Visits feature the world-famous Wolf and Darwin, plus the exciting addition of the top three dive sites in the north-west region of the archipelago. Isabela and Fernandina dive sites are where Flightless Cormorants, Galapagos Penguins, Marine Iguanas and several other endemic species, along with Manta Rays, Mola-Mola and different types of Baleen Whales, are usually sighted.

NORTADA

Thecnical Specifications:

• Length: 85 feet / 25.9 metres
• Beam: 18 feet / 5.4 metres
• Draft: 5 feet / 1.5 metres
• Cruising Speed: 12 knots

Built in France by Naval Builder Guy Couach, Nortada is a completely rebuilt and refit private live-aboard charter boat for small groups of up to 8 divers. Nortada was bought by Rolf Wittmer Turismo in 2008 and went throtugh a full refurbishment in Guayaquil, Ecuador until December 2014. The boat will start operations as a scuba diving live-aboard vessel for private charters in the Galapagos Islands in February 2015. Nortada is operated by Rolf Wittmer Turismo, a local company with over 30 years of experience in the naturalist land excursion and cruise business. The dive operations are run by Jorge A. Mahauad, General Manager of Galapagos Tip Top Dive & Training Facility.

Nortada offers four lower deck, fully air conditioned cabins with two single lower berths, private heads, lockers and drawers. The boat also features an extended occupancy option of up to 12 people. The additional guests can be accommodated in the four full size upper berths available in every one of the four cabins. Public areas consist of a main deck with bridge, galley, air conditioned dining room and lounge.

The scuba diving platform has ample benches, outside showers, camera tables and rebreather rinsing facilities. In the upper deck a sun deck is next to the fly bridge. Two 15 foot inflatable tenders with 25HP outboard engines takes fully equipped divers to and from the dive site. All divers are provided with a Nautilus Lifeline bi-directional VHF/DSC marine radio with GPS, dive alert and DSMB.

A complete toolkit and a selection of solid lead weights and trim soft pouches are available for all divers. 20 Nitrox compatible aluminum 80 cu ft / 12 liter cylinders are filled by one of the twin Nuvair LP/HP Compressors. Two Nuvair nitrox analyzers are available on board. For technical and rebreather diving, redundant oxygen clean Haskell Sport Boosters, one Tri Hunter 3000 Gas mixing stick for Trimix blending, several nitrox compatible 40 cu ft / 6 liter aluminum stage cylinders and several 19 cu ft / 2 liter steel rebreather cylinders with various valves and one Analytical Industries Trimix Analyzer are available upon request. Crew consists of one Captain, one Mechanic, one Cook, two Sailors and one Naturalist Guide.

STANDARD 8 DAY / NIGHT WOLF AND DARWIN ITINERARY:

• Friday:(AM) Arrival to Galapagos - (PM) Check Dive - Puerto Ayora
• Saturday: (AM) Punta Carrión / Baltra N/E - (PM) Cousins Rock
• Sunday: (All Day) Wolf
• Monday: (All Day) Darwin
• Tuesday: (All Day) Wolf
• Wednesday: (AM) Cape Douglas - (PM) Punta Vicente Roca
• Thursday: (AM) Cape Marshall - Puerto Coca - (PM) Manta Ray City
• Friday: (AM) Charles Darwin Research statio
  

 

Pingüino Explorer

All dives are done from a dive tender, allowing easy access to all the best diving sites. You will appreciate that the dive deck features both a camera rinse tank and table and that nitrox is available. After diving, guests can relax in the air-conditioned saloon with a complimentary beer, wine or a cup of coffee, check their images on the onboard computer, or enjoy some music or movies on the entertainment system.

Thecnical Specifications:

• Type: Motor Yacht
• Year: 1998 (Remodeled in 2012)
• Category: Tourist Superior
• Capacity: 16 divers (License granted by the Galapagos National Park)
• Operation: The boat operates with a maximum of 14 divers and 16 pax naturalist.
• Crew: 10 members (Includes 1 Instructor Guide and 1 Dive Master Guide. For Naturalist cruise a bilingual naturalist guide.)
• Length: 25 m
• Beam: 5.5 m
• Size: 25 m x 5.5 m
• Weight: 133 gross tones
• Speed: 10 knots
• Electricity: 110v/220v
• Engines: 2 x 250 HP Caterpillar engines & 2x 55 KW Perkins generators
• Diving Equipment: 2x dive tank compressors, Enriched air or nitrox 50 aluminium scuba tanks with valves, belts and weights (If you do not have your own diving equipment you can rent it on board, but please book it at least 30 days in advance of your trip).

