Exporer Ventures

[MN Lakeman]

Does anyone know what ever happened to the predecessor of the current Humboldt Explorer, the "Galapagos Eco Explorer I"? The website makes no mention of the replacement, & strangely, still referes to the Eco Explorer's inaugrural trip under "trip reports". I'm booked for a trip in January, & was just curious.

 

[EVFleet]

Sure - the Queen of Galapagos (formerly the Galapagos Eco Explorer I) is still operating in the Galapagos, but is running nature and not diving tours. Unfortunately the recent Galapagos National Park regulation changes allowed only either (1) new boats, (2) boats that had never run nature tours, or (3) boats running liveaboard dive trips in the 90's, to run liveaboard diving excursions - and the Queen didn't qualify for any of the above.

That's a very simplified version of a 2 or 3 year chain of events but is the basic story.

Best,

Clay

 

[MN Lakeman]

Thanks Clay! Mystery solved - however, after following the many Galapagos regulation changes in the past several years, I'll never figure out true reasoning of the Equador government. I'm glad that the Explorer company continued to pursue diving in the Galapagos with the new Humboldt.

 

[mjh]

I have no idea of the reasons/politics behind the live-aboard regulations but after diving there I am glad there are only 4 boats allowed (as I understand it) Given Wolf and Darwin really only have 1 dive site each anymore boats would really ruin the interactions. IMHO

 

[laurenceh]

we just returned from a trip aboard the humboldt explorer (great time) and while we were out there we heard (from several sources) that a total of 15 liveaboards will be granted licenses to wolf and darwin in the near future. such a shame.