Tiburon Explorer

Packages Include:

• 7 nights/8 days aboard the vessel
• 3 meals daily, plus between-dive snacks
• 2-4 dives daily – a total of 18-19 dives
• Use of tanks, weights, and belts
• All domestic alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
• Airport transfers between GPS and boat for same-day arrivals and departures

Packages Do Not Include:

• Hotel accommodations
• Flights to/from Galapagos
• Last evening dinner
• Trip cancellation & dive accident insurance
• Premium alcoholic beverages
• Chamber Support Fee: US$35 per person
• Fuel tax: US$150 per person. Fuel tax is included in the retail price as of July 2021.
• Crew gratuities, dive instruction, dive gear rental (other than tanks, weights, and weight belts), Nitrox and retail sales
• Note: entry to the Galapagos Islands also requires a cash payment of US$100 entry fee, as well as the purchase of Tourist Card for US$20 in cash

Galapagos is famous for huge schools of hammerheads, but there is more to Galapagos than just its schooling sharks. You will be diving in a protected and healthy marine environment with an abundance of rare species including Galapagos sharks, whale sharks, mantas, mobulas, eagle rays, stingrays, penguins, orcas, dolphins, mola mola, marine iguanas, turtles, sea lions, butterflyfish, tuna, and pufferfish among many others.

Galapagos has two seasons. High season is regarded as July to November when the Humboldt current is at is maximum force, bringing upwellings of nutrients from the cold depths. This is your best opportunity to dive with whale sharks in Darwin and Wolf. In these months, the water is cooler, visibility is lower, currents can be stronger and the seas can be rough at times. The air temperature is cooler and evenings can be fresh.

The chances of seeing whale sharks are slim during the low season months of December through June. Other popular species, such as the scalloped hammerheads and large schools of fish are present year-round however, making the “low” season desirable if whale sharks are not on your must-see list. Temperatures are warmer and visibility is generally better.

Galapagos is a cold-water destination. Regular temperatures in Darwin and Wolf are 12-14 C (70-74°F) but can be warmer in the early months of the year. Thermoclines can dip to 13C (54° F) in the Western Islands of Punta Vincente Roca and Cabo Douglas, which stay cooler year-round.

To ensure your safety, we require the following of all divers:

1. All divers must be certified as open water scuba divers by an internationally recognized certification organization.
2. All divers must be experienced divers (we recommend that you have more than 100 logged dives) and have logged at least one dive within the 6 months prior to boarding the vessel. Dives are very often at an advanced level. Currents can be very strong and often divers are required to swim against them.
3. All dives are guided by an instructor/naturalist guide and due to Galapagos National Park regulations all divers must dive with the guide at all times.
4. All divers must log in and out of the water with a member of the diving staff.
5. All divers must have a submersible console. In addition, a timepiece must be worn by at least one diver in a buddy team. Dive computers are required.
6. Decompression and solo diving are not allowed under any conditions. The maximum allowed depth is 130’ (110’ on nitrox).
7. Diving activities must cease when the consumption of alcohol begins.
8. All divers must present proof of dive accident insurance per Galapagos National Park regulations.
9. All divers must also carry a DiveAlert, a surface signaling device, and an electronic beacon while diving (all available on board). Guests are responsible for all items they borrow from the vessel.
10. Please note that due to a combination of staff and equipment logistics, insurance requirements and local diving regulations, neither rebreathers nor diver propulsion vehicles (DPVs) may be used aboard Explorer Ventures Fleet vessels.
11. Please note that flash photography is not permitted while taking photos of wildlife on land. Professional photography and videos recorded for commercial purposes must be authorized by the Galapagos National Park Directorate. Drones are not permitted in the Galapagos.

The vessel provides tanks, weights, and weight belts for your use. If you prefer to rent the rest of your equipment from us, we have all of the equipment that you will need. Please indicate on your application form what equipment (and size) you will require. Otherwise, the following items are the diver’s responsibility:

• Certification Card
• Diving Log Book (strongly encouraged)
• Mask *
• Snorkel
• Fins/Booties *
• Buoyancy Control Device (required) *
• Regulator w/alternate air source, submersible pressure and depth gauges (required)*
• Dive computer (required) *
• Dive light
• Wet suit – 5 mm to 7 mm *
• Hooded vest or hood
• Gloves
• Repair kit w/ spare parts
• Safety flag *
• DiveAlert air horn for regulator *
• Nautilus Lifeline *

* Available for rent on board.  Most of our guests bring their own complete set of dive gear. This is the ideal situation; however, due to weight limits or additional travel plans, some of our guests choose to rent gear. We strongly recommend that you bring your own mask, gloves, booties, fins, hood or hooded vest and computer. A personal wetsuit is also a good idea if you have space. Diving in Galapagos can be challenging, and it is important that you are comfortable. Gloves are suggested as the rocks can be sharp and can damage hands

Nitrox is available for an additional charge, as long as the diver is Nitrox Certified.

Packing for a liveaboard trip is much easier than packing for a land-based vacation. The climate doesn’t require much more than shorts, T-shirts, and swimsuits, though at sea the winds can be cold and jackets are often necessary. Sunglasses, a visor/hat, raincoat, lightweight sweater or jacket, long sleeved shirt, backpack, tevas (or similar) are recommended. Soft luggage is also recommended as it takes up very little space when empty.

