Galapagos Adventure On Buddy Dive Liveaboard

- New Years 2013 -

December 28th, 2012 -January 5th 2013

GALAPAGOS ADVENTURE TRIP

The Dive Shop On McEver invites you to join a cruise of a lifetime to dive the world famous Galapagos islands. Galapagos has big stuff year round but August brings in the biggest of the big. Humpback, Pilot and Melon Headed whales are amongst the visitors, and they will be sharing the seas with the Galapagos islands year round residents - the schooling Hammerheads, Galapagos sharks, penguins, marine iguanas, sea lions and the fascinating red-lipped batfish. Our trip will take place on the newest Galapagos liveaboard - Buddy Dive.

TRIP PRICE

The cost of the trip is $4495 (early bird special price). This price includes 7 night/8 day cruise on Buddy Dive liveaboard with up to 3 dives per day, free Nitrox, all meals, snacks and drinks onboard (excluding premium brands), and return transfers from San Cristobal airport to the vessel. Flights are not included in the price, but can be readily arranged by Equator Diving upon request. Estimated flight cost from the Atlanta is $750-1500 (Direct Delta Flight to Quito, Eu 70,000 Delta Skymiles).

More Info here

How to join this trip???

(SOLD OUT) - Waiting List Available

To book yourspot call us @ 770-503-0040

or email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

ITINERARY

Day 1 - Isla Lobos
Isla Lobos is named after the sea lions (“lobos marinos” in Spanish), which are abundant off this small island 10km north of San Cristobal. In Lobos Island you’ll perform a check dive, entertained by the resident sea lions and also marine iguanas, turtles and sting rays. This is an excellent dive but is just a small preview of what is to come over the next few days.

Day 2 - Cape Marshall
Located at the northeastern shore of Isabela, below the 1707 meter Wolf volcano, Cape Marshall offers drift diving on incredible reefs and near-vertical volcanic walls. Highlights here include Giant Mantas, the Galapagos horned shark, Galapagos rock bass (Camotillo), the gold rimmed surgeonfish, Mola Mola, sea lions, the harlequin wrasse, the sailfin grouper (Bacalao) and large schools of Salema fishes.

Days 3-5 - Wolf Island & Darwin Island
Wolf and Darwin Islands are considered by many to have the best diving in the world. These islands are located more than 100km from the main Galapagos island chain and it takes around 14 hours to get there - but it is more than worth it. At Wolf you have it all: schools of hundreds of hammerhead sharks, sea lions, manta rays, turtles, iguanas, Amberjacks, Trumpet Fish, Hogfish, Butterfly Fish, eel and dolphins. Wolf is also a great experience above water, for it is the home of literally hundreds of thousands of seabirds such as Red-footed boobies, nazca boobies (also known as masked boobies), frigates, pelicans and swallow-tailed gulls. If you enjoyed Wolf you’ll love Darwin. This iconic island is characterised above water by Darwin’s Arch, an impressive arch-like stone formation emerging in the middle of the ocean. There is no dry access to the island for it emerges vertically, but from the Yacht you’ll be able to spot the endemic Darwin Mockingbird, sea lions, penguins, red footed boobies and masked boobies. However, the true wonders of Darwin are only revealed once you enter the water, the action literally explodes before your eyes, with dolphins, eagle rays, spotted morays, manta rays, hammerhead sharks, Galapagos sharks, pilot whales, melon-headed whales and the enormous whale sharks. Encounters with the whales and whale sharks peak in August, coinciding with this special Equator Diving charter.

Day 6 - Roca Redonda
Roca Redonda, located 25 miles northwest of Isabela, is the summit of an underwater volcano rising almost 3000 meters from the sea floor. Several lava flows can be observed on the island and in the shallow water there are various caves, inhabited by several unique kinds of seabirds, such as the night-feeding gull. This remote and small island is a good place to find schools of scalloped hammerheads, yellow tailed surgeonfish, barracuda, jacks, Galapagos grunts, king angelfish, mantas, and even the huge Mola Mola. One of the most famous attractions here are the underwater fumaroles (steam vents) in the shallows (12 to 18m), where you can see gas bubbles rising to the surface, suggesting that perhaps the volcano is not quite extinct.

