The Galapagos Islands, a living testament to the wonders of evolution, invite you to embark on an unparalleled underwater adventure. The Scuba News Travel Team presents exclusive liveaboard deals that promise not only to immerse you in the pristine waters surrounding Wolf & Darwin but also to unveil the extraordinary marine life that calls this archipelago home. Dive into the details of these exceptional offers:

• Galapagos Aggressor III – Galapagos Islands with Wolf & Darwin
  • Departure: 04 Jan 2024
  • Price: from €4,991.00
  • Dive into the Galapagos with a 25% discount. Uncover the wonders of Wolf & Darwin. (Baltra – Baltra)
• Galapagos Master – Master the Galapagos 7-Night
  • Departure: 27 May 2024
  • Price: from €5,091.00
  • DEMA Special! Book by November 30, 2023, and enjoy a 20% discount on this exclusive 7-night adventure. (San Cristobal – San Cristobal)

The Galapagos Islands, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offer a unique underwater realm where marine life thrives in harmony. From hammerhead sharks to playful sea lions, each dive promises encounters with species found nowhere else on Earth. These exclusive liveaboard deals not only grant you access to this pristine ecosystem but also provide substantial savings for your extraordinary journey.

Secure your spot now and prepare to dive into the untouched beauty of the Galapagos Islands. Click, book, and set sail with The Scuba News Travel Team for an adventure that transcends the ordinary. Your Galapagos underwater odyssey awaits!

See a wide selection of worldwide travel options at: https://travel.thescubanews.com

Are you ready to embark on an underwater journey of a lifetime? The Scuba News Travel Team have scoured the depths of the internet to bring you the most enticing scuba diving liveaboard travel deals. Get ready to explore vibrant coral reefs, encounter fascinating marine life, and make memories that will last a lifetime. Dive into the details of these exclusive offers that promise not only unforgettable experiences but also unbeatable savings!

Indonesia – Explore the Hidden Wonders

1. Aliikai Voyage – North & Central Raja Ampat
   • Departure: 05 Dec 2023
   • Price: from €4,656.00
   • Itinerary: Leisurely exploration, snorkeling, and 1-2 dives per day (Sorong – Sorong)
   • Last Minute Special Offer! Valid for a limited time only. (20% OFF)
2. Ecopro Duyung Baru – Komodo
   • Departure: 07 Sep 2024
   • Price: from €2,784.00
   • Early Bird Special! Book now and save 25% on your Komodo adventure! (Labuan Bajo – Labuan Bajo)
3. Emperor Harmoni – Best of Raja Ampat
   • Departure: 10 Jan 2024
   • Price: from €3,591.00
   • Dive into the beauty of Raja Ampat with an exclusive 30% OFF. Limited time offer! (Sorong – Sorong)
4. Indo Siren – Komodo National Park
   • Departure: 11 Jun 2024
   • Price: from €4,302.00
   • Secure your spot in Komodo National Park with a fantastic 20% Early Bird Deal! (Bima – Labuan Bajo)
5. Komodo Sea Dragon – Unleash the Adventure
   • Departure: 06 Jan 2024
   • Price: from €1,134.00
   • Also available for full charter booking. Dive deep into Komodo National Park and enjoy a 20% discount! (Labuan Bajo – Labuan Bajo)
6. Samambaia – Raja Ampat North
   • Departure: 11 Dec 2023
   • Price: from €4,567.00
   • Last Minute Special! Book now for an incredible 20% OFF on new bookings. (Sorong – Sorong)

Bahamas – Discover the Mysteries of the Deep

• Bahamas Master – Grand Bahama and Beyond
  • Departure: 19 Dec 2024
  • Price: from €4,513.00
  • Seize the Early Bird Deal! Book now and enjoy a 20% discount on your Bahamas adventure. (Freeport – Freeport)

