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8 days of underwater adventure in the Galapagos: guided dives, encounters with whale sharks and other marine species

Main features
Boat type: yacht
Number of cabins: 9
Maximum capacity: 16 travelers
Crew members: 12

Cabins

Double Cabin – Lower Deck
Capacity: 2 Berths maximum
Located below the waterline, these cabins are ideal for families or small groups. There are two configurations: two cabins with a lower double bed and an upper single bed, and one cabin with bunk beds. All offer a private bathroom, air conditioning, practical storage, and biodegradable toiletries. Their low position provides a more stable feeling while sailing — perfect for those sensitive to the boat’s motion.
Double Cabin - Main Deck
Capacity: 2 Berths maximum
The main deck offers a single double cabin with a lower double bed. A notable advantage: direct access to the social areas — lounge-bar, dining area, library — as well as to the dive platform equipped with two outdoor showers. Bright and well-ventilated, it features the same amenities as the other decks (air conditioning, private bathroom, storage space).
Double Cabin - Upper Deck
Capacity: 2 Berths maximum
Above the main deck, there is one double cabin (with a lower double bed and an upper single bed) and four bunk-bedded cabins. In addition to their interior comfort, they enjoy plenty of natural light and easy access to shaded outdoor areas — lounge and small forward deck. They offer an excellent balance of brightness, a friendly atmosphere, and proximity to the shared terraces.
NB : The pictures, information, and visuals presented are not contractually binding. The itinerary and program indicated may be modified without notice due to weather conditions or for technical reasons (captain's decision). Sailing times may vary depending on sea conditions and weather.

Itinerary

Baltra
AM – Baltra Airport
Upon arrival at Seymour Ecological Airport, an inspection is carried out to... more+ ensure that no foreign plant or animal species are introduced to the islands. Your Transit Control Card (TCC) will then be stamped; keep it safe during your trip as it must be presented again for your return flight. If not prepaid, the entrance fee to the Galápagos National Park (USD 200) is due. A guide will meet you at the airport, assist with luggage, and accompany you on a short bus ride. You’ll board the yacht, meet the crew and captain, and receive your cabin assignment. Any rented diving equipment can be checked. The guide will then give a safety and activity briefing, including details of the afternoon dive. Afterwards, enjoy your first lunch on board.
PM – North East Baltra
An ideal site to begin your adventure with moderate currents. This dive site offers fascinating lava and rock formations and an impressive variety of marine life. At around 20m/60 ft depth, you may see white-tip reef sharks, pelagic sharks, reef sharks, rays, and turtles. Sea lions often accompany divers at entry and during safety stops. Sometimes, hammerhead sharks can be spotted nearby. Return on board for dinner and social time. 
Breakfast
Lunch
Diner
Baltra Marshall Cape Manta
AM – Cape Marshall (Isabela)
Cape Marshall is located on the northeastern coast of Isabela... more+ Island, just south of the equator and at the base of the active Wolf Volcano. This area offers drift diving along an almost vertical volcanic wall that plunges into the sea. It’s a prime spot for observing hammerhead, white-tip, and Galápagos sharks. Whale sharks are also occasionally seen. Large schools of black-striped salema and barracudas are common, and black coral can be spotted growing along the volcanic wall.

PM – Manta’s City
Near Cape Marshall lies a unique dive site known as "Manta’s City", named for the frequent sightings of giant manta rays. These rays feed in the plankton-rich waters, which can reduce visibility. After the dive, we begin our navigation toward Darwin due to the long distance ahead. 
Included activities: Scuba diving, more+
Breakfast
Lunch
Diner
Manta Darwin Bay
Due to the large number of dive sites available in Darwin and Wolf as well as the marked influence... more+ that marine conditions can have on the area, the 4-daily dive sites will be chosen with these factors in mind. The guide will communicate with all passengers in advance to inform them about the location, expected conditions and alternatives of each site, and learn about their interests. On Friday, the fourth day of the expedition, conditions may be suitable for night diving in one of the two available locations. The regular options include the following:

