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Dive Review of Divencounters in
Galapagos Islands

Divencounters, Sep, 2011,

by Harvey S. Cohen, NJ, US (Sr. Contributor Sr. Contributor 25 reports with 18 Helpful votes). Report 6340.

No photos available at this time

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 5 stars Food 5 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity 5 stars
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 4 stars
Beginners 2 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments Govt. limits dives to three per day. Govt. permits no land excursions once the voyage starts, but we had an excellent excursion to see giant tortoises and other fauna & flora before embarking. Govt. requires an official naturalist/guide on all dives and excursions; ours was fabulous. Viz was only fair, but we saw a dizzying assortment of big and/or exotic fauna, including a pod of orcas up close, squadrons of eagle rays, schools of hammerheads, mantas, mobula rays, some 40 or 50 sea turtles bunched together in the shallows, a flightless cormorant hunting underwater, baitballs 30 feet in diameter, etc.
Bring 2 pairs of reef gloves. Divers spend a lot of time hanging on to rocks in current, and rocks are covered with razor-sharp barnacles. Bring a good SMB and know how to use it! Also air horn and mirror.
Dive operator gives *one* rescue radio to each *buddy team*, not to each *diver*!
Entire crew was incredibly efficient, helpful, friendly, skillful. Boat very comfortable and in excellent condition. Food and wine excellent.
Seas can be high, and passages rough. Bring seasickness medicine that you know works for you.
It's very easy to move from boat to panga and back, because crew helps so effectively. But current and surge under water require some skill and strength, and boarding panga from water-- especially in high seas-- can be challenging. (That said, our 3 oldest divers were 70, 69, and 64).
Websites Divencounters   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 251-500 dives
Where else diving Caribbean, Eilat/Taba, Palau, Coral Sea, New Jersey,
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, windy, dry Seas choppy, surge, currents
Water Temp 59-74°F / 15-23°C Wetsuit Thickness 7
Water Visibility 30-50 Ft/ 9-15 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile no
Enforced diving restrictions 16 divers divided into 2 pangas. Divers in a panga had to stay in a loose group with guide, due to strong currents.
Liveaboard? yes Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

Sharks Lots Mantas Squadrons
Dolphins Schools Whale Sharks None
Turtles > 2 Whales > 2
Corals 1 stars Tropical Fish 5 stars
Small Critters 3 stars Large Fish 5 stars
Large Pelagics 5 stars

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter N/A Boat Facilities N/A
Overall rating for UWP's N/A Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments [None]
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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