Egypt – Unveil the Secrets of the Red Sea

• Blue Horizon – Daedalus & St Johns
  • Departure: 03 Jun 2024
  • Price: from €1,087.00
  • Dive into the Red Sea with a special DEMA Show Offer! Save 20% for a limited time only. (Marsa Ghalib – Marsa Ghalib)
• Blue Melody – Best of Wrecks & Brothers
  • Departure: 05 Apr 2024
  • Price: from €862.00
  • Explore the underwater wonders with a 20% discount. Act fast, this DEMA Show Offer won’t last long! (Hurghada – Hurghada)
• Freedom III – Dive into History
  • Departure: 03 Dec 2023
  • Price: from €480.00
  • Explore Thistlegorm, Dunraven, Ras Mohammed & Tiran and enjoy a 20% discount. Contact us for details! (Umbi – Umbi)

Maldives – Paradise Awaits

• Blue Voyager – Best of the Central Atolls
  • Departure: 09 May 2024
  • Price: from €1,758.00
  • DEMA Show Offer! Secure your spot in paradise with a 30% discount for a limited time only. (Male – Male)
• Honors Legacy – Best of Maldives
  • Departure: 14 Sep 2024
  • Price: from €1,617.00
  • Take advantage of the Early Bird Special! Book now and save 20% on your Maldives adventure. (Male – Male)

Galapagos – Explore the Enchanted Isles

• Galapagos Aggressor III – Galapagos Islands with Wolf & Darwin
  • Departure: 04 Jan 2024
  • Price: from €4,991.00
  • Dive into the Galapagos with a 25% discount. Uncover the wonders of Wolf & Darwin. (Baltra – Baltra)
• Galapagos Master – Master the Galapagos 7-Night
  • Departure: 27 May 2024
  • Price: from €5,091.00
  • DEMA Special! Book by November 30, 2023, and enjoy a 20% discount on this exclusive 7-night adventure. (San Cristobal – San Cristobal)

Djibouti – Discover the Hidden Gem

• Lucy – Seven Brothers/Tadjourah
  • Departure: 25 Nov 2023
  • Price: from €1,599.00
  • Dive into Djibouti’s hidden wonders with a 20% discount. Limited time offer! (Djibouti Marina – Djibouti Marina)

Micronesia – Dive into a World of Wonder

• Palau Siren – Full Moon Spawning
  • Departure: 04 Dec 2024
  • Price: from €5,205.00
  • Enjoy an unforgettable experience with a 20% Early Bird Deal. Dive into Palau’s full moon spawning! (Koror – Koror)

Philippines – Immerse Yourself in Beauty

• Philippine Siren – Malapascua & Visayas
  • Departure: 17 Jul 2024
  • Price: from €2,690.00
  • DEMA Specials! Book before November 30, 2023, and enjoy a 30% discount on this extraordinary dive adventure. (Mactan – Mactan)

Solomon Islands – Dive into the Heart of the Pacific

• Solomons Master – Best of Solomons
  • Departure: 27 Feb 2024
  • Price: from €3,969.00
  • DEMA Special! Book now and save 30% on your exploration of the Best of Solomons. Limited time offer! (Honiara – Honiara)

Thailand – Explore Exotic Dive Sites

• The Phinisi – Best of Thailand
  • Departure: 11 Feb 2024
  • Price: from €2,437.00
  • Dive into the beauty of Thailand with a 20% DEMA Special. Valid until November 30, 2023. (Chalong – Thap Lamu)

Don’t miss out on these incredible offers! Secure your spot now and get ready to plunge into a world of underwater wonders. Click, book, and dive into the adventure of a lifetime with The Scuba News!

The Scuba News Travel Team carefully select from hundreds of liveaboard travel operators around the world. If you find a good deal at The Scuba News and make a booking, we may receive a small commission. This, however does not affect the price you pay.

See all of the Worldwide Liveaboards curated by The Scuba News Travel Team at: https://travel.thescubanews.com

The Galapagos Islands, renowned for their unique and diverse ecosystems, are a dream destination for scuba divers. Beneath the pristine waters surrounding these volcanic islands, a world of underwater wonders awaits exploration. This week, we’ve scoured the internet to bring you some of the most captivating liveaboard dive deals in the Galapagos, offering you a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to dive into this extraordinary marine paradise. Whether you’re fascinated by iconic marine life, thrilling underwater landscapes, or just the sheer beauty of untouched nature, the Galapagos offers it all. Dive into the enchantment of the Galapagos with these exclusive offers:

Nortada – Whale Shark Diving: Isabela, Darwin, and Wolf Islands (Santa Cruz – Santa Cruz)

• Departure: October 27, 2023
• Price: Starting from €3,788.00
• Deal: Don’t miss this last-minute deal offering a 16% discount on the chance to dive with whale sharks at Isabela, Darwin, and Wolf Islands. Experience the magic of these legendary dive sites, home to some of the ocean’s most iconic inhabitants.