El Darwin’s Arch, Darwin
Though being one of the most recognizable eye-catching landmarks of the Galápagos, only a few travellers can truly admire the sculpture of Darwin’s Arch themselves.
The monumental portal is not even the real highlight during this cruise, as its treasure is hidden beneath the breakers that splash against the reef platform. Long-cherished diving dreams often come true at this world-class underwater theatre. It is an outstanding hotspot for schools of scalloped hammerheads and particularly, whale sharks.
This largest fish in the world has almost the size of a bus and lets divers get up close and personal. Almost all whale shark encounters happen frequently between June and November around this arch in the far north of Galápagos, where often-pregnant females make a brief stop-over during their mysterious solitary migration, with remora suckerfish as their sole fellow travellers.

Darwin’s Theatre, Darwin
Two bifurcated ridges point from the reef foundations of Darwin's Arch to the north-east and south-east. Under the splashing waves, curving terraces bend around the north branch, which is illustratively called "Darwin's Theatre".
It features a real grandstand with vantage points at about 18 m, just above the edge of a wall that drops deep. The barnacle-covered exposed rocks are the perfect seats to enjoy the aquatic spectacle of whale sharks.
Even if there aren't any whale sharks on the move, there is usually an endless parade of extraordinary marine life, including shoals of hammerhead sharks, patrolling requiem sharks, silky sharks, yellowfin tunas, wahoos, amberjacks, and pelagic fish, the latter transforming into spinning balls when hunted. 
Included activities: Galapagos sharks spotting, Encounter whale sharks between June & November, more+
Breakfast
Lunch
Diner
Darwin Bay Wolf
El Arenal, Darwin
Sharks, turtles, and mackerels visit cleaning stations around Darwin's Arch to... more+ be freed of parasites. They have an amazing symbiotic relationship with resident butterflyfish, barberfish, and angelfish. The busiest area is usually the sandy slope just in front of Darwin’s Arch, known as "El Arenal".
If the currents are not too strong, it is possible to drop into these shallows, amidst clouds of Paranthias colonus, to encounter hammerhead sharks, resting Pacific green turtles, and rare hawksbill turtles, among hundreds of garden eels and starfish.
Beyond that, sloping terraces with debris falling into a deep ravine shape the curved contours of the reef. The upper edge hides more spots to observe hammerheads. Located just 100 m from Darwin’s Theatre, this site offers new chances to swim with whale sharks or admire the diverse marine life brought by the current. Did we mention the bottlenose dolphins and giant manta rays?

Shark Bay, Wolf
Shark Bay, on the exposed eastern coast of Wolf Island, is shallower than other dive sites but for many, it is the most memorable. Besides being teeming with sharks, its cleaning stations display remarkable symbiotic behavior.
Hawksbill and endangered Pacific green turtles frequent the royal angelfish. These fish also clean painted rays and hammerheads. In shallow waters, male hammerheads get closer to divers than females do in open waters.
Their calmness contrasts sharply with curious Galápagos fur seals, who eagerly approach and love to interact.

