Galapagos Buddy throws in the towel.

[bobfmdc]

Bob,
Do you have any feedback on your trip on the Galapagos Sky? Joe

Joe,

Check the thread. I posted some quick comments.

---------- Post added May 25th, 2014 at 10:17 PM ----------

Bobfmdc, thanks! Great report. Looking forward to your long version.

On another note, have I missed why Buddy didn't just pay its taxes and fees. Seems that rolling out dive boats is an expensive endeavour and then to let it all tank because of the known normal cost of doing business seems bizarre to me.

Story I got was that Buddy Dive's Ecuadorian domestic partner is a bit shady and had some responsibilities in the tax, fee and licensing areas that he did not fulfill. I am not sure about the arrangements, but that seems to be a common situation. Galapagos Sky, for example, is actually owned by an Ecuadorian. One of Peter Hughes's companies staffs the boat and makes the reservations. Presumably, the local owner receives revenues for leasing (?) the boat and other local financial arrangements. Ecuador is very careful about the way the Galapagos Islands are explored, so if you screw up, they will go after the operation. That seems to be what happened to Buddy Dive.

---------- Post added May 25th, 2014 at 10:20 PM ----------

Buddy Dive Bonaire had a Liveaboard boat in the Galapagos. I got on their website yesterday and for the most part all the links to the Buddy Dive Galapagos are gone now.

Yep. They are outa there. One story we got was that their boat was also impounded. Don't know if that is true.

 

[flots am]

Buddy Dive Bonaire had a Liveaboard boat in the Galapagos. I got on their website yesterday and for the most part all the links to the Buddy Dive Galapagos are gone now.

Bad move. They would have been better off to use the money to upgrade the old rooms at their Bonaire resort and workout a system for allowing definite room bookings.

I'm not really fond of booking a vacation and not knowing if I'll get the Penthouse Suite or the Mold Pit.

 

[scubajoe86]

Bobfmdc, Thanks for the review. Definitely was nice to hear a recent positive review. Cheers Joe