The Galapagos Islands’ underwater world is a living testament to the beauty of marine life in its natural state. These liveaboard deals provide you with a unique opportunity to explore the incredible underwater beauty of the Galapagos. Whether you’re an experienced diver or new to the sport, these offers cater to various budgets and schedules. Don’t miss out on these remarkable opportunities to dive into the depths of the Galapagos. Book your Galapagos adventure today and get ready to immerse yourself in an underwater paradise you’ll never forget!

See more worldwide liveaboard deals at: https://www.scubadiverdeals.com

Are you ready to embark on the underwater adventure of a lifetime? We’ve scoured the internet for the best scuba diving liveaboard travel deals this week, and we’ve uncovered a treasure trove of discounts and special offers in some of the world’s most captivating dive destinations. Whether you’re a seasoned diver or a novice looking to explore the depths, there’s something here for everyone. From the pristine coral reefs of Indonesia to the exotic marine life of the Galapagos, these liveaboard deals are too good to pass up. Let’s dive right in!

Indonesia – Dive into Paradise

Aurora – Departing on January 10, 2024, you can explore the wonders of Raja Ampat Central/South from just €3,671.00. Plus, enjoy a 20% discount.

Damai I – For a last-minute adventure, join the December 3, 2023, trip from €4,496.00 and explore Alor to Komodo. New bookings get a whopping 30% discount.

Ecopro Duyung Baru – Plan ahead for a Komodo expedition on June 1, 2024, for just €2,467.00. Book early to get a 25% discount.

Ilike – Dive into Raja Ampat and Halmahera from March 26, 2024, for €3,792.00 and save 20%.

Jelajahi Laut – Don’t miss out on the October 28, 2023, adventure to Maluku & West Papua for only €4,326.00. New bookings can enjoy a 25% discount.

Mermaid II – Kick off the new year in style with a Raja Ampat adventure from January 2, 2024, for €3,040.00 and save 20%.

Scubaspa Zen – Dive into the Raja Ampat Expedition on January 8, 2024, for €3,919.00 and save 20%.

Maldives – Dive into Paradise Part 2

Blue Voyager – Explore the Southern Atolls on February 20, 2024, from just €2,659.00 and save 20%. Group specials are also available.

EcoPro Mariana – Book by November 30, 2023, for free Nitrox and a 25% discount in the Central Atolls.

EcoPro Moonima – Make the most of the Best of Maldives trip and enjoy free Nitrox and a 25% discount when you book by November 31, 2023.

Emperor Explorer – Dive the Best of Maldives for 7 nights starting November 26, 2023, for €1,799.00 and enjoy a 30% discount for new bookings.

Emperor Serenity – Join the Best of Maldives adventure on November 12, 2023, from €1,968.00, with a 20% discount for new bookings.

Honors Legacy – Get ready for the Best of Maldives from June 22, 2024, and save 20% with the early bird special.

Maldives Legend Sea Pleasure – Enjoy a special offer until December 1, 2023, and save 25%.

Sachika – Last-minute adventurers, don’t miss the Best of Central Atolls on November 4, 2023, with a 20% discount.

Scubaspa Yang – Another last-minute offer! Dive into the Best of Maldives on November 4, 2023, and save 25%.

Scubaspa Ying – Last-minute offer for Best of Maldives on December 9, 2023, and save 20%.

Sunseeker – Get the year started right with the Best of Central Atolls on December 30, 2023, and save 20%.

Theia – Plan ahead for the Central Route on January 6, 2024, and save 20%.

Egypt – Dive into History

Emperor Echo – Join the South and St. Johns expedition on December 14, 2023, for €836.00 with a 20% discount for new bookings.

Ghani – Experience the Golden Triangle Cruise from November 25, 2023, for €1,050.00 and save €200. Rates include discounts.

Red Sea Aggressor II – Dive the Northern Red Sea, Ras Mohamed, and Straits of Tiran on March 30, 2024, and save a whopping $1,211.

