Galapagos Questions

[jpd22654]

My 18 year old daughter and I have 60+ dives and are investigating the Galapagos. Please respond to any and all questions. We'll go in Jan and stay in Pto. Ayora.

1. Two tank dives mean 5 - 9 hours in the boat. Assuming SI is on boat is seasickness an issue?

2. How many days and how much diving? What are the other activities, e.g. snorkeling, Darwin Station, day boat trips, etc, that are worthwhile? Maybe three days diving and three doing other stuff?

3. Is snorkeling accessible by land, or is it better by boat? Recommendations?

4. We like to stay in a small house, condo, 2bd, 1-2 bath. Habitat at 450-650/week looks good. Other recommendations?

5. Scuba Iguana seems highly thought of. Any other rec's and contact info?

6. Restaurant rec's?

Thanks,

Jake

 

[jorge.a.mahauad]

Hello Jake, some ideas for you:
1. Seasickness can or cannot be an issue, that depends on your body. You can always have seasickness medication anyways so it shouldn't be a problem.
2. 3 days diving and 3 doing other stuff sounds reasonable and a good balance. find out the places where you are going to dive and share those in a forum. you will get suggestions.
3. you can do either way
4. do you have your accomodation set already. I have a frind that rents apartments for the day and they are quite nice. If you want to get in touch with him PM me.
5. Scuba iguana is good.
6. Go to La Garrapata and Café Hernán
Cheers

 

[DiveTheGalapagos]

1. Two tank dives mean 5 - 9 hours in the boat. Assuming SI is on boat is seasickness an issue?

Most SC sites involve a drive (roughly 45 minutes) to Itabaca Canal before you get on a boat. From there, distance depends on site. Less than 30 minutes to Gordon, Seymour, Mosqueras, Daphne...1.5 hours to Beagle, Cousins, etc. Return to Canal for 45 minute drive back to town. Floreana is about 2 hours each way. Santa Fe less than an hour. Dives about an hour with one hour surface intervals.

2. How many days and how much diving? What are the other activities, e.g. snorkeling, Darwin Station, day boat trips, etc, that are worthwhile? Maybe three days diving and three doing other stuff?

Darwin Station always good. Day boat trips hard to come by and expensive as too few boats have permits. You don't want to do a day trip to another island like FLoreana or Isabela. Once there, the day trip tours aren't worth the 4 hour round trip. Tortuga Bay is good on Santa Cruz. Highland tour with Los Gemelos and El Chato for tortoises and tunnels. Better land-based activities on Isabela and great shore snorkeling from Isabela, not Santa Cruz. Do not snorkel near land in Academy Bay. Not clean and fisherman essentially chum the waters by tossing spare parts, so not very safe either.

3. Is snorkeling accessible by land, or is it better by boat? Recommendations?

See above. By boat on Santa Cruz. From shore and by boat on Isabela.

6. Restaurant rec's?

Ask anyone where the 'kiosks' are...about 1 block back from the main road where you arrive into Charles Darwin Av. These are open air restaurants only open in the evenings. It's where all the locals eat and is good, fresh and less expensive for the same dish than most restaurants. Located just before Cafe Hernan, also good. For posh dining, Angermeyer Point is pretty hard to beat. The Rock also good.

 

[jpd22654]

Thank you for taking the time to reply. Great info! A quick follow up:

Would you order/prioritize the 4-5 best dive sites, given that we'll only dive 3-4 days?

Thanks,

Jake

 

[Red Mangrove]

Hi Jake,
With that number of dives I would stick around North Seymour/Mosquera areas, they are close (30 min or so boat ride from the dock) and fairly easy dives. I have seen hammerheads and mantas on every dive there. Combo of diving and land tours is the best way to see Galapagos!