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Dive Review of Humboldt Explorer in
Galapagos Islands/Wolf & Darwin mostly

Humboldt Explorer: "If you like to see large pelagics, this is a 'must do' trip", Apr, 2015,

by W Stanley Wilson, MD, US ( 2 reports with 5 Helpful votes). Report 8220 has 5 Helpful votes.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 4 stars Food 4 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity 4 stars
Dive Operation 4 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 4 stars
Beginners 1 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments Diving in the Galapagos was the most challenging and most rewarding trip I have taken in a very long time. Challenging in the sense of having to simultaneously cope with the surge associated with the swell, as well as the currents. Several times we were literally crawling along the bottom when having to swim against the current. Rewarding in the sense of never having before seen such a variety of big pelagics - three different varieties of shark (including hammerhead), two varieties of marine turtles, tuna, manta and eagle rays, etc - while also swimming along with sea lions and porpoises.

The dive boat accommodated 16 divers with about the same number of crew. The food was very good, and the dive operation was well run. Our two panga (zodiac) drivers were both professional and friendly. I had two complaints. First, the weights were mostly 3 and 4 pounds, and none were marked. And by the time everyone had selected the weights they thought they needed, there were only a couple of extras left over. So, there was no easy way - after the first couple of dives - to remove one pound or so to achieve better buoyancy control. And second, the boat burned a low grade of diesel fuel and had an obnoxious exhaust.

Of the 16 divers in our group, I was the oldest diver at 76; there were three 65, two at 27, and the rest in between. I am happy to say that I wasn't the slowest or least capable diver. As it was, I skipped out on a 4th dive on the four days when we did them, as did several others. While one needs to be in good physical condition and have some diving experience before doing such a trip, the Galapagos should be on every serious diver's bucket list.

Websites Humboldt Explorer   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 251-500 dives
Where else diving Caribbean, Great Barrier Reef, Kona Coast, California, Florida Keys, Fiji, Flower Garden
Closest Airport San Cristobal Getting There Miami direct to Guayaquil (or Quito), then to San Cristobal

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, cloudy, dry Seas calm, choppy, surge, currents
Water Temp 76-84°F / 24-29°C Wetsuit Thickness 5
Water Visibility 30-50 Ft/ 9-15 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile ?
Enforced diving restrictions Diving in two groups of 8, each led by a park ranger/dive master; needed to stay with your group; max depth of 100 ft.
Liveaboard? yes Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

Sharks Lots Mantas Squadrons
Dolphins Schools Whale Sharks None
Turtles > 2 Whales None
Corals N/A Tropical Fish N/A
Small Critters N/A Large Fish 3 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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