Kevster
Contributor
Galapagos Aggressor Trip report 2nd-9th Oct 08
Flights: Amsterdam to Quito via Bonaire on KLM (1400 Euros). AreoGal to Galapagos from Quito ($355).
Quito 2 nights in Quito before trip. Quito was a nice place to stay & recover from jet lag. Nu House Hotel ($125 per night) was excellent hotel in excellent location. Very close to main nightlife. Equator monument was a nice day trip. There is a great museum where you can see the coriolis effect (draining bucket of water) on either side of the equator line
Galapagos
7 nights aboard the Aggressor 1. Boat was ok. Not as nice as some of the Liveaboards I have been on but more than adequate. Food was very good. Rooms were decent size with on suite bathroom. Dive deck was good.
Diving
Most dives 45-55 mins, approx 20-25 m. Ean 32%.
Southern site approx 22-24 C
Northern sites 24-26 C
Day 1 (Thur) Check dive. Cold. Various Sealions. No current.
Day 2 (Fri) 2 Dives at Mosquera Isl. Cold.Little current. Lots of Garden eels, eagle rays, massive manta. A few sharks (Galapagos/white/black tips)
Day 3 (Sat) 4 Dives at Wolf. 2 dives at landslide, 2 dives at the point. Warm. Challenging dive conditions. Strong current & surge at landslide. Had to use both hands to hold onto the rocks. Very difficult to take photos even with a small P&S camera. Hammerheads but in the distance. Several eagle rays. Dolphins at safety stop. Did not really enjoy the diving at Wolf due to uncomfortable conditions. Was sick after one of the dives.
Day 4 (Sun) 4 Dives at Darwin. Warm. Good conditions. Little current, no surge. Could move around within holding onto rocks. So much marine life. Spent 20-30 mins on edge of wall, then 20 mins out in Blue water looking for whale sharks, hammers. So much marine life. Sharks,turtles,rays,morays,dolphins
Day 5 (Mon) 3 Dives at Darwin. Conditions similar to day 4.
Day 6 (Tue) 2 Dives Cousins Rocks. Cold. 1 Macro dive. Seahorse & frogfish, lots of turtles. 1 dive with sealions.
Day 7 (Wed)- 1 Dive at Gordon Rocks. Cold. Limited viss. Hammers & eagle rays.
Day 8 (Thur) Leave boat at 8.30. Flight at 12.45. Overnight Quito.
Best viss was at Darwin, 10-20 m. Photography was difficult with low light and strong current. Did not dive with a strobe after day 1.
Highlights
Massive Whale shark (13m?) spotted on 4 out of 7 dives at Darwin. Lots of close hammerhead action at Darwin. Seals at Gordons rock. Dolphins at safety stop at Wolf.
Weather/Sea Conditions
Weather was mixed. Sunny & cloudy. 29 C. Sea conditions were ok. The journey back from Darwin (18+ hrs) was a bit rough; luckily I slept most of the way.
Water was warmer than expected at Wolf & Darwin which impacted marine life seen according to dive guide. I dived in a 7/5mm combination wetsuit and did not feel cold. Only wore a hood at sites in the south. Definitely need good gloves.
Land Excursions.
Land excursions to various islands were great. Lots to see. Would be a shame to do a Liveaboard and not be able to do these excursions.
Bonaire
Decided to stop over in Bonaire on my return from Quito. KLM flies Quito-Bonaire-Amsterdam. Spent 4 nights at Buddy dive resort. 5 Dives. Warm water, nice viss & easy diving. Personally I did not enjoy Bonaire. Would not particularly recommend Buddy Dive. Nice reefs but not much fish life. Perhaps I am suffering from post dramatic Galapagos diving syndrome.
Conclusion
Diving was challenging (cold & currents) but FANTASTIC. Darwins Arch was simply amazing. Will definitely be returning to Galapagos.
Flights: Amsterdam to Quito via Bonaire on KLM (1400 Euros). AreoGal to Galapagos from Quito ($355).
Quito 2 nights in Quito before trip. Quito was a nice place to stay & recover from jet lag. Nu House Hotel ($125 per night) was excellent hotel in excellent location. Very close to main nightlife. Equator monument was a nice day trip. There is a great museum where you can see the coriolis effect (draining bucket of water) on either side of the equator line
Galapagos
7 nights aboard the Aggressor 1. Boat was ok. Not as nice as some of the Liveaboards I have been on but more than adequate. Food was very good. Rooms were decent size with on suite bathroom. Dive deck was good.
Diving
Most dives 45-55 mins, approx 20-25 m. Ean 32%.
Southern site approx 22-24 C
Northern sites 24-26 C
Day 1 (Thur) Check dive. Cold. Various Sealions. No current.
Day 2 (Fri) 2 Dives at Mosquera Isl. Cold.Little current. Lots of Garden eels, eagle rays, massive manta. A few sharks (Galapagos/white/black tips)
Day 3 (Sat) 4 Dives at Wolf. 2 dives at landslide, 2 dives at the point. Warm. Challenging dive conditions. Strong current & surge at landslide. Had to use both hands to hold onto the rocks. Very difficult to take photos even with a small P&S camera. Hammerheads but in the distance. Several eagle rays. Dolphins at safety stop. Did not really enjoy the diving at Wolf due to uncomfortable conditions. Was sick after one of the dives.
Day 4 (Sun) 4 Dives at Darwin. Warm. Good conditions. Little current, no surge. Could move around within holding onto rocks. So much marine life. Spent 20-30 mins on edge of wall, then 20 mins out in Blue water looking for whale sharks, hammers. So much marine life. Sharks,turtles,rays,morays,dolphins
Day 5 (Mon) 3 Dives at Darwin. Conditions similar to day 4.
Day 6 (Tue) 2 Dives Cousins Rocks. Cold. 1 Macro dive. Seahorse & frogfish, lots of turtles. 1 dive with sealions.
Day 7 (Wed)- 1 Dive at Gordon Rocks. Cold. Limited viss. Hammers & eagle rays.
Day 8 (Thur) Leave boat at 8.30. Flight at 12.45. Overnight Quito.
Best viss was at Darwin, 10-20 m. Photography was difficult with low light and strong current. Did not dive with a strobe after day 1.
Highlights
Massive Whale shark (13m?) spotted on 4 out of 7 dives at Darwin. Lots of close hammerhead action at Darwin. Seals at Gordons rock. Dolphins at safety stop at Wolf.
Weather/Sea Conditions
Weather was mixed. Sunny & cloudy. 29 C. Sea conditions were ok. The journey back from Darwin (18+ hrs) was a bit rough; luckily I slept most of the way.
Water was warmer than expected at Wolf & Darwin which impacted marine life seen according to dive guide. I dived in a 7/5mm combination wetsuit and did not feel cold. Only wore a hood at sites in the south. Definitely need good gloves.
Land Excursions.
Land excursions to various islands were great. Lots to see. Would be a shame to do a Liveaboard and not be able to do these excursions.
Bonaire
Decided to stop over in Bonaire on my return from Quito. KLM flies Quito-Bonaire-Amsterdam. Spent 4 nights at Buddy dive resort. 5 Dives. Warm water, nice viss & easy diving. Personally I did not enjoy Bonaire. Would not particularly recommend Buddy Dive. Nice reefs but not much fish life. Perhaps I am suffering from post dramatic Galapagos diving syndrome.
Conclusion
Diving was challenging (cold & currents) but FANTASTIC. Darwins Arch was simply amazing. Will definitely be returning to Galapagos.
