Expedition Galapagos just gets better and better… (3rd – 16th July 2014)

Aquanaut’s Expedition Galapagos just gets better and better!

GREAT NEWS … the Galapagos National Park Authorities have just changed the rules for divers and are now allowing 4 dives a day at Darwin & Wolf plus night diving at Wolf. This means that guests on Deep Blue will get even more fabulous dives at these spectacular islands … we do still have a couple of spaces if you are tempted!   These are acknowledged as just about the best big fish dive sites on Earth!

This is an Exclusive charter on board Deep Blue diving Darwin and Wolf Islands

Extended 10nt itinerary!

The enchanted islands of the Galapagos offer a unique above and below water wildlife experience. These 19 or so isolated volcanic islands stretch across the equator in the Pacific Ocean 1000km from the Ecuadorian coastline and are the meeting place of two great oceanic currents, the cold water Humboldt from Antarctica and a warm equatorial current from the north. As a result, the nutrient rich waters support an amazing diversity of life, from the sea lions of Isabella to the whalesharks and hammerheads of Darwin and Wolf Islands. This is a unique environment where cold and warm water species are found together with the peak whale shark and hammerhead months being from May through to November.

Deep Blue is a 32 metre modern, purpose-built steel dive boat launched in 2004 with comfortable accommodation for 16 guests in 8 air conditioned cabins, all with private bathrooms. She is operated by a family owned local company with considerable experience and knowledge of the region and, over the years Scuba Tours have established a close working relationship with this vessel.

Deep Blue has a large aft dive deck with individual stations for each diver, with plenty of under seat storage for dive equipment. There are fresh water showers, two camera work tables and a rinse tank for photographers.

All dives are preceded by a thorough dive briefing and accompanied by a Divemaster and a National Park guide. Diving takes place from two Zodiac inflatable support boats which are easily accessed from the dive deck.

This is truly an epic trip. The diving in Galapagos is excellent all year round with opportunities to see large schools of sharks, sea lions, iguanas, turtles and rays of various types.

During the Galapagos winter, which is May to November, there is a concentration of nutrients in the water being driven to the northern island by the currents and your chance of seeing whalesharks is almost guaranteed if you travel to Darwin and Wolf Islands, an overnight passage from the Central islands. This has to be some of the best and most exciting diving in the world with huge schools of hammerhead sharks, Galapagos sharks, dolphins and rays. At this time of year, the water in the Central Islands can be as low as 12 to 15 deg. C but in Darwin and Wolf Islands the water temperature may be 22 deg C. This is exciting and adventurous big fish diving at its best and currents can be strong, so you do need to be an experienced diver

ITINERARY

Thu 03Jul 1 Night Grand Hotel Guayaquil

Fri 04Jul Fly from Guayaquil to San Cristobal

Fri 04Jul 10 Nights on-board Deep Blue

Mon 14Jul Fly from San Cristobal to Quito

Mon 14Jul 1 Night Rio Amazonas Hotel Quito

Sample Itinerary

Thu Depart UK – Arrive Guayaquil or Quito and overnight in Hotel

Fri Flight to Galapagos and board Deep Blue. Afternoon check out dive at Isla Lobos and land visit to the Interpretation Centre

Sat AM North Seymour (2 Dives) | PM North Seymour (Land Visit)

Sun AM Wolf (2 Dives) | PM Wolf (1 Dive)

Mon AM Darwin (2 Dives) | PM Darwin (1 Dive)

Tue AM Darwin (2 Dives) | PM Darwin (1 Dive)

Wed AM Wolf (2 Dives) | PM Wolf (1 Dive)

Thu AM Roca Redonda (Isabela Island)| PM Punta Vicente Roca (Isabela Island)

Fri AM Cabo Marshall (Isabela Island) | PM Cabo Marshall (Isabela island)

Sat AM Cousin Rocks (Santiago Island) | PM Bartolome (snorkel with penguins)

Sun AM Gordon Rocks (Santa Cruz)| PM Isla Plazas (Santa Cruz)

Mon AM Galapaguera Cerro Colorado – (Land visit to see tortoises) – Disembark liveaboard for flight to Quito, arrive PM, transfer to hotel.

Tue AM homeward bound for UK.

Above itinerary is a planned itinerary dependent on weather conditions, captain’s discretion and approval by the Galapagos National Park authority and may be subject to change.

** It looks like the number of dives will be increased to 4 a day for 2013 but am waiting for notification from the National Parks…

COSTINGS – GUIDELINE

(Costs are not yet 100% confirmed for internal flights, transfers and hotels and are based on 2012/13)

This will cost from £4695 per person and includes 10 nights’ accommodation in a shared Lower Cabin, all meals and diving (as per the itinerary shown), internal flights from Ecuador to the Galapagos and 2 nights in Ecuador in a twin shared room on a bed and breakfast basis and all transfers.

Upgrade to an Upper Cabin is from £185 per person.

Not included:

International flights (2013 price with KLM £675 plus £400 taxes), Galapagos National Park Fee $100, Ingala Tax $10, Nitrox $100, Recompression Chamber Fee $35, Ecuador departure tax of approx US$31.50, gratuities and other expenses. (All subject to change).

There are 9 cabins on the boat but they are only licensed for 16 divers …

Upper Deck

– 4 Cabins (3 Twins + 1 Double)

Mid Deck

– 1 Cabin (Double)

Lower Deck

– 4 Cabins (Twins)

** Please note that this is our exclusive charter and whilst we will do our best to ‘room’ you with another single male/female on the trip this may not be possible. (but there is a ‘spare’ cabin’ which may be able to be used in these circumstances)

The usual deposit is £850 per person for this trip but with 2014 still being a long way off we are offering the following deposit arrangements:-

Initial Low Deposit

£350pp – due now to secure the place

Balance of Low Deposit

£500pp due 03rd July 2013

Interim Payment

£1000pp due 20th December 2013

Balance Due

20th March 2014

If you would like to discuss any aspect of this trip or would like to book on, please contact nick.dann@sky.com

Tel: 07847 893236 

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Once you confirm your booking please note any subsequent change to names, or itinerary can only be done subject to the availability in the same class, fare code or room type. Changes may incur cancellation and administration fees or higher fares, any such increases will be passed on to the customer and are not covered under our general “price guarantee” as per our booking terms and conditions.

Please note that the cost of this holiday is subject to exchange rates and prices vary according to the Sterling/US Dollar exchange rate. We have calculated this using a rate of 1.6 and you have the choice of paying in full at any time before the balance payment and securing the rate of the day or if you wish to wait until the balance due date the rate will be re calculated at this time.