Day 6 - Punta Vicente Roca
Punta Vincente Roca is located on the northwestern coast of Isabela.  Here, the upwelling of the nutrient rich Cromwell current gives rise to an abundance of marine life which, in combination with the protection of the coves, makes Punta Vicente Roca one of Galapagos’ top diving destinations.  Below the waves Galapagos’ penguins mix with red lipped batfish, frogfish, seahorse, sea lions, turtles, Mola Mola, pufferfish, Marlin and with some luck, the Galapagos’ bullhead shark.

Day 7 - Cousin’s Rock
Cousin's Rock is located off the east coast of Santiago and is one of the best sites in the Galapagos for macro – yes there is macro in Galapagos too! Black corals, small hard corals, sea fans, hydroid bushes and red sponges grow in every direction, and amongst this you will find hawkfish, nudibranchs, Galapagos seahorses, Octopus, and even frogfish. Of course there is also big stuff – namely mobula rays, mantas and sharks (white tipped reef and hammerheads), sea lions and large groups of spotted eagle rays.

Day 7 – Galapagos Tortoise Breeding Centre (Fausto Llerena)
The breeding centre “Fausto Llerena” is responsible for the reinsertion of over 2000 Galapagos tortoises in the archipelago, and is currently raising 400 more. A wooden walking platform guides you through its several stations; from it you can observe the tortoise from La Española and even Lonesome George, the only surviving specimen of Pinta Tortoise.

Day 8 - Interpretation Centre (Centro de Interpretación)
The Interpretation Centre of San Cristobal allows the visitor to better understand the history of Galapagos from natural, conservational and humane perspective. The “Natural History” wing explains the volcanic origins of the islands, the marine currents surrounding the archipelago, its weather and the settling of several species, among other things. The “Human History” wing narrates the most significant historic events of the discovery and colonization of Galapagos.

BUDDY DIVE LIVEABOARDS

The two Buddy Dive liveaboards, MY Darwin Buddy and MY Wolf Buddy are identical 120 feet long yachts, having completed their first trips to Galapagos in October 2011. Both yachts are equipped with cutting edge equipment that includes a state of the art navigation and communication system. Upon boarding, guests are welcomed by the friendly and experienced local crew and shown to their cabins. All suites on the Buddy Dive liveaboards are air conditioned, have their own private bathroom and are serviced multiple times per day. They are equipped with an entertainment system that includes a flat-screen monitor and a DVD player.

With 30 years of experience and practice from Buddy Dive Resort Bonaire, Buddy Dive Liveaboard Galapagos ensures that all dives are enjoyable and safe. The professional diving instructors and guides on board are always available to assist in any possible way and to present comprehensive pre-dive briefings. The dive deck consists of two separate sections. One section can be closed on cooler days and will be heated after dives. With plenty of space setting up the diving gear is easy. After returning from a dive, expect a warm towel, use one of four available showers on deck, and relax at the lounge and bar area, which is directly connected to the dive deck. Divers with underwater camera equipment can use a custom-designed camera table and camera rinse tanks.

Between dives and at night, divers will have more than enough time to explore all the great services on board the Darwin Buddy and Wolf Buddy. Whether you relax and read a book on the spacious sun deck, take a plunge in the Jacuzzi, watch your underwater pictures on the entertainment system in the lounge, or simply enjoy a cocktail at the bar, both yachts provide plenty of opportunities to make your time on board a delight. Buddy Dive's local chefs prepare first-class meals, a combination of local, international and European cuisine, including a healthy and complete breakfast, delicious lunch and dinner.