About Galapagos Expedition

The Galapagos have earned a mighty reputation as one of the ultimate liveaboard diving destinations and not without reason. This low-lying volcanic chain was not only Darwin's inspiration. It is home to diving the like of which you cannot find elsewhere on the planet. The marine life is completely unique with sharks, rays, sea lions, iguanas, penguins. Watch tuna, salema, snapper, rainbow runners and sail fins dart around the reef... if you can tear your eyes off the ocean's larger inhabitants. This is every diver's wish list come true before your eyes. Set your sights on some of the best liveaboard diving you will ever encounter and sail into the intoxicating world of diving in the Galapagos.

There are three distinctive types of underwater environment in the Galapagos Islands.

Wolf & Darwin- the main event
This is what you've travelled to the Galapagos for! Remote Wolf and Darwin Islands deliver the serious big-animal diving for which the Galapagos is famous. Schools of scalloped hammerheads are the headline attraction, alongside Galapagos sharks, silky sharks, eagle rays, turtles and huge schools of fish. Keep looking into the blue in case whale sharks join the action seasonally and you never quite know what else might cruise past. You'll spend several days diving around Wolf and Darwin, giving you repeated opportunities to experience these extraordinary sites. Currents can be strong and conditions challenging, but that's precisely what brings in the pelagic action.
Here the water can be 26-27 degrees as these islands are washed by the warmer Panama current.

Fernandina & Isabela-marine iguanas and mola mola
The western islands reveal a completely different side to Galapagos diving.
Around Fernandina, marine iguanas steal the show. Watching these extraordinary reptiles dive beneath the surface to feed is one of those wonderfully bizarre wildlife encounters that could only happen in the Galapagos.
At Punta Vicente Roca on Isabela, the water can be noticeably cooler and the dramatic underwater terrain attracts a fascinating mix of marine life. Look amongst the walls for smaller critters and turtles, while keeping an eye into the blue for the unmistakable shape of a mola mola.
Above water, this part of the archipelago is just as exciting, with opportunities to spot some of the Galapagos' unique bird and animal life.

The central islands
The central islands add yet another dimension to the week. Sites such as Cousins Rock offer a change of pace from the big pelagic diving, with a chance to concentrate on the reef and search for smaller Galapagos residents.
Seahorses and other macro life can be found amongst the rocky terrain, while rays, turtles, sea lions and schooling fish remind you to keep one eye on the blue.
These dives are a great contrast to the adrenaline-fuelled encounters at Wolf and Darwin and demonstrate just how varied diving in the Galapagos can be.
The Southern and Central Islands are washed by the Humboldt current from the South, so pretty cold water (23-24) but reasonably clear and blue.

Galapagos wildlife - above and below the water
One of the things we love about the Galapagos Expedition is that the wildlife encounters don't stop when you take off your fins.
Land excursions vary according to your liveaboard itinerary but can include the chance to walk amongst blue-footed boobies, magnificent frigatebirds, marine iguanas and sea lions, as well as heading into the lush Santa Cruz Highlands to see the Galapagos' famous giant tortoises roaming in their natural habitat.
It's well worth keeping your camera handy – some of the week's most memorable encounters may happen when you're not wearing a wetsuit!

An expedition in every sense
What makes this itinerary so special is the variety. One day you could be surrounded by hammerheads at Wolf or Darwin; another watching marine iguanas feeding underwater, searching for mola mola in cooler western waters or walking amongst giant tortoises on land.

This is adventurous diving for experienced divers, and conditions can change considerably as you travel around the archipelago. Currents, water temperatures and visibility all vary between sites – and so does the wildlife.

That's all part of the magic. The Galapagos is wild, unpredictable and quite unlike anywhere else on Earth.

Please note: The Galapagos Expedition is operated by both Galapagos Sky and Tiburon Explorer. The exact embarkation point, route, order of dive sites, number of dives at individual locations and land excursions vary between the two liveaboards and may also be changed according to local conditions and National Park requirements. Please refer to your individual departure for the exact itinerary.

The itineraries are subject to minor changes at short notice by the Marine Park Authorities, however a substantial part of every trip is spent at Wolf and Darwin and some dives in the other areas. The current permission dives Isla Lobos, Cousins Rock, Bartolome, Cabo Douglas, Punta Vicente Roca, Pinzon Wolf and Darwin.

You must be nitrox certified for this itinerary. Divers without Nitrox certification will not be able to complete all dives on the 3 days spent at Wolf and Darwin islands due to depths and time lengths of dives and recreational non-decompression limits.

Every diver should certainly experience the Galapagos for themselves but the diving is not suited to novice divers. Wolf and Darwin are the furthest point on the itinerary and divers need to be comfortable in currents and zodiac diving. Thermoclines are common but these are what draw the overwhelming numbers of big fish closer. Dive guides are experts in their fields - not only do they know how to make sure you have a safe and awesome dive trip, but they are also hugely knowledgeable about the marine life and eager to share! Please check with your travel consultant about the required safety equipment.