Seven Seas – Explore the South and St. Johns on November 23, 2023, and save 20%.

Thailand – Dive into Exotic Waters

Giamani – Take advantage of the Special Autumn Sale for a two-day, two-night adventure departing on October 27, 2023, for €668.00.

The Junk – Dive the Similan & Surin Islands from December 11, 2023, and save 20%. This offer is valid until October 31, 2023.

The Phinisi – Explore the Similan & Surin Islands from December 21, 2023, and save 20%. This offer is also valid until October 31, 2023.

Philippines – Dive into Tropical Beauty

Infiniti – Join the Malapascua & Leyte expedition on October 12, 2024, for €1,898.00 and save 20%. This offer is valid for a limited time, so contact us for details.

Galapagos – Dive into Natural Wonder

Nortada – Dive with whale sharks in Isabela, Darwin, and Wolf Islands on October 27, 2023, and save 16% with this last-minute deal.

Micronesia – Dive into the Pacific

Palau Siren – Explore the Palau Islands on March 25, 2024, and enjoy a 30% discount as part of the monthly special. Act fast, as this offer is only valid for a limited time.

Australia – Dive into the Coral Sea

Spoilsport – Dive the Coral Sea Exploratory from November 2, 2023, for €2,487.00 and enjoy $500 off in early bird specials (except for the Budget Cabin).

With such fantastic offers in these incredible dive destinations, there’s no better time to plan your next underwater adventure. Whether you’re chasing manta rays in the Maldives or exploring the rich marine biodiversity of Indonesia, there’s a liveaboard deal waiting for you. Book now, and start counting down the days until your next scuba diving expedition!

See more Scuba Diving Travel deals at: https://www.scubadiverdeals.com

As the temperatures drop and winter begins to take hold in many parts of the world, November opens a unique window of opportunity for avid scuba divers. With fewer tourists, milder weather, and exceptional marine encounters, this month beckons adventurers to explore the underwater wonders of these top scuba diving destinations.

Maui, Hawaii, USA

Known as the Valley Isle, Maui offers an enchanting underwater world that thrives year-round. In November, the island enjoys calm seas and comfortable water temperatures, providing the perfect backdrop for diving excursions. Dive Molokini Crater to witness colorful coral gardens, Hawaiian green sea turtles, and playful spinner dolphins.

Curaçao, Caribbean

Curaçao is a hidden gem in the southern Caribbean, and November is an excellent time to discover its underwater treasures. With warm waters, great visibility, and vibrant coral reefs, this island paradise promises fantastic diving experiences. Explore the Blue Room cave, navigate through underwater tunnels, and encounter a plethora of marine life, including seahorses and frogfish.

Galápagos Islands, Ecuador

November is the start of the warmer season in the Galápagos Islands, making it an optimal time for divers to explore this unique archipelago. Dive alongside hammerhead sharks, sea lions, and marine iguanas in the company of expert guides who provide insights into Charles Darwin’s natural laboratory.

Bali, Indonesia

Bali, the Island of the Gods, offers enchanting dive sites year-round. In November, as the wet season begins to fade, divers can explore crystal-clear waters, vibrant coral reefs, and the famous USS Liberty Shipwreck in Tulamben. Don’t miss the chance to witness the mesmerizing mola mola (sunfish) in season.

Socorro Island, Mexico

Socorro Island, also known as the “Mexican Galápagos,” is a remote destination accessible by liveaboard only. November brings mild weather and opportunities to encounter large pelagic species, including giant manta rays, humpback whales, and hammerhead sharks. It’s a haven for advanced divers seeking thrilling encounters in open waters.

Fiji

Fiji’s warm, tropical waters and welcoming locals make it a popular diving destination year-round. In November, you’ll experience fewer crowds and ideal conditions for exploring soft coral gardens, swim-throughs, and underwater caves. The Great Astrolabe Reef and the Beqa Lagoon are must-visit spots to discover Fiji’s marine biodiversity.

The Azores, Portugal

Located in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, the Azores offer unique diving experiences with volcanic seascapes, deep-blue waters, and an abundance of marine life. November brings cooler temperatures, but the diving is still exceptional. Explore underwater hot springs, caves, and the chance to encounter majestic devil rays and blue sharks.

