Galapagos Sky

Dive in Galapagos Islands

The 15 main islands (and numerous smaller ones) which make up the Galapagos archipelago lie 605 miles west of mainland Ecuador, the islands’ home country. These islands straddle the Equator with Wolf and Darwin islands at the northern most tip.

Cabin Descriptions:

Luxury staterooms aboard this Galapagos Liveaboard include en-suite bath facilities, hair dryers, individual air-conditioning controls and plush terry cloth robes and bath toiletries including: bio-degradable shampoo, conditioner and soap for your convenience while aboard. The Galapagos Sky offers eight private cabins. Rooms are made up daily, with turn down service in the evening including a sweet treat left on your pillow. There are two cabin categories:

Master Cabins: located on the upper deck with picture windows. Optional King or Twin bed set up.

Deluxe Cabins: located on the lower deck include port-light views with 2 fixed twin beds.

The elegant MV Galapagos Sky is fully air-conditioned and features a spacious lounge area and fine dining area. Two dive masters and up to four dives a day ensure that your voyage will have ample underwater time to discover the magic of Galapagos diving. Diving in Galapagos can be considered ADVANCED diving as it occurs in the presence of strong currents. Diving from tenders/pangas (small inflatable boats) is also the rule and not an exception in this World Renowned destination.

Best Time to Dive

The Galapagos Sky offers liveaboard cruising all twelve months of the year – since 2001 – and visits the unbelievable islands of Wolf and Darwin on every trip. There are two “seasons” for Galapagos diving:

Manta season – December to May Manta Season is the “warm season” in the Galapagos Islands. Air temps go up a few degrees from Whale Shark Season, but shifting oceanic currents bring warmer water to the Galapagos, particularly to the northernmost Wolf and Darwin Islands. Expect anything from 70 to 82 degree water during this season. The Hammerhead action is fantastic but during the warm season divers see a tremendous increase in manta and ray activity. It’s possible to see giant mantas, large (200 plus) schools of mobula rays, spotted eagle rays, golden rays, cow-nosed rays, and marble rays. In general, seas are calmer topside in the Manta Season (less wind) but the underwater currents (responsible in a large part for the diversity and abundance of Galapagos marine life) will be present! Expect a brief rain shower in the central islands – but typically Wolf and Darwin are dry and warm.

Whale shark season – June to November The whale sharks are up to 35 feet in length, these giant fish (the largest in the sea) may be seen at any time of the year in Galapagos – but with startling regularity during these 7 months. Water temperature is 60 – 75 F, 15 -24 C, so 5 – 7mm wetsuits are advised. During these months, the prevailing trade winds blow around 10– 15 mph at different times during the day. Multiple whale shark encounters on multiple days are not uncommon.

Dive Itinerary

Every dive trip will visit Wolf and Darwin Islands – the diving there is arguably the best in the world! The Galapagos Sky itinerary has two days with long overnight navigations in order to get to these crown jewels of world class diving. While diving the “central islands” on your Galapagos Sky cruise divers will experience the diversity of Galapagos diving. Besides the resident mantas, sharks, and whale sharks, this is also the time to photograph little Galapagos invertebrates in vibrant colour as well as keep an eye out for mola molas. The 2012 itinerary also introduces a new dive area to the central islands, Roca Blanca. During the time in the central islands, the divers will also walk in the steps of Charles Darwin, with 1 guided land excursion on the island of Santa Cruz. Guests will visit the Highlands in search of the Galapagos Tortoises in their natural habitat and also explore the lava tubes while later in the day guests will finish this excursion with a visit to the Charles Darwin Research Center . The second land experience enjoyed will occur on Sunday morning at the Interpretation centre in San Cristobal before the return flight to mainland Ecuador. As on any liveaboard or diving adventure – Itineraries may be changed due to current or pending weather conditions or at the

Captain’s discretion for divers safety. Itineraries can also be changed at the discretion of the Galapagos National Park who administer cruise itineraries.