Galapagos

Galapagos Diving Cruise - AQUA M/Y

8 days | 7 nights
Shared tour
From On request per person
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Cruise Description

This 8-day Diving Galapagos Islands Cruise aboard the Aqua Yacht reaches some of the region's most remote and pristine islands.

First constructed in 1998 but completely remodeled in 2019, this mid-range vessel is specially designed for scuba diving and beckons those in search of thrilling underwater adventures. The Aqua Yacht boasts nine cozy cabins that comfortably accommodate 16 guests and eight crew members, in addition to one divemaster and one instructor guide to ensure your safety on board and below the waters.

Your journey begins at Seymour Airport on Baltra Island, where you'll meet and greet your expert guide and fellow passengers before heading to Baltra North East for your very first dive. Here, you'll plunge to a depth of 20 m to see whitetip reef sharks and rays up close.

Spend your second day on this liveaboard cruise completing three dives - one at Bartolome and two at Cousin's Rock. Dive beneath dramatic landscapes of lava fields and volcanic cones and into the echoes of the waves, gliding alongside schools of bullseye pufferfish, white tip reef sharks, and seahorses.

Dedicate the next day to exploring the vibrant underwater marine life of Wolf Island, a remote dive site some 100 miles northwest of Isabela, and witnesses spotted whale sharks and hammerheads in their natural habitat while keeping an eye out for red-footed boobies and vampire finches on land.

Revel in the serene waters of the tiny 1.1 sq km Darwin Island, an homage to English naturalist Charles Darwin, and explore the highly anticipated Darwin's Arch while diving among schools of jackfish and blacktip sharks.

Spend an additional day at Wolf Island where you'll complete three more dives, and traverse the Bolivar Channel to Vicente Roca Point to explore its placid coves that teem with Mola Mola and seahorses. Observe marine iguanas and flightless cormorants at Cape Douglas, and journey to Roca Blanca on the southeast coast of Isabela Island for its vast population of tropical fish.

Dive among pods of playful dolphins off the small island of Pinzon, and end your eight-day journey with a visit to the Highlands of Santa Cruz, where you'll observe giant tortoises in their natural habitat.

This Diving Galapagos Islands Cruise features some of the region's most highly rated dive sites, and with eight days of spectacular diving, this carefully curated itinerary allows participants to not only observe but get to know the marine wildlife with up-close encounters.

Welcoming communal areas, a shaded outdoor lounge onboard and ocean-view windows on the main and upper deck cabins coupled with intuitive service and cordial hospitality by a team of dedicated staff make this journey on the Aqua Yacht an unbeatable experience.

Destinations

Galapagos

Trip at a glance

Visits

16 DIVES: Baltra North East, Bartolome, Cousin's Rock, Wolf Island, Darwin Island, Wolf Island, Vicente Roca Point, Cape Douglas, Roca Blanca, Pinzon

SANTA CRUZ ISLAND: Highlands, Giant Tortoises Center

Trip details

Itinerary

Day 1 ARRIVAL, 1 DIVE: BALTRA NORTH EAST

Morning

Arrival
Meet and greet your naturalist guide upon arrival at Seymour Airport on Baltra Island, and be escorted onboard the Aqua at the harbor of Puerto Ayora. Before leaving the airport, you'll pass an inspection point where your Transit Control Card will be stamped. Be sure to store this with your travel documents as you'll need to show it again when you depart the Galapagos Islands. If you haven't already, you'll also pay the Galapagos National Park entrance fee of 100 USD here. Onboard the Aqua M/Y, get acquainted with your cabin while lunch is prepared.

Afternoon

Baltra North East
An ideal destination to begin your eight-day diving adventure, head to Baltra North East for its moderate currents. Beckoning adventurous divers, this site boasts unique lava and rock formations, in addition to an incredible wealth of marine species. Be greeted by colonies of sea lions before plunging to a depth of 20 m (60 ft) for the opportunity to witness whitetip reef sharks, pelagic fish, and rays. And if you're lucky, spot hammerhead sharks swimming nearby.

Evening

Enjoy dinner and your first night onboard the Aqua M/Y.