El Derrumbe, Wolf
A descent along a rocky slope leads to natural gathering points on a cliff edge (at about 20 m deep), offering a front-row seat to one of the most impressive shark spectacles in the Galápagos.
Clinging to the rocks, you’ll witness hammerheads all around, along with Galápagos, silky reef, and blacktip sharks, spotted stingrays, barracudas, and more.
During the cold-water season (June–November), even large whales such as orcas or humpbacks may appear. 
Breakfast
Lunch
Diner
Wolf
Pinnacle and the Caves, Wolf
This area has some of the best caves in the Galapagos plus a... more+ thrilling experience at the Pinnacle and is located at the northern end of the main island.
It has four underwater caves that penetrate the island wall and are easily accessible, as long as the current is not too strong. The entrances to the caves are at depths of 15–21 m, and the ground at the bottom of the wall is sandy. Hawksbill turtles and green turtles often gather in this area to be cleaned by the fish, and they can be found around the opening or swimming in and out. The fourth cave has the largest opening, with an entrance at approximately 18 m, and offers an interesting exploration if the weather permits.
In general, the great variety of life around and inside the caves includes schools of soldierfish, pufferfish, moray eels, Galapagos sharks, spotted rays, cardinalfish and lobsters hiding in holes and crevices.
The dive ends at the northeast corner of Wolf, where a tall, massive underwater pinnacle is found, the top of which is just below the surface of the water. The main current comes from the southeast, but there may also be other currents coming from different directions at different depths, creating a kind of whirlpool effect. If the currents permit, you can swim across the gap to the pinnacle to observe the bubbles and the behaviour of the currents. Here you can see large pelagic species such as hammerheads and Galapagos sharks, bottlenose dolphins and turtles.

The Secret Cave (night dive), Wolf
The Secret Cave has its origins in gas spaces dating back to the formation of the island, which over time eroded and collapsed. It is a great alternative on the north side of Wolf if conditions allow for diving here.
Along the wall, sometimes with hammerheads, you'll find the entrance to a cave that may reveal several nocturnal species, such as cardinalfish, spiny lobsters, shrimps, colourful sea urchins, moray eels, as well as Pacific green turtles and sea lions.

El Fondeadero (night dive), Wolf
Wolf's Anchorage is the only dive site located on the islet’s protected west coast. The cove and surrounding cliffs reveal the contours of the ancient main crater of this extinct volcanic islet. On the leeward side, the water temperature is higher and the turbulent currents and the treacherous swell of the surrounding area are hardly felt anymore.
However, some sharks and reef fish can be spotted during the intervals when they come close to the surface, as well as blue-footed boobies.
Those who dare to take on a quite different adventure during these intense days may opt for a dark and exciting night dive. Just below the anchored yacht, the strange red-lipped batfish walks and jumps with its fins on the sandy bottom at a depth of 20 m. Although it is active at night and attracted by the beam of light, this cool activity will probably not be the only chance to marvel at this endemic species of the Galapagos. 
Included activities: Discover underwater caves, Night dive, more+
Breakfast
Lunch
Diner
Wolf Punta Vicente Roca Douglas Cape
AM - Punta Vicente Roca, Isabela
Right at the mouth of the seahorse that Isabela Island resembles... more+ from space, is located Vicente Roca Point. The roaring echoes of the waves will accompany you as you enter a dark cave under a spectacular arch. Around the corner, the collapsed amphitheatre of the Ecuador Volcano offers another breathtaking view.
The calmer waters of the caves are well protected from the ocean swell and are great to snorkel amongst various species of sharks, penguins, pufferfish and even seahorses. Encounters with sunfish are also very common, and it's worth bearing in mind that the water in this area tends to be a little cold (hence the penguins!).

PM - Douglas Cape, Fernandina
Douglas Cape is sure to provide you with incredible opportunities to observe an abundance of marine life, above and below the water. As you prepare for your dive, you can see Galapagos penguins, Galapagos cormorants and Galapagos marine iguanas, animals that are only found on the islands.
We will also go in search of amazing marine iguanas swimming and feeding on the rocks beneath the surface. Some of the marine life you may see are the red-lipped batfish, horned dogfish, sunfish, and possibly whales! 
Breakfast
Lunch
Diner
Douglas Cape Roca Cousin Santa Cruz
AM - Roca Cousin, Santiago
The solitary, symmetrical pyramid of Cousin Rock rises just above the... more+ coastal waters of Santiago, approximately 5 km off its coast. This bare volcanic rock serves as a resting place for blue-footed boobies, brown pelicans, Galapagos seals, sea lions and Galapagos penguins, which might be seen during a boat ride.
It doesn't take much imagination to realise that this triangular formation is the tiny top of a huge underwater cone, although only divers and snorkellers can admire the unthinkable colourful world below.
Cousin's Rock features two popular dive sites: an adventurous wall dive around the steep north-east corner (intermediate level) and on the opposite side, an attractive ridge flanked by a lush terraced wall and a rarely visited rock formation further south. The actual points of descent around Cousin's Rock and dive directions depend on the currents.
Normally, you will dive twice at one of these sites. Dive depths at Cousin's Rock range from 12-30m, and the current can vary from medium to strong. The water temperature ranges between 20-26°C from January to May, and between 16-20°C from June to December. Visibility ranges from 12-30 m, and the site is mostly a reef dive. Low visibility usually means an abundance of plankton, which brings large numbers of small and pelagic fish and with them, large animals.

