally sourced ingredients from sustainable suppliers. The menu offers a mix of Ecuadorian and international dishes, with breakfast and lunch served buffet-style and dinner served fine. 25% of the food comes from the Galapagos and almost 52% is organic, mainly from San Cristobal and Santa Cruz Island.
Galapagos Sky is equipped with advanced navigation and safety equipment such as VHF and HI-SUB radios, GMDSS, color radar, echo sounder, and Furuno GPS. There is also an EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon) on board for added safety.
The deck plan includes 8 cabins (4 Master, 4 Deluxe) with ensuite bathrooms, a maximum capacity of 16 guests and a crew of 11. The yacht features a sun deck, a lounge with two flat-screen TVs and Apple TV, a video and book library, type B electrical outlets, a camera table and charging station on the dive deck, and a booth-style dining area.
The yacht has eight cabins, divided into two categories: Master and Deluxe.
Master Cabins are located on the upper deck (cabins 1-4) and can be furnished with one king-size bed or two single beds, suitable for double occupancy. These cabins have private bathrooms and large windows. The dimensions of the Master Hut are 10 m² including bathroom.
Deluxe Cabins are located on the lower deck (cabins 5-8) and are equipped with two single beds, also suitable for double occupancy. These cabins have a porthole and a private bathroom. The dimensions of the Deluxe Cabin are 9.2 m² including bathroom.
Travel costs
What is included
This diving holiday to the Galapagos is available from €6889 per person based on two people in one room. The diving trip can be expanded as desired. A number of things are included by default in this travel package.
Prices are subject to price changes, increases or changing exchange rates. Flights are always based on the cheapest possible booking class.
Want to know more about this diving holiday to the Galapagos Islands? Get in touch with us!
Included in this diving trip, from €6889,- p.p.
- 7 nights in a deluxe cabin
- Accommodation on full board basis
- Coffee, tea, snacks & (alcoholic) drinks
- WiFi, if range
- Listed land excursions
- Dive package with approximately 17 dives
- Return transfers San Cristobal Airport
- VZR, Calamity Fund & Administration fee
Excluding
- Flight to Quito or Guayaquil
- Return flight San Cristobal
- National Park Fee
- Chamber Support Fee
- TCT Card (Tourist Tax)
- Fuel Surcharge
- Airport hotel(s) Quito/Guayaquil
- Dive insurance (mandatory)!
- +/- €1100,- p.p.
- +/- €350,- p.p.
- $200.00 p.p.
- $35.00 p.p.
- $20.00 p.p.
- $150.00 p.p.
- +/- €100,- p.p.
Optional
- Nitrox
- 15L Tank
- Diving equipment, including computer
- Tips
- $200.00 p.p.
- $60.00 p.p.
- $325.00 p.p.
Email this diving holiday
Want to save or share the details of this diving trip with someone? You can do so by sending the trip by email.
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Frequently asked questions about diving on the Galapagos Sky
General dive information
Boat dives. There is regular current, then you make drift dives or current dives with a reef hook.
You can make up to 4 dives per day.
Weather conditions permitting, you will make a night dive on Day 5.
Diving equipment
INT, if you dive with DIN it is wise to bring an adapter.
Yes, these cost $60 per trip
Yes, this will cost $200.
Galapagos Sky said the following:
We highly recommend that divers bring their own gear. Advanced diving conditions
that are common in Galapagos truly call for divers to be in their own, known and
proper fitting gear. Please know in advance that sizes and selection are extremely
limited. Divers should bring their own dive computer(s), 1-2mm gloves and their own
hooded vest and layering garments for added thermal protection.
Full Gear Rental Package – $250 for full set (BCD, Reg-set, & wetsuit, mask,
snorkel, and fins). Excludes computer.
BCD – $80 per charter
Reg & Gauge Set – $80 per charter
Computer – $75 per charter
7mm Wetsuit – $45 per charter
Fins/Booties – $25 per charter
Mask & Snorkel – $25 per charter
100 cubic foot/15 Liter tank upgrade – $60 per charter
Liveaboard
Yes, but there may not be coverage everywhere.
Guests traveling alone can share a Deluxe cabin with another guest of the same gender or book a cabin for themselves for an additional charge.
- The supplement for a Deluxe cabin for single occupancy is 65%.
- The supplement for a Master cabin for single use is 85% from November to June and 100% from July to October.
- Master cabins cannot be booked as shared cabins if Deluxe space is still available. If a Master cabin is still available 2 weeks before departure, the option to upgrade will be given.
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