MEALS
  • Lunch onboard
  • Dinner onboard

Day 2 2 DIVES: BARTOLOME, COUSIN'S ROCK

Morning

Bartolome
Located east of Santiago Island, this tiny 1.2 sq. km island is recognized for its dramatic landscape of lava fields, volcanic cones, and lunar-like craters. Diving beneath the waves, navigate a rocky outcrop and float by surrounding underwater cliffs that disappear into the seabed for a chance to see some fascinating marine life that includes seahorses, whitetip reef sharks, and colorful schools of reef fish.

Afternoon

Cousin's Rock
Situated northeast of Santiago Island near Bartolome, Cousin's Rock is one of the Galapagos archipelago's most lauded dive sites and teems with marine wildlife both above and below the waters. Despite its relatively small size, the dive site's rugged geologic makeup of craggy shelves welcomes resting and feeding penguins, sea lions, pelicans, and blue-footed boobies. Watch as they use the rocky outcrop as a platform to plunge into the waters below. With your guide, observe the endemic black coral among the vibrant flora and fauna that carpet the rocks, and swim among schools of bullseye pufferfish, barracudas and seahorses.

Evening

Dinner and night onboard the Aqua M/Y.

MEALS
  • Breakfast onboard
  • Lunch onboard
  • Dinner onboard

Day 3 2 DIVES: WOLF ISLAND

Named in recognition of the German geologist, Theodor Wolf, Wolf Island is situated some 100 miles northwest of Isabela and is one of the Galapagos archipelago's most remote dive sites. With no visitor sites on land, Wolf Island is solely frequented by master divers for the opportunity to encounter its rich wildlife, and its cold currents make it possible to spot the spotted whale shark, hammerhead, and whitetip reef sharks. From the Aqua, keep your eyes peeled for red-footed boobies and Wolf Island's star resident of the vampire finch. Our dives today range from a selection of reefs and walls and that vary between medium and strong currents, and the use of gloves and reef hooks is advised.

Evening

Dinner and night onboard the Aqua M/Y.

MEALS
  • Breakfast onboard
  • Lunch onboard
  • Dinner onboard

Day 4 4 DIVES: DARWIN ISLAND

An incredibly tiny island of 1.1 sq km, Darwin Island boasts a 165m (490ft) tall volcano named in honor of English naturalist Charles Darwin. Among the smallest islands in the archipelago and much like Wolf Island, no land visits are permitted on Darwin Island. Complete four dives in its highly protected waters today, with two in the morning and two in the afternoon, and swoon at the sight of hammerhead and tiger sharks, as well as turtles. Don't miss Darwin's Arch, the star attraction of Darwin Island, as its medium to strong currents bring you face to face with schools of jackfish and blacktip sharks. With just research boats that service this site, diving here will feel remote. As you surface for rest, identify vampire finches, red-footed boobies and fur seals that reside on the island.

Evening

Dinner and night onboard the Aqua M/Y.

MEALS
  • Breakfast onboard
  • Lunch onboard
  • Dinner onboard

Day 5 3 DIVES: WOLF ISLAND

Return to Wolf Island in the very north of the Galapagos archipelago today and complete three more dives throughout the course of the day. With frequent sightings of silky and Galapagos sharks, passionate divers often dedicate more than a day to experience the vibrant underwater action here. Glide past an array of colorful corals where trumpetfish and angelfish reside, and if you're lucky, you'll be joined on your dives by dolphins and sea lions for an immersive experience.

Evening

Dinner and night onboard the Aqua M/Y.

MEALS
  • Breakfast onboard
  • Lunch onboard
  • Dinner onboard

Day 6 2 DIVES, VICENTE ROCA POINT, CAPE DOUGLAS

Morning

Vicente Roca Point
Cross the Bolivar Channel to Vicente Roca Point this morning, situated on the northern coast of Isabela Island. With calm waters and mild currents, this site is a favorite among divers and snorkelers. The remains of an ancient volcano formed two pristine coves, which protect against the ocean swell and bring about mild currents. Complete the wall dive this morning and spot penguins, seahorses and Mola Mola.

Afternoon

Cape Douglas
Prepare for your dive at Cape Douglas this afternoon in the company of Galapagos penguins, flightless cormorants, and marine iguanas - all of which are endemic to the island. Spot marine iguanas feeding on rocks, and swim alongside horn sharks and red-lipped batfish.

