The Tiburon Explorer, a 39.5 m/129.6 ft long state of the art liveaboard, purpose built for the waters of the Galapagos and offers 7-night dive itineraries from/to Baltra, which include Darwin Island and Wolf Island.
Facilities
The M/V Tiburon Explorer comfortably accommodates 16 passengers in 9 air-conditioned rooms, all of which have private bathroom facilities. Cabins are on the main and lower decks. All cabins have twin beds (except cabin 1 & 2 – Queen beds only) and can be converted to queen beds for couples. All cabins have dressers, a closet and windows to maximize the view of the Pacific Ocean and Galapagos Archipelago, especially those situated on the main deck.
The air-conditioned salon on the main deck includes dining tables, TV, CD/DVD, video library and lounge area. Sunning/viewing areas, ample seating and a hot tub are located on the top level.
The dive deck is equipped with individual gear bins, camera table, recharging station, air and nitrox filling stations, tank racks, 80CF aluminum tanks 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 Tiburon Explorer is also equipped with a satellite telephone for outgoing calls worldwide.
Meals:
Aboard the Tiburon Explorer, lunch and evening meals are served buffet style and usually consist of salad, potatoes, rice, chicken, beef, pork and fish. Breakfast is the usual fare of eggs, pancakes, toast and fresh fruit. Homemade snacks are offered between dives. If you have any dietary restrictions or requests, please indicate so on your application form.
Please note that specific brands of drinks, dressings and foods are often unavailable in the islands, and that it can be very difficult for us to find low-fat, gluten free goods or soy products, fresh fruit, fish, and other items common elsewhere. While we will do our best to accommodate your requests, please consider bringing some of your own foods if the lack thereof may constitute a health risk.
We think…
The Tiburon Explorer is a very luxurious and comfortable vessel with high standard of service and offers a very comfortable way to explore the Galapagos Islands.
The Tiburon Explorer itineraries depart Baltra, Saturday to Saturday.
Getting here
For passengers on Tiburon Explorer there are a variety of flights possible. They must choose a flight that arrives in the morning, ideally maximum 11:30 am. Flights arriving after 12 pm will be too late to meet our guide.
Avianca operates flights to Baltra on Mondays. All flights start in Quito, stop in Guayaquil and go on to San Cristobal. On the way back they depart Baltra, stop in Guayaquil and end in Quito. The flight Quito-Guayaquil is 45 minutes, layover between 30 and 45 minutes. You do not get off the plane.
The flight from Guayaquil to Galapagos is about 1 hr 45 minutes. Flights are often late both ways.
Avianca 1638 departs Quito 10:10am, stops in Guayaquil 11:45am, arrives Baltra 10:49am. Galapagos is one hour behind the mainland.
Avianca 1639 departs Baltra 11:30am, stops in Guayaquil, arrives in Quito 6:00pm.
Airport check in to Galapagos
Passengers need to arrive at the airport minimum 2 hrs before flights to Galapagos. They will need first to stand in line at Consejo de Govierno for the tourist card ($20 cash per person), then scan bags with SICGAL and finally check in.
Luggage is limited to 23 kg per person. Overweight or additional luggage is $65 payable at the time of check in. Carry on is limited to 8 kg but is rarely weighed. We recommend to our guests to carry on as much as possible, similar to what they would carry on in the US. The planes are Boeing 737, Airbus 319 and 320. All have sufficient onboard storage.
All cabins have twin beds (except cabin 1 & 2 – Queen beds only) and can be converted to queen beds for couples. All cabins have dressers, a closet and windows to maximize the view of the Pacific Ocean and Galapagos Archipelago, especially those situated on the main deck.
Main Deck Staterooms 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6
Twin beds or Queen bed (Cabin 1 & 2 have queen bed only). Private ensuite bathroom with shower. Dresser. Closet. Large windows.
Lower Deck Suites 7, 8 & 9 – 2
Twin beds or 1 Queen bed. Lounge area with sofa bed. Private ensuite bathroom with shower. Large port windows.
Conditions:
Diving in Galapagos can be challenging because of strong currents, waves, cold waters and pelagic encounters. Currents can range from 1 to 5 knots at the sites we visit, and visibility is generally between 30 and 80 feet. Galapagos is a cold-water destination. Regular temperatures in Darwin and Wolf are 21-24 C (70-75°F) but can be warmer in the early months of the year. Temperatures are usually several degrees cooler in the Western Islands of Punta Vincente Roca and Cabo Douglas, with thermoclines that can dip as low 13C (54° F) in the months of July to November. Solid gloves and hood are strongly recommended. Suggested diver experience level: INTERMEDIATE to ADVANCED with a minimum of 100 logged dives.
Diving Logistics:
All dives aboard the Tiburon Explorer are offered at scheduled times, up to 4 times daily (weather & itinerary permitting). Schedules must comply with Galapagos National Park rules, allow for adequate surface intervals and enable the vessel to travel to different locations. Please note that Galapagos regulations limit the maximum depth for all dives to 130 feet (30 meters). All dives are done from pangas (zodiacs) with an easy backward roll into the water. After you dive, your tank will be lifted back into the panga and you will board via its stern ladders.
Diving (What to see):
Your diving experience will generally include Galapagos sharks, silky sharks and lots of schooling hammerheads being cleaned by king angelfish. Marine turtles, schools of tuna and sea lions are very common. A wide variety of rays can be seen at many of the dive sites (including mantas, mobulas, spotted eagle rays, marble rays, golden rays and stingrays) along with schools of grunt, snapper, brown stripped salema, grouper and chevron barracudas. Macro photographers will find barnacle blennies, coral hawk fish, nudibranches and other small fish and creatures. As Tiburon Explorer’s itinerary includes one day in Cabo Douglas & Punta Vincente Roca (West of Isabela), you’ll have the opportunity to encounter the endemic marine iguanas and the shy mola mola (especially between December and May).
