Galapagos Diving Cruise - AQUA M/Y

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

Dinner and night onboard the Aqua M/Y.

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.

Dinner and night onboard the Aqua M/Y.

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.

Dinner and night onboard the Aqua M/Y.

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.

Dinner and night onboard the Aqua M/Y.

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.

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.

Dinner and night onboard the Aqua M/Y.

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.

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.

Dinner and night onboard the Aqua M/Y.

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.