Guests traveling through Quito who are interested in day tours may wish to bring some items of clothing for slightly cooler temperatures and good walking shoes.

Please remember that the Galapagos Islands straddle the Equator, and the sun can be very strong at times. For this reason, please make sure you have sufficient strength environmentally friendly sunscreen.

In case of rough weather or if you have a tendency towards seasickness, come prepared with motion sickness medications or Transderm patches from your doctor. If you have favorite CD’s or DVD’s, feel free to bring them.

All linens (including sheets, comforters, bath towels, hand towels, dive towels, and wash cloths) are provided on board. If possible, pack your regulator, dive computer, mask, swimsuit, change of clothes, medications and toiletries in your carry-on bag. Having these few items with you will make an unexpected luggage delay far more bearable.

There is a checked luggage limit of one bag up to 50 pounds (23 kilos) for flights between Quito and/or Guayaquil and the Galapagos. An additional fee of up to $50* will be charged for the second bag or overweight luggage. In addition, passengers are allowed a carry-on bag weighing no more than 17.6 pounds (8 kilos) and a personal item. All additional luggage fees must be paid in cash at flight time. (*Prices could change at any time.) 

Groups and individuals that book hotel and transfers with Explorer Ventures will be assisted by a representative at the airport for check-in and are less likely to be charged additional fees.

Lunch and evening meals usually consist of salad, potatoes, rice, chicken, beef, pork, and fish. Breakfast is the usual fare of eggs, cereal, toast and fresh fruit. If you have any dietary restrictions or requests, please indicate so on your application form. Please note that specific brands of soft drinks, dressings and foods are often unavailable in the islands, and it can be very difficult for us to find low-fat or soy products and other items common elsewhere. While we will do our best to accommodate your requests, please be realistic and consider bringing some of your own items if the lack thereof may constitute a health risk or seriously compromise the enjoyment of your holiday.

Outgoing calls may be made from the vessel via satellite phone. Please be aware that a charge is assessed for both incoming and outgoing calls.

• Vital messages may be passed to guests by calling the booking office at 1-800-322-3577
• WhatsApp access is available aboard

The local agent  can be reached from North America via phone at 011-593-99529-7471, and will be able to contact the vessel. Cellular phone calls and internet access are available when in proximity to some of the islands if your phone is so equipped. Internet cards/access and cellular phone cards are available for purchase at the airport. The connections are based on 3G network and are good for basic emails but not fast enough for large downloads. The vessel’s location does determine the reliability of access to the internet.

The U.S. dollar is the official currency of Ecuador; therefore, it is not necessary to purchase currency before arriving. Most major credit cards are accepted widely when shopping ashore, however, additional fees are charged in Ecuador for their use.

Though all meals, most beverages, transportation within the Galapagos, and much more is included in your trip payment, there are additional items which you may charge to your on-board bill. These include retail items (shirts, etc.), scuba instruction, rentals, nitrox, premium alcoholic beverages, incoming and outgoing telephone calls, and crew gratuities. Other required fees include:

• Chamber Support Fee: $35 per person
• Upon entry to the Galapagos Islands: Per person cash payments of $100 Galapagos National Park fee and $20 Tourist Card.
• Fuel tax: $150* per person. (*Fuel tax is included in the retail price as of July 2021.)

Bills will be settled onboard on Sunday morning. Accumulated charges may be paid using cash, Visa, or MasterCard. American Express, travelers checks and personal checks are not accepted on board, and we are unable to advance cash on credit card charges. (Travelers checks are not accepted in Ecuador nor can they easily be changed into cash.) Credit cards are subject to the 12% VAT plus 5% in bank fees. These charges can be avoided by using cash for onboard charges. ATM machines are available in Quito, Guayaquil, Puerto Ayora and San Cristobal.

First a note about having a current Passport: Passports with a minimum of 6 months remaining before the expiration date are required for all arriving foreign nationals. If in doubt about visas, contact the Ecuadorian Consulate for specific requirements from your country. Transfers between airport (San Cristobal/SCY) and vessel for same day arrivals & departures are included. Retrieving lost luggage after the vessel departs on charter is impossible. It can be retrieved when the vessel returns to port at the end of the charter. The vessel arrives at its final destination port on Monday morning. The Sunday evening meal is on the island and is not included in the price of the trip. Transportation is organized and included for transfer to the airport. The departure tax from Quito and Guayaquil is now included in international flight prices. Please note: Flight times, prices and the Galapagos airport of arrival are all subject to change with little or no notification, and flights often run late. We strongly encourage our guests to plan on arriving at least one and preferably two days prior to your flight to the Galapagos Islands, to ensure that your luggage is with you or to make up for any travel delays. We also recommend that guests plan on an extra night in Quito or Guayaquil before departing Ecuador. The earliest time a guest can reliably expect to connect to another flight is 5 pm on the last Saturday of the trip from Guayaquil or 7 pm from Quito. Ticket holders are required to check-in a minimum of three hours prior to flight time for all international departures, even when connecting from an Aerogal or Tame flight. If you are booking your own domestic flights, the Humboldt Explorer departs from San Cristobal (SCY), not Baltra (GPS). Passengers flying into Baltra must arrange their own transportation to San Cristobal. If you are booking your own domestic flights, the Tiburon Explorer departs from Baltra (GPS), not San Cristobal (SCY). Passengers flying into San Cristobal must arrange their own transportation to Baltra.