Galapagos

[Deefstes]

You can see the bad viz in some of them, but it sort of adds a mood to the cow-nosed rays.

Yes it does. Great shots. Keep 'em coming.

 

[sylpha]

After last Saturday anything over a meter vis is good!

Thanks for the advice on the dry suit tearing thing, i've been advised to take a semi dry for just that reason, but i don't want the hassle of getting one. i've been in touch with the people who made mine ( O'Three Custom Drysuits - Home ) and they have never heard of the problem, but recommend that i take 'black witch' and put it on the sides of the tear as aquasure is a b***** to get off when they repair it.

i'm booked on Galapagos Sky which used to be Sky Dancer, i have to fill in new booking forms for which they will give me free nitrox

I go the last week in November

 

[sylpha]

Oh just one thing whilst you are over there boys, could you please tell me what type of sockets they use on the boat. i want to take the right adaptor so if they are pretty standard US sockets i can take a US one.

 

[louisianadiver]

Oh just one thing whilst you are over there boys, could you please tell me what type of sockets they use on the boat. i want to take the right adaptor so if they are pretty standard US sockets i can take a US one.

I wasn't on a boat, but the sockets on the islands are US-type (probably not exact US voltage). The US dollar is the official currency.

 

[tstormdiver]

I know the Humboldt Explorer uses 110 volt outlets.

 

[merxlin]

Everything I have read for both on boat and on land shows 110V (U.S. voltage).

 

[Hammerhead]

Dry suit damage is an issue. We had several "rock hugging" dives in high current. Everybody on our trip dove wet, and one guy bought a semi-dry especially for the trip because he didn't want to risk a dry suit tear. I dove in a 6.5 with a hood and gloves and was reasonably comfortable. The coldest water we encountered was 63 F. Topside temps were in the mid-70s during the day and mid to low 60s at night in the southern islands. The weather was misty rain most of the time, and viz was not very good--usually 15-20 feet. But, man, there are plenty of amazing things to see.

For my part, I went to Galapagos in 2008 and had a 5mm semi-dry. 6.5mm with hood would have been better, but I managed OK. It should also be noted that I am a certified warm water wimp...:blinking:

 

[marcin.a]

Don't be too afraid with tearing your drysuit. Here, in Norway we dive it all the time and our rocks are rather sharp. Got a small hole or two in last years but that's it. Nothing a bit of a neoprene (or rubber) glue couldn't fix. Just buy the REAL 2 part glue, not the stuff they sell in dive shops.
I hate semidries - they are stiff, and well.... if you pee (and you are more likely to do it, as you are wet) you literally marinate in your own urine.

 

[tstormdiver]

Well, after this weekend, I'm beginning to believe that the picnic tables (Lot of loose screws & nails) is rougher on my drysuits than the rocks in the Galapagos or the caves in FL. I managed to put 2 holes in my newer drysuit this weekend. I'm taking a couple tubes of Aquaseal with me,.... just in case. Good thing is, my cave diving course I'm going through right now, has been teaching me how to maneuver around rocks & how to use them to my advantage in high flow caves.

 

[sylpha]

somebody once told me that a dry suit is a mythical creature. First dive of the weekend they are usually wrong, but after that you are in your own sweat.........

i agree with Marcin, small pin pricks are really just an irritant, you get a wet undersuit which has to dry and you may not have the facilities, but a tear when you are as far from the places which could mend your suit as the Galapagos make sure you have something to patch it with.

I don't think the Galapagos water will be as cold as the Norwegian water, and the air temperature will NOT be colder than the water temperature, but i doubt the vis will be as good. We had 100m when we were there - fabulous holiday.