Decision: Galapagos Land-Based vs Roatan

[VFV]

I know this sounds like a strange comparison, but we're looking for a dive get-away next December 2012 and after seeing what's out there in our budget we're trying to choose between some Galapagos land-based diving with Scuba Iguana and Cocoview on Roatan. The Galapagos will have animals we haven't seen, but it's more of a hike for us from east coast US, and it will be less diving--almost half of what we could do at Cocoview. Too, we wouldn't be going to Darwin/Wolf. We were at Cocoview last year and really enjoyed it.

Has anyone done land-based Galapagos diving recently? If you liked or hated the place you stayed I'd be interested to know. What did you love and what would you have done differently--both dive-wise and topside-wise? Scuba Iguana sent a prompt and very nice reply to an inquiry I made and they have a good reputation, here. I'm thinking about this so early as it was suggested that places fill up in Puerto Ayora xmas week.

I saw the excellent posts on Galapagos land-based diving and the favorite memory of galapagos post, here.

Thanks for your thoughts and recommendations to help us decide!

 

[richh32]

hello
i dont think the comparison is strange. you want to do a trip somewhere different but within the same price range and you want to get the most/best bang for your diving buck right? i do this all the time when planning for a dive trip. i have been to roatan but if I had a chance to go somewhere else to see some different stuff, I would not hesitate. I was seriously planning on doing a land based trip there myself but instead went to the cayman's a couple weeks ago. I analyze everything and there were a couple things that killed the deal to do the land based Galapagos that you might want to weigh in to your decision. Plan on 4 days total of travel. One day to ecuador, staying overnight in quito or guyaquil then a flight to the islands. same with coming back. so 4 days are dedicated to travel. also the day of arrival on the islands and the day of departure you dont dive. So starting with the third day on your trip you can finally dive, and from what I have gathered you are only going to be able to do two dives a day. and if you have looked at the prices to stay and dive there they are not cheap. If you have 8d/7n for your trip and you do the math, I would imagine you are looking at a minimum of $2500 per person for maybe 8 dives total with everything including flights. Thats $300 per dive which is pretty steep and you just spent half of your trip travelling. Too far for too short of a time. I did a trip like this before, not there, but it doesnt even feel like a vacation because it goes way too quick. I have never been there but a inexpensive trip to see some good stuff would be the Coiba Islands in Panama. I am planning on going there this year. They are called the new Galapagos. If you get to Santa catalina in panama you can do a 3d/3n trip and dive off the islands for $600 or so per person. Its off the beaten path supposedly pristine diving from what I have read. just my 2c.

 

[DiveTheGalapagos]

Obviously I'm biased, but if you watch for specials, you can go on a liveaboard to Darwin and Wolf for what can often be less than most land-based dive programs. The central islands and the northern/western islands (Darwin, Wolf, Punta Vicente Roca, Cabo Marshall, etc) are two different destinations from a diving perspective. You don't get nearly the same marine life in the central islands that you get in those sites accessible only by liveaboard. The absolute ideal is back to back naturalist/dive cruises, but since most don't fall into that proverbial 1%, the next best thing is a liveaboard combined with a trip to Isabela, hands down the best land-based visits in the central islands in addition to the handful of day tours offered to N. Seymour, Bartolome, etc. from Santa Cruz. I would avoid any tour to Isabela that involves a tour to the Wall of Tears as it usually indicated they are taking you to places that are free to take you to rather than the best places to go. Bottom line is that you can usually get both the liveaboard and extension to Isabela for less than most liveaboards cost just for the cruise if you plan carefully. If on the other hand you just want to get the most diving for the buck, Galapagos can't compete with most destinations on a pure monetary comparison basis. Then again, you aren't likely to walk away with the pure awe virtually anyone leaves the Galapagos with.

 

[VFV]

Thanks very much for the replies! Very good tips and advice. I really appreciate it.