Weather and best time in the year:
The weather in the Galapagos has water temperatures ranging from 65-75 ̊F (18-23°F) from December through May and 60-70 ̊F (15-21°C) from June through November. Water temperatures are at the higher end of the scale in both Darwin and Wolf. Air temperatures range from 75 ̊F (23°C) or higher in the rainy season (December-May) to the mid 60°F (15°C) during the dry season (June-November), with nearly constant sea breezes. Most divers are comfortable with a 7 mm wetsuit June through November and a minimum 5 mm wetsuit December through May. Gloves and hood are strongly recommended.
Your diving experience will generally include Galapagos sharks, silky sharks and lots of schooling hammerheads being cleaned by king angelfish. Marine turtles, schools of tuna and sea lions are very common. A wide variety of rays can be seen at many of the dive sites (including mantas, mobulas, spotted eagle rays, marble rays, golden rays and stingrays) along with schools of grunt, snapper, brown stripped salema, grouper and chevron barracudas. Macro photographers will find barnacle blennies, coral hawk fish,nudibranches and other small fish and creatures. As Tiburon Explorer’s itinerary includes one day in Cabo Douglas & Punta Vincente Roca (West of Isabela), you’ll have the opportunity to encounter the endemic marine iguanas and the shy mola mola (especially between December and May).
Sample itinerary – Departure from Baltra
Please note that these itineraries are examples only, and will change depending on local regulation, weather and logistics at the Captain’s discretion. At this time, each week in the itinerary includes the same islands. The order of the islands, however, is dictated by the National Parks Foundation and may change.
Days aboard the Tiburon Explorer generally involve a 6:30am dive followed by breakfast, a dive at 10:30am, lunch at 12:00pm, and afternoon dives at 2:00 pm and 4:30pm (On days with long transits between islands, the number of dives will be reduced to 2-3 dives – see itinerary). Dinner is served at approximately 7:00 pm. Under current National Parks guidelines, night dives and land visits are strictly regulated. The Tiburon Explorer must follow the schedule of islands and land tours as noted below.
Saturday: Baltra
Guests fly to the Galapagos Islands from Mainland Ecuador, arriving in the late morning. Airport meeting and transfer to the boat. Lunch, safety briefings and equipment organization. After dinner the vessel will depart to the next scheduled destination.
Sunday: Baltra North (2 Dives)
Equipment check, 7:00 and 10:00 dives. Sightings include rays and schools of fish. Afternoon North Seymour land visit. Walk the path around North Seymour Island to see the large colonies of Blue Footed Boobies and Frigate Birds. Sighting of Sea Lions and Marine Iguanas are also common. Depart for Wolf Island. (long transit).
Monday: Wolf Island (3-4 Dives)
10:30, 2:00 and 4:30 dives. Possible night dive. Sightings often include hammerheads, whale sharks (in season), eagle rays, sea lions, Galapagos sharks and silky sharks.
Tuesday: Darwin Island (4 Dives)
6:30, 10:30, 2:00 and 4:30 dives
Sightings often include hammerheads, whale sharks (in season) eagle rays, Galapagos and silky sharks. Transit to Wolf Island.
Wednesday: Wolf Island (3-4 Dives)
6:30, 10:30, 2:00 and 4:30 dives. Sightings often include hammerheads, whale sharks (in season), eagle rays, Galapagos sharks and silky sharks. Transit to Cabo Douglas (12 hours)
Thursday: Cabo Douglas & Punta Vincente Roca (3 Dives)
Sightings include marine iguanas in Cabo Douglas (2 dives) and mola mola, turtles and macro life in Punta Vincente Roca (1 Dive). Transit to Cousins Rock (10 hours)
Friday: Cousins Rock (2 Dives)
6:30 and 9:30 dives. This is a great macro diving with an excellent chance of seeing sea horses, sea lions and eagle rays. Lunch will be served while transiting to Santa Cruz (3 hours). Travel by bus to the Santa Cruz Highlands to visit the giant tortoises in their natural habitat. Transfer to the town of Puerto Ayora. Dinner on your own in Puerto Ayora. Return to the Tiburon Explorer at 8:30pm.
Saturday: Baltra
Depart the vessel by 9 am. Transfer to the airport.
Live Availability
| This liveaboard's prices are in USD. The price paid in any other currency will be based on the actual exchange rate at the time any payments are made. |
| Surcharge for single occupancy cabin +80% |
| Included: Stateroom with twin or queen beds, all meals, beverages incl. softdrinks & local alcoholic beverages, transfers on charter days in San Cristobal, up to 4 dives daily (weather permitting), tanks & weights, air fills |
| Not Included: Dinner on last night in Puerto Ayora, dive equipment rental, Nitrox, domestic flights to/from San Cristobal |
Humboldt Explorer, Galapagos Extras
| AUD | USD | ||||
| Fuel surcharge | 150 | USD | | | 150 | |
| Galapagos National Park fees (cash only) | 100 | USD | | | 100 | |
| Galapagos INGALA Transit Card (cash only) | 20 | USD | | | 20 | |
| Hyperbaric Chamber fee | 35 | USD | | | 35 | |
| Nitrox fills (7 nights) | 150 | USD | | | 150 | |
| Full set of dive gear rental excl. computer (7 nights) | 250 | USD | | | 250 | |
| Dive computer rental (7 nights) | 100 | USD | | | 100 | |
| This liveaboard's prices are in USD. The AUD prices shown are based on the current exchange rate. The price paid in AUD will be based on the actual exchange rate at the time any payments are made. | |||||
| Important Information | |||||
| Special payment and cancellation terms apply for this operator. | |||||
