ChrisM
Contributor
Have a friend taking a plane down there for a client but can't keep it at Baltra. Any recommendations for San Cristobal diving ops?
Thanks
Thanks
Dive ops on San Cristobal, Galapagos?
- Thread starter ChrisM
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Mathias Espinosa, the Guia (guide) for the Charles Darwin Park who deals with SCUBA Diving has been in San Cristobal for many months training new Dive Masters away from their former fishing professions.
His SCUBA Iguana is a standout among all other day dive ops in the Galapagos at their Puerto Ayora location, I would rank them #1 by a mile. I am sure that this is the same kind of operation he trained just to the East.
http://www.scubaiguana.com/index.html, drop them an e-mail.
His SCUBA Iguana is a standout among all other day dive ops in the Galapagos at their Puerto Ayora location, I would rank them #1 by a mile. I am sure that this is the same kind of operation he trained just to the East.
http://www.scubaiguana.com/index.html, drop them an e-mail.
Scuba Iguana is based out of Santa Cruz/Baltra. For San Cristobal, there is a PADI operator -Chalo Tours - Although their website is in Spanish, they do speak English.
Email is Chalotours@hotmail.com - Also, the University of San Francisco de Quito, also runs a scuba program I believe based out of San Cristobal. Not sure if it's open to the public or just for students. - Most liveaboards, however are based out of Baltra/Santa Cruz.
Email is Chalotours@hotmail.com - Also, the University of San Francisco de Quito, also runs a scuba program I believe based out of San Cristobal. Not sure if it's open to the public or just for students. - Most liveaboards, however are based out of Baltra/Santa Cruz.
VAtravelers
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It's great to see this question posted. My husband and I will be doing a Galapagos tour with GAP in May, and we are adding two days at the end of the boat tour for diving.
I have a few questions...
1. Does anyone know whether dive companies would be willing to pick us up from our boat for diving from any of the islands (we're going to 7 of them or so)?
2. Our tour ends in San Cristobal and then we have two nights before flying back to Quito. I contacted Scuba Iguana and they said they don't operate in San Cristobal. I told them I heard that they were training dive masters there, but they didn't reply to my second email. I couldn't find a web site for Chalo. Does anyone have other leads for San Cristobal?
3. Is anyone familiar with diving in San Cristobal vs Santa Cruz? Should we just plan to take a ferry over to Santa Cruz for 2 nights instead of staying on San Cristobal? Would that be better diving?
In case it's relevant, we are not advanced divers - 25 and 55 dives each, but with more than 10 of those this year.
Thanks! - Jody
I have a few questions...
1. Does anyone know whether dive companies would be willing to pick us up from our boat for diving from any of the islands (we're going to 7 of them or so)?
2. Our tour ends in San Cristobal and then we have two nights before flying back to Quito. I contacted Scuba Iguana and they said they don't operate in San Cristobal. I told them I heard that they were training dive masters there, but they didn't reply to my second email. I couldn't find a web site for Chalo. Does anyone have other leads for San Cristobal?
3. Is anyone familiar with diving in San Cristobal vs Santa Cruz? Should we just plan to take a ferry over to Santa Cruz for 2 nights instead of staying on San Cristobal? Would that be better diving?
In case it's relevant, we are not advanced divers - 25 and 55 dives each, but with more than 10 of those this year.
Thanks! - Jody
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VAtravelers
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Thanks for the Chalo web site...
We heard back from Scuba Iguana with a recommendation:
We heard back from Scuba Iguana with a recommendation:
"We dont like recommending because each dive center is different and have different minimum experience policies for their divemasters. Scuba Iguana has trained fishermen on the island of Isabela to become Divemasters (as a fishing alternative). On San Cristobal, the Charles Darwin Foundation is responsible for that training.
On San Cristobal we like to work with Galakiwi which has many years experience in the diving industry on that island."
So, now we've contacted Galakiwi...On San Cristobal we like to work with Galakiwi which has many years experience in the diving industry on that island."
TranquiloDivers
Registered
There is another option for land-based diving from San Cristobal Island.
Tranquilo Divers is a small dive operation recently started by a native of the island whose family has maintained a diving-fishing tradition for three generations here. He has been working in diving and marine conservation internationally, most recently in Bali and Raja Ampat. He has returned to San Cristobal, Galapagos, with the aim to share with others the wonders of the underwater world he calls home. The operation itself is fairly new, but is backed up by an incredible team with a lot of experience, and currently offers complete land-based diving and tour packages as an alternative to the liveaboard model. Tranquilo Divers can also organize day diving trips to other islands, such as Espanola or Floreana, from your base at San Cristobal as well. One of the most amazing dive sites in the Galapagos Islands is Kicker Rock (schools of Galapagos sharks, silkies, eagle rays and of course, hammerhead sharks!), and it is only half an hour from the Port at San Cristobal - check it out with Tranquilo Divers! www.tranquilodivers.com
Tranquilo Divers is a small dive operation recently started by a native of the island whose family has maintained a diving-fishing tradition for three generations here. He has been working in diving and marine conservation internationally, most recently in Bali and Raja Ampat. He has returned to San Cristobal, Galapagos, with the aim to share with others the wonders of the underwater world he calls home. The operation itself is fairly new, but is backed up by an incredible team with a lot of experience, and currently offers complete land-based diving and tour packages as an alternative to the liveaboard model. Tranquilo Divers can also organize day diving trips to other islands, such as Espanola or Floreana, from your base at San Cristobal as well. One of the most amazing dive sites in the Galapagos Islands is Kicker Rock (schools of Galapagos sharks, silkies, eagle rays and of course, hammerhead sharks!), and it is only half an hour from the Port at San Cristobal - check it out with Tranquilo Divers! www.tranquilodivers.com
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