Galapagos Trip

[iluvdiving]

My husband and I are making our first trip to the Galapagos Islands in August. We are very excited.

Anyway, I want to get some information as to what to expect from the currents, ecosystem, and Marine life there . . . I've heard differing accounts of how dangerous it can be. I usually have have not a lot of fear when diving (of sharks and things). But, am curious as to what to expect.

Just interested in your thoughts and experiences. Not so much on the boat conditions, but the actual diving.

Thanks.

 

[tkring]

LUCKY YOU! I really want to do this trip. Unfortunatly, I don't have first hand knowledge but did read about it in a DAN magazine a few months back. The author said that this is a GREAT dive with lots of large critters. The land critters were also great/interesting. However, there are very strong currents and can be cold so be prepared.

Also, check your passport expiration date NOW!

Please let us know how your trip goes.

 

[Ber Rabbit]

My instructor went last year and said they were the most challenging currents she has ever had to deal with. She and another diver were ripped away from the group by the current on one dive and when they surfaced they could not see anything but water. The flag the boat gave them came in handy and after 20 minutes or so the skiff saw them and came to pick them up. She said their ascent was delayed on one dive by a huge school of hammerheads and she was glad she had not followed the boat's "start your ascent at 500psi" recommendation or she would have had to ascend through the school. Starting her ascents at no less than 1000psi allowed her to delay her ascent if needed. She said they saw whale sharks on every dive and it was the most incredible trip she has ever taken. They dove in dry suits and she said a 5-7mm wetsuit would have been fine. Everyone came home with tiny holes in their drysuits from being pushed into barnacles by the current. I know she had a great time and came home with some great photos and video.
Ber :lilbunny:

 

[Dr. Doug Ebersole]

I was in Galapagos in October 2005 on Deep Blue and had a great trip. The water can be cold for a warm water wussie from Florida like myself in the southern islands (58 degrees was the coldest) but was around 70 degrees in Wolf and Darwin in the north. Yes, there can be strong currents and even down currents (our bubbles were going down instead of up on one dive!) but I never felt the diving was "dangerous". Most operators state that the trip is for "advanced" divers and recommend having at least 50 logged dives. The marine life was great with lots of sharks, rays, turtles, sea lions, etc. We also had lots of eels, seahorses, batfish, the occasional dolphin, and even snorkelled with penquins. Unfortunately, no whale sharks showed up on our trip but that's the luck of the draw. The topside life was as interesting as the marine life. It's a great trip and I would recommend it highly to anyone!

My trip report is on my website (www.debersole.com) under "News". For some reason I cant' get the link to work to send you to it directly.

Also, here's a link to photos from the trip:

http://debersole.com/layout/0001/gallery_view.cfm?g=71

Have a great trip!!!!!

 

[menemsha43]

Nice pictures. Looks great. I'm scheduled for August. Will probably use a 5mm and hooded vest. Hope that's enough

 

[tedwhiteva]

Went to Galapagos Last Sept on Deep Blue (just before DEBERSOLE I guess!). Plan on 70 degree water. Those in our group who dove every dive and weren't cold were either in 7mm or 5 mm with a hooded vest. I wore a 7 mm semidry with attached hood and was fine on all 16 dives.

Current is manageable. The skill you really need is buoyancy control. At least 2/3rds of our dives wound up in open water - thats where the whale sharks are. You descend to the shore/rocks, but then swim out into the blue about 1/2 way through. You gotta be able to do a 3 min 15' safety stop with no line or shore for referemnce - they don't blow bags for reference.

Have fun and be ready for AWESOME marine life!

 

[pitah]

you will have a terrific time there. plan to take on board lots of film, al lot of space for digital pictures storage. the place is incredible. my trip report is here http://www.geocities.com/shark_noextinction/

regards.

 

[ChrisM]

Was also there in Sept 05 on the Aggressor. Wolf and Darwin are where the real action is. My suunto showed 74 degrees up there. Southern islands are generally colder, but we also found 74 down there as well.

It's physical diving. Load onto a zodiac with all your gear on, backroll in, usualy profile is swim down to rocks, you can pick your depth - 50-70-100, whatever. Hang out there for a while, watch as the current brings by the most amazing show you've ever seen. At one point, for literally 5 minutes (NOT an exxageration) I had 12 eagle rays, 3-4 hammers, and several galapagos sharks hovering right above me. I mean right there. I got sick of taking their pics

If the DM sees a whaleshark kick out into the blue and enjoy it. If you can get back to the reef (all rocks and barnacles), go back, if not, or if 20-30 minutes passes without a WS, go out into the blue and see what you can see. hammers, mobulas, silkies, HUGE schools of fish. It's fun in the blue too

We were lucky enough to spend 7 full days at Wolf and Darwin on our 11 day trip

Dangerous? It can be. Advanced? Yes. You need to be comfortable among big sharks, blue water safety stops, hanging out at the surface, possbily strong currents. But well worth it. Been to a lotof places, Galapagos is the best.

Heh heh, read Pitah's dive 13 or 14 , described as the best dive ever. Yup, that about nails it.

ChrisM

 

[Benthos]

Check out my gallery for all the underwater pics of whale sharks etc.

The diving is OK. The Diving at Darwin and the cave dive at Wolf are excellent though and quite unique.

As for difficulty it’s all a mater of perspective. If you’re a tropical holiday diver then yes its cold and rough. If you’re a northern pacific diver then it’s flat and balmy. Regardless of who you are I will say this. STAY ON YOUR DIVE MASTER! They are experts and finding the things you wont. If you turn your head to take some pictures everyone may rush out into the blue water after a herd of whale sharks and leave you in on the rock. The dives on the outer islands tend to be deep and long so have a computer or two. Having a Nitrox cert would be well worth the $$ for this trip alone. We saw 5 whale sharks in one day at Darwin, 3 on one dive. Some days they are there and some days there not. If the current's up you have a good shot.