The Galapagos Marine Park Authority has changed the maximum number of dives per day from 3 to 4 and even 1 night dive per seven week cruise is now allowed. Diving in the Galapagos is always an exceptional experience. With changing water temperatures, the highlights shift:

• June – November: The water is cooler, 16-24C (60-75F); Whale Shark sightings are greater.
• December – May: The water is warmer, clearer 21-30C (70-86F); Larger schools of Hammerhead Sharks, Manta Rays and Eagle Rays.

Check our our dive site Map for Wolf and Darwin Islands

Here a quick overview how the different yachts are adjusting their itineraries to maximise the benefits for you:

Galapagos Sky
Sunday – Sunday
from/to San Cristobal

Galapagos Sky is the leading liveaboard in the Galapagos, owned and managed by diving veteran, Peter Hughes. GS is part of the Diveencounter Alliance which provides you with attractive rewards on the best liveaboards around the world.

Galapagos Sky has announced that they will take advantage of the new regulation by offering a night dive at Wolf Island – offering up to 5 dives at this most amazing dive region. They have 2 days scheduled here and have a much broader variety of dive sites in their programme then any other liveaboard.

During Mar – May 2013, they will visit Cousins Rock, City of Mantas, Cabo Marshall, Punta Vincente Roca, Roca Redondo, and Isla Pinzon (Islote Dumb).

During June, 2013 – Feb., 2014 – they will visit Bartolome, Cousins Rock, Cabo Marshall, Punta Vicente Roca, and Isla Pinzon (Islote Dumb).

They will dive the Isla Pinzon area on our last diving day. Islote Dumb is a tiny rock outcropping off the northeast tip of Isla Pinzon. The dive is packed with the same dynamic diving that they’ve found at Roca Blanca in 2012.

There will be three – four land/sea excursions per trip, and the very populuar Santa Cruz Highlands / Giant Tortoise tour is included in both.

Galapagos Aggressor I & II
Thursday-Thursday
from/to Baltra

The Galapagos Aggressor I (16 pax) & II (14 pax) are sister ships and depart from Baltra every Thursday afternoon.
Starting February 1, 2013, their new itinerary includes Wolf and Darwin, Baltra, Punta Carrion, Bartolome, Cabo Marshall, Cousins Rocks and a brand new addition, Cabo Douglas where guests will have the opportunity to interact with marine iguanas as they feed in the water.
Both boats spend between 2 and 3 days at Wolf and Darwin. Land tours will be at Bartolome and Santa Cruz Highlands.

Current Special:
Save $1000 for departures between February 28 – July 4, 2013

M/V Humboldt Explorer
Monday – Monday
from/to San Cristobal

Humboldt Explorers new permits kick in on 1 April 2013. They have gained the necessary permits to dive up to 4 times a day, including 4 dive days at Wolf & Darwin Islands, plus an additional land tour on North Seymour Island and will be offering a night dive! If Wolf/Darwin is your main goal – Humboldt Explorer is the best choice.

M.Y Darwin Buddy and M.Y Wolf Buddy
Saturday-Saturday
from/to San Cristobal

The two newest additions to the group of quality dive liveaboards are following a similar approach with trying to maximise diving at Wolf and Darwin Islands. Their boats plan 3 dive days at Darwin an Wolf islands.

For more info: info@diversiondivetravel.com.au

LAN Ecuador will commence daily flights to the remote and unique Galapagos Islands from September. This will be the airline’s fourth destination in Ecuador, joining Cuenca, and the cities of Quito and Guayaquil from which the new Galapagos flights will operate using modern Airbus A320 aircraft.

“This is a big milestone for us,” said Rodrigo Contreras, General Manager Australia, New Zealand & Asia for LAN. “The Galapagos Islands have been growing in popularity, but until now have been poorly served by air,” he said. “Our new flights will make it much easier to access”.

ECO PARADISE: THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS
It’s 1,000 kilometres from mainland South America to the Ecuadorian territory of the Galapagos Islands, but it feels like a world away. These 13 remote islands boast a rich mix of flora and fauna, and breathtaking volcanic geography ranging from lava tunnels to soaring peaks.

Local wildlife ranges from the Galapagos Hawk and the Swallow-Tailed Gull to Galapagos Marine Iguana and Sea Lions, making this one of the world’s most authentic eco-tourism destinations. Galapagos wildlife also played an important part in the theory of evolution espoused by the famous anthropologist Charles Darwin, who arrived on the island of San Christobel in 1845. Darwin noted physical differences between Galapagos creatures and similar mainland varieties, and concluded that the Galapagos wildlife had physically adapted to the local environment.

Quito and Guayalquil in Ecuador can be reached with easy connection opn LAN Chile from Sydney.