PM - Highlands, Santa Cruz
Your last visit is very contrasting to your previous underwater experiences. You will explore a Giant Tortoise Reserve in the Scalesia forest-covered highlands of Santa Cruz. This is the best place to look for Galapagos giant tortoises in their most authentic environment!
Despite the interesting breeding centres -where you are guaranteed to find tortoises in their pens- there is nothing better than watching them in their wilderness. Although it can be quite wet and muddy, your visit can turn into an adventurous quest when you realise they have quietly left their favourite pond.
Unlike the adjacent agricultural area, this Tortoise Reserve is a protected area and an official part of the Galapagos National Park. It stretches from El Chato Hill to the southwest coast of Santa Cruz Island, where females follow Darwin's "tortoise roads" to lay their eggs.
In 2015, an estimated 32,000 tortoises were living in the wild on all the islands, most of them in the restricted locations on Isabela Island. In addition to the tortoises, you can also see a native flake forest, covered with lichens, ferns and other epiphytes. This protected area also offers excellent opportunities to observe numerous endemic songbirds among the dense foliage, savouring the delicacy of the introduced blackberries, including Darwin's finches, colourful cardinal flycatchers and yellow warblers.
The turtle pond is also home to waterfowl, including the red-billed coot. If you're lucky, you might spot the elusive Galapagos chick in the tall grass or the short-eared owl at the entrance to the lava tunnels. 
Included activities: Tortoise Breeding Centre, more+
Breakfast
Lunch
Diner
Santa Cruz Baltra
Transfer to Baltra airport
It's time to say goodbye to your fellow passengers and crew! Assisted... more+ by the naturalist guide and some crewmembers, the boat will take you and your luggage to the Seymour Ecological Airport, to board your flight back to the mainland. 
Breakfast
Lunch
Diner

included

The price includes
Unlimited water, tea and coffee on board
Airport / yacht / airport transfers (only guaranteed if passengers arrive at the scheduled meeting point, date, and time)
Full dive equipment rental (BCD, regulator, mask, fins, 7mm wetsuits, hoods, gloves, boots, torch)
Nitrox
One English-speaking certified dive guide per 8 guests
12L tanks for air, weights, belts, scuba safety equipment (personal marine rescue GPS)
Activities included in the program
Meals included in the program
The price does not include
Round-trip flight to the Galapagos Islands from mainland Ecuador, starting at : 470 $ / people
Alcoholic beverages (except those mentioned)
Travel insurance
Cancellation insurance
Diving insurance. DAN Insurance, Aquamed, or similar
All non-alcoholic beverages, except those mentioned
Meals not included in the program
Tips for guides and/or crew
Entry to the Galapagos Islands National Park - Mandatory : 200$ / people
Transit Control Card fee - Mandatory : 20$ / people
Additional information
The yellow fever vaccination certificate must have been administered at least 10 days prior to arrival in Ecuador if you have spent more than 10 days in Peru, Colombia, Bolivia or Brazil during the previous 10 days
Optional services
Flights not included in the programme are available on request

Activities

Scuba diving
included
Galapagos sharks spotting
included
Encounter whale sharks between June & November
included
Discover underwater caves
included
Night dive
included
Tortoise Breeding Centre
included

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Commercial history with Filovent

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