DiveTheGalapagos
Contributor
1) Reports from the Humboldt's Sept 3-10 departure included 30 whale shark sightings in 1.5 days. Nice. Park was there tagging. It's so fantastic to finally have some scientific information about the migration of whale sharks around Galapagos though heaven forbid any fishermen from Peru, Costa Rica or Manta (EC) ever see the data.
2) Recently a number of people have been inquiring about the legality of using strobes. It finally occurred to me the source of the mixed message is most likely the relatively new dark green informational pamphlet handed out upon arrival into Galapagos at the airports which states "Do not use flash on the wildlife. It can alter their natural way of life. Professional photographers and filmmakers have to have National Park authorization."
From everyone I've checked with, the flash limitation only applies topside. No one is restricting strobes underwater. It has always been true that professionals should first have authorization.
3) One juicy tidbit that is kind of exciting, though not a done deal, is that the Park is considering allowing one night dive per week in an appropriate location. Everyone's favorite night site always was Punta Vicente Roca.
4) Most probably know one Aggressor will retire from diving next year to serve as the day trip boat for the owner's posh new eco hotel in Santa Cruz. And while many might snub a liveaboard that isn't posh, I look forward to operations beginning in the new year of a liveaboard that offers great guides and a great itinerary at a far more economical price that what is currently available. Opens up the playing field a bit... More on that later.
5) As the updated laws approach reality, happy to say at the least the rumblings of a new RMG (Marine Reserve Guide) course are in motion again. In another thread, I was wrong on how long it has been since one was offered...11 years, not 8. In older law, the RMG doesn't actually exist and yet, all liveaboards are limited to using RMG guides or, what does exist on paper, Divemaster/Instructors who are also naturalist guides. Also seems now they don't permit you simply to take along a naturalist guide on Santa Cruz. Now it is restricted to the same as a liveaboard. Constantly shifting with even those things decided rarely enforced from a land-based perspective, thus the illegal dive operations continuing to dive. There are fewer though. Even the one legal so negatively reviewed on SB shut down after 2 accidents a year ago, both primarily due to outsourcing to an illegal, a common thing in the past though now fewer to outsource to...at least on Santa Cruz. No laws seem to yet apply in Isabela though the times there sure are a changin. A 49 year old fishermen on Isabela who has turned to tourism actually said, "Now we need the sharks alive." Words I never thought I would hear over there except maybe from someone under 25. The younger generation is more interested in video games and surfing than fishing. May they have the financial luxury in coming years to remain uninterested. And ps...that same fishermen actually has 2 children in college though he himself only has a 6th grade education..from schools on Isabela at that. Kudos.
2) Recently a number of people have been inquiring about the legality of using strobes. It finally occurred to me the source of the mixed message is most likely the relatively new dark green informational pamphlet handed out upon arrival into Galapagos at the airports which states "Do not use flash on the wildlife. It can alter their natural way of life. Professional photographers and filmmakers have to have National Park authorization."
From everyone I've checked with, the flash limitation only applies topside. No one is restricting strobes underwater. It has always been true that professionals should first have authorization.
3) One juicy tidbit that is kind of exciting, though not a done deal, is that the Park is considering allowing one night dive per week in an appropriate location. Everyone's favorite night site always was Punta Vicente Roca.
4) Most probably know one Aggressor will retire from diving next year to serve as the day trip boat for the owner's posh new eco hotel in Santa Cruz. And while many might snub a liveaboard that isn't posh, I look forward to operations beginning in the new year of a liveaboard that offers great guides and a great itinerary at a far more economical price that what is currently available. Opens up the playing field a bit... More on that later.
5) As the updated laws approach reality, happy to say at the least the rumblings of a new RMG (Marine Reserve Guide) course are in motion again. In another thread, I was wrong on how long it has been since one was offered...11 years, not 8. In older law, the RMG doesn't actually exist and yet, all liveaboards are limited to using RMG guides or, what does exist on paper, Divemaster/Instructors who are also naturalist guides. Also seems now they don't permit you simply to take along a naturalist guide on Santa Cruz. Now it is restricted to the same as a liveaboard. Constantly shifting with even those things decided rarely enforced from a land-based perspective, thus the illegal dive operations continuing to dive. There are fewer though. Even the one legal so negatively reviewed on SB shut down after 2 accidents a year ago, both primarily due to outsourcing to an illegal, a common thing in the past though now fewer to outsource to...at least on Santa Cruz. No laws seem to yet apply in Isabela though the times there sure are a changin. A 49 year old fishermen on Isabela who has turned to tourism actually said, "Now we need the sharks alive." Words I never thought I would hear over there except maybe from someone under 25. The younger generation is more interested in video games and surfing than fishing. May they have the financial luxury in coming years to remain uninterested. And ps...that same fishermen actually has 2 children in college though he himself only has a 6th grade education..from schools on Isabela at that. Kudos.