All dives are done from a dive tender, allowing easy access to all the best diving sites. You will appreciate that the dive deck features both a camera rinse tank and table and that nitrox is available. After diving, guests can relax in the air-conditioned saloon with a complimentary beer, wine or a cup of coffee, check their images on the on board computer, or enjoy some music or movies on the entertainment system.
Facilities and Accommodation: There are 8 cabins with private bathrooms:
1 Master cabin with ocean view on the upper deck (1 double bed and 1 upper bed). 4 bunk beds cabins with windows in the main deck 3 bunk beds cabins with portholes in the lower deck.

ITINERARY:

• TUESDAY: (AM) Arrival to Baltra - (PM) Seymour Island
• WEDNESDAY: (AM) Plazas Island - (PM) Santa Fe Island
• THURSDAY: (AM) Santa Cruz - (PM) Devil´s Crown
• FRIDAY: (AM) Dragon Hill - (PM) Sombrero Chino (snorkel)
• SATURDAY: (AM) Cowly Islet (snorkel) - (PM) Albany Islet (snorkel)
• SUNDAY: (AM) Puerto Egas - (PM) Sullivan Bay
• MONDAY: (AM) Rabida Island (snorkel) - (PM) Bartolome Island (snorkel)
• TUESDAY: (AM) Mosquera Islet – Baltra
  

 

Humboldt Explorer

Diving the Galapagos Islands on board HUMBOLDT EXPLORER will allow you to experience an unknown world of beauty, wonder and marine life. You will see sea lions, turtles, hammerhead sharks, white tip sharks, dolphins, whale sharks, manta rays, Galapagos sharks, and huge schools of eagle and golden Rays.

Thecnical Specifications:

• Capacity: 16 passenger on board
• Length overall: 106 ft (32.3 meters)
• Beam: 21.3 ft (6.5 meters)
• Draft: 8.2 ft (2.5 meters)
• Speed: 10 knots
• Cabins: 8 double cabins with private bathrooms, hot water, air conditioning, oceanview, , TV/ DVD.
• Social Areas: Air-conditioned social areas. Covered back deck and sundeck with jacuzzi.
• Crew: 7 crew members plus a naturalist diving instructor and a diving instructor assistant
• Safety Equipment: Life rafts (2), life rings/strobes, life vests/strobes, emergency position locator, flares, oxygen and first aid equipment
• Air Systems: 2 electric Bauer compressors with nitrox membrane, producing 32% nitrox, bank storage
• Tenders: Rigid hull inflatables (2), used for passenger transport and diver pickup
• Diving Equipment: A large staging area, air compressor, tanks, weights and rental diving equipment

Humboldt Explorer accommodates 16 passengers in 8 air-conditioned double cabins on main and lower decks. All cabins have ocean view, TV/ DVD, hot water , private bathrooms and showers, All rooms except rooms 3 & 4 (forward belowdecks) can be converted to either one queen bed or two twin beds.
The dive deck is equipped with individual gear bins, large camera table, recharging station, air and nitrox filling stations, tank racks, and a separate fresh water rinse tank for underwater camera equipment. Diving operations are conducted from two large pangas (tenders), easily boarded from the dive deck. The Humboldt Explorer is also equipped with a satellite telephone for emergency calls worldwide.

ITINERARY:

• Monday: (AM) San Cristobal Airport - (PM) Isla Lobos
• Tuesday: (AM) Punta Carrion - (PM) North Seymou
• Wednesday: (ALL DAY) Wolf Island
• Thursday: (AM) Wolf Island - (PM) Transit to Darwin Island
• Friday: (AM) Darwin Island - (PM) Transit to Wolf Island
• Saturday: (AM) Wolf Island - (PM) Long Transit to Cousin´s Rock
• Sunday: (AM) Cousin’s Rock - (PM) Santa Cruz (Highlands)
• Monday: (AM) San Cristobal: Interpretation Centre – San Cristobal Airport