I’ve used Scuba Iguana (SI) several times over many years. You will not find much familiarity here on SB with any land based options as the liveaboard marketing money specifically focuses on North American divers. After several liveaboards, i find a broader experience with SI.
I suggest staying at one of the properties just next to SI. As one walks 12 minutes from town to the Research Station (DRS), the last place on the right will be SI. It is so convenient to take easy strolls thru the DRS in the afternoons after diving.
Just offshore here is a moderately tough (surge), super shallow snorkel with great concentrations of the Marine Iguanas.
Before you go, see the film ‘Master & Commander, far side of the World‘. The scenes featuring the close-up Darwin scientific note taking about the turtles? You will be standing with those same big guys in their scenes.
Also see the Al Giddings Galapagos IMAX film (on DVD from Amazon) that featured the founder of SI, Mathias Espinosa. Dive with him if you can. Say hi for Pamela & Doc.
Yesterday 09/26, a small ferry boat lost 4 passengers due to mechanical problems. You will be using this same route as there are dozens of boats that make the very quick passage between the ‘airport side’ and the road to Puerto Ayorra. I add this just because it’s such a current event, not sure I’d fret over any danger! We try to not ride in the passenger cab for the next leg but instead climb into the pickup truck bed. You will be driven on a straight line, US Army built road, over two long gone volcano domes, through every micro climate imaginable.
The road to and from town is punctuated with many local restaurant options. We found the best food to be the cheapest local places, as usual. The provided food by SI while diving? We ‘traded’ our meals for the simple rice & beans + meat that the dive crew were given. They loved the lunch meats and cheeses, we liked the local fare.
The diving was tailored to the abilities of the divers. These are not RIB/flop in boats, there is a ladder. We saw plenty of Hammerheads and Mobula Rays, even watched a Shark stalk and hit an unfortunate Seal. The closest dive site to SI featured hundreds of Seals much to the delight of my wife.
The beauty of land based is the immediate and daily access to other land based attractions. The Research Station is interesting, but the natural environ of these big turtles is upland in a less-easily walked zone. You take a cab there and they loan rubber boots for this. There are a couple of ‘lave tube’ tours, one very easy stroll, another that did involve some crawling. Both cool.
I really like and appreciate the real-deal eco friendly attitude espoused by SCUBA Iguana, by far the most put-together day dive option that you will see in the town.
Say hi to these fun people for us!
