Galapagos dive trips on the Galapagos Islands live aboard vessel M/Y Mistral to cruise the Enchanted Islands and Scuba diving with Whales, Whale Sharks, Hammerhead Sharks and Sunfish featuring specialised itineraries giving more diving time at the Whale Shark hotspots of Wolf island and Darwin island which are the best two scuba diving sites in the Galapagos Islands
If the Galapagos Islands are one of the best Scuba diving destinations in the world then surely Darwin Island is home to arguably the best dive site in the world. Most divers have a list of marine animals that they would like to see, on a liveaboard diving trip to the Galapagos Islands you will certainly get to cross a few of them off
The Galapagos islands are listed as one of the 7 underwater wonders of the world and Wolf island and Darwin island are certainly the highlights, these small and remote islands can only be reached by live aboard dive trips. All the Live aboard boats in the Galapagos islands are of a high standard, subsequently there are no cheap diving trips, I have used the M/Y Mistral for all my Galapagos islands dive trips so far and see no reason to consider otherwise, the M/Y Mistral gives best value for money and the whole setup is professional and works just great
Darwin island rises vertically out of the Pacific Ocean, 600 miles from mainland Ecuador and a 15 hour cruise by live aboard vessel from the main group of Galapagos Islands, as we cruise we will constantly be on the lookout for Whales & Dolphin's as all the Great Whales pass through these waters, we have seen Humpback Whales on previous trips and I am eagerly waiting for the opportunity to get in and snorkel with these huge marine mammals. Darwin Island's sheer walls offer no access to its uppermost reaches, it is home to thousands and thousands of birds. The Pacific Ocean around Darwin island is alive with life, big pods of Dolphins constantly pass by the anchored M/Y Mistral and invariably escort the divers to the dive site. This year we got to dive and snorkel with Pods of Pilot Whales and Melon Headed Whales. M/Y Mistral is the centre of attention for the young Red Footed Boobies who like to walk on the top sheet and peer down at you
The only place to Scuba dive in this remote spot in the Galapagos islands is marked by the awesome figure of Darwin's Arch
This big arch towers right over the dive site and what a dive site it is, diving here you can expect big swells, heavy surge, strong currents and big thermo clines... and big action! this is not a place for beginners! but as most experienced scuba divers know... No current = No Sharks and Perfect visibility = No Whale Sharks and they are the reason that we travel half way round the world to the Galapagos islands to Scuba dive at Darwin's Arch!!
On Galapagos diving trips here at Darwin island you are guaranteed to Scuba dive with schooling Scalloped Hammerhead Sharks numbering in the hundreds, sometimes less but invariably more... lots more! you do not have to Scuba dive to the usual 40 – 60 metres to see these amazing creatures, a ledge at 20 metres is the perfect vantage point and you will see Hammerhead Sharks swimming past you from every angle, in fact quite often you can see their dorsal fins breaking the surface as they cruise by the Mistral, Hammerhead Sharks aside the Galapagos islands is also one of the only places on earth where at the right time of year you are almost guaranteed to have an encounter while on Scuba diving gear with the biggest and most elusive fish…. Whale sharks!. The Whale Sharks here at Darwin island are BIG... bigger than a London bus! in fact closer to 2 BUSES!! and they also oblige and swim directly by the 20 metre ledge, once one is seen they circle and return again after about 10 minutes
On my Galapagos diving trip this year in August/September the conditions were perfect, at the Arch at Darwin Island the divers had encounters with up to 52 Whale Sharks over the 3 days that we spent diving there
All of Dive Darwin's Galapagos Islands live aboard trips are planned to give you 4 or 5 days Scuba diving at Darwin island and Wolf Island and timed to coincide with the arrival of the Whale sharks
Fantastic Scuba Diving Holidays...
Dive Darwin offers specialised itineraries to stay 4 or 5 days diving with the Galapagos Whale Sharks and Hammerhead Sharks at the optimum time of the year so if they are there... we WILL see them!
Dive Darwin has put together probably the best Galapagos islands dive trip cruise itinerary you will find... AND AT the best price you will find. These Galapagos dive expeditions and tours are exclusive to Dive Darwin... The diving sites and visitor sites are chosen by myself to ensure that we visit all the best diving and visitor sites within the time we have available so that you will remember your Galapagos dive trip for the rest of your days
Mola Mola, Galapagos Penguins, Marine Iguana's, Galapagos Sea Lion's, Galapagos Fur Seal's, Flightless Cormorant's, Sailfish, Seahorse's, Frogfish, Port Jackson Shark's, Manta's, Sabre Toothed Blennie's, Red Lipped Batfish... the list is endless and with just a little luck they are all waiting for you in this special place known as the Enchanted Islands
The Galapagos islands is one of those places in the world that you may only go on holidays to scuba dive once in your life... get it right the first time with DIVE DARWIN
Galapagos Islands Scuba diving Vacations
MISTRAL is being taken out of service soon so a change of vessel is required
UPDATE - I have chartered the Catarmaran NEMO 2 for my trips in 2008
14th - 28th Sept
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Galapagos Whale Shark Video - for Broadband Connections
Is this the biggest Whale Shark in the World
Galapagos Islands Dive Trip Video for Broadband Connections - Full Version
www.whalesharks.us - photographs of Whale Sharks