Evening

Dinner and night onboard the Aqua M/Y.

MEALS
  • Breakfast onboard
  • Lunch onboard
  • Dinner onboard

Day 7 2 DIVES: ROCA BLANCA, PINZON

Morning

Roca Blanca
Situated on the southeast coast of Isabela Island, Roca Blanca is praised for its rich biodiversity and extensive population of tropical fish. With the opportunity to see eagle rays, moray eels, and sea lions, this site is unmissable for those diving the central islands of the Galapagos.

Afternoon

Pinzon
Journey to the small island of Pinzon this afternoon, approximately one hour from Puerto Ayora off the western shores of Santa Cruz. Though it offers something for both beginner and experienced divers, the drop off is reserved for the more experienced, who are rewarded with sightings of sea horses and rays. During the warmer months, Pinzon is frequented by pods of playful dolphins and schools of manta rays.

Evening

Dinner and night onboard the Aqua M/Y.

MEALS
  • Breakfast onboard
  • Lunch onboard
  • Dinner onboard

Day 8 SANTA CRUZ HIGHLANDS, GIANT TORTOISES, DEPARTURE

Morning

Santa Cruz Highlands
Visit the Highlands of Santa Cruz this morning, your final site on this eight-day adventure. With your knowledgeable naturalist guide, embark on a hike through the lush landscape, navigating open pastures and sometimes muddy grounds to observe giant tortoises and Galapagos finches in their natural habitat, and stop meters within reach of the giant tortoises. In 2015, an estimated 32,000 tortoises lived in the wild on the Galapagos Islands, with most of them on Isabela Island.

Your visit to the Highlands concludes this eight-day Diving Galapagos Islands Cruise on the Aqua. Your guide and friendly crew members will transfer you by dinghy and shuttle to Seymour Airport on Baltra island for your onward journey.

MEALS
  • Breakfast onboard

Map

Video

Services

What's included

Accommodation

Nights
7 nights onboard Aqua M/Y

Meals

Full board plan
7 breakfasts + 7 lunches + 7 dinners

Transportation

Cruise
8 day 7 night cruise onboard Aqua M/Y

What's not included

  • Domestic Flights
  • International Flights
  • Entrance Fee to Galapagos National Park: 100 USD/Person
  • TCT Ingala Migration Card: 20 USD/Person
  • Complete set of Scuba gear (BCD, Regulator, 7mm Wetsuit, Fins, Mask, Snorkel, Boots, Hood, Gloves): 250 USD/Person
  • Nitrox fills: 150 USD/Person
  • 15L Tank upgrade (standard tanks on board 12L only): 75 USD/Person
  • DIN/Yoke Adaptor (limited availability): 25 USD/Person
  • BCD: 80 USD/Person
  • Regulator: 80 USD/Person
  • Full body Wetsuit (7mm): 64 USD/Person
  • Hood: 20 USD/Person
  • Gloves: 20 USD/Person
  • Boots: 25 USD/Person
  • Dive computer (limited availability): 80 USD/Person
  • Torch for Night Dives: 8 USD/Person/Night
  • Travel Insurance
  • Wetsuit Rental
  • Extra Meals
  • Drinks
  • Tips

Prices


Important notes

Each guest must strictly follow the Galapagos National Park Rules: 

  • Remain on marked trails at visitor sites and respect signs at all times for the protection of wildlife
  • Maintain a distance of at least six feet (two meters) from wildlife to avoid disturbing them, even if they approach you
  • Never feed wildlife, as this can cause health problems
  • Flash photography is not permitted when taking photos of wildlife
  • Professional photography and videos recorded for commercial purposes must be authorized by the Galapagos National Park Department
  • It is your responsibility not to introduce food, animals, or plants into the Archipelago. Cooperate fully with all environmental inspection and quarantine officials during your visit.
  • Do not take or buy any products or souvenirs made from banned substances, including black coral, shells, lava rock, animal parts, or any native wood or vegetation prior to leaving Galapagos. This is illegal and must be reported
  • Practice “leave-no-trace” principles in order to maintain the beauty of the environment
  • Pack out all trash and dispose of or recycle it in the populated areas or on your tour boat
  • Smoking and/or campfires are strictly prohibited within the Galapagos National Park
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