Malaysia: Sipadan and Mabul Islands

For a November diving adventure with a touch of seclusion, head to Sipadan and Mabul Islands in Malaysia. These islands offer excellent visibility, diverse marine life, and world-class dive sites. Swim alongside turtles, barracudas, and schools of jacks at Sipadan’s famed drop-offs.

Before you embark on your November scuba diving escapades, ensure you have the necessary certifications, gear, and local knowledge to dive safely. Whether you’re an experienced diver seeking thrilling encounters or a novice explorer looking to dive into a new passion, these destinations promise unforgettable underwater adventures this November. Dive in and discover the magic that lies beneath the surface!

Start planning your next scuba diving holiday at: https://www.scubadivertravel.com

If you’ve ever dreamt of diving in one of the world’s most renowned marine wonderlands, the Galapagos Islands, Calipso Dive has an offer that’s too good to resist. Departing on November 2, 2023, from the captivating San Cristobal, this Thursday departure promises an unparalleled adventure through the Galapagos archipelago.

• Calipso Dive – 2nd November 2023 – $2000 OFF

What sets this offer apart? Calipso Dive is extending an incredible $2000 discount to all new bookings, making this once-in-a-lifetime experience even more accessible with rates starting at just €4,539.00.

The Galapagos Islands, a UNESCO World Heritage site, are known for their pristine waters teeming with unique and diverse marine life. From graceful sea turtles to playful sea lions, hammerhead sharks, and endemic Galapagos penguins, every dive is a chance to encounter species found nowhere else on Earth.

Explore the underwater lava formations, swim alongside giant tortoises, and witness the magic of evolution in action. With Calipso Dive, you’ll not only immerse yourself in the wonders of the Galapagos but also enjoy an exclusive discount that makes this adventure an irresistible opportunity for divers of all levels. Don’t miss this chance to make your Galapagos diving dream come true! Book now and be prepared for an adventure you’ll cherish for a lifetime.

Learn more about this offer

Are you ready for the underwater adventure of a lifetime? Look no further! We’ve scoured the internet to bring you the most exclusive liveaboard dive offers for your dream destinations. Whether you’re a seasoned diver or just starting out, these deals are too good to pass up. Read on to explore the wonders of the Galapagos, Indonesia, Egypt, and the Maldives.

Galapagos Islands

• Calipso Dive – November 2, 2023

Embark on an unforgettable journey to the pristine Galapagos Islands with Calipso Dive. Departing from San Cristobal, this Thursday departure offers a unique opportunity to witness the astonishing marine life of the Galapagos archipelago. What’s more, you’ll enjoy a fantastic $2000 discount on this voyage, with rates starting from just €4,539.00.

Indonesia

• Ecopro Duyung Baru – May 7, 2024

Calling all early birds! Dive into the breathtaking waters of Komodo National Park with Ecopro Duyung Baru. Book now and enjoy a fantastic 25% off on this expedition, starting at €2,186.00.

• Komodo Sea Dragon – November 2, 2023

Discover the mesmerizing beauty of Komodo National Park with Komodo Sea Dragon. Snag a 25% discount on your adventure, with rates beginning at just €1,739.00.

Egypt

• Emperor Elite – November 9, 2023

Set sail to the enchanting South and St. Johns in the Red Sea with Emperor Elite. New bookings can enjoy a phenomenal 30% off, starting at €977.00.

• Jessica – October 14, 2023

Uncover the wonders of North – Tiran with Jessica and save €400 on your journey. Rates start from €750.00 for new bookings only.

• Red Sea Aggressor II – March 30, 2024

Don’t miss out on this incredible offer for the Northern Red Sea, Ras Mohamed, and the Straits of Tiran with Red Sea Aggressor II. With a discount of $1211, rates begin at just €1,466.00.

• Seven Seas – December 7, 2023

Sail from Marsa Ghalib to Hurghada with Seven Seas and enjoy a generous 30% off, starting at €875.00.

Maldives

• Emperor Explorer – October 29, 2023

Experience the Best of Maldives with Emperor Explorer and save a whopping 30%. Rates for this 7-night adventure start at €1,799.00 for new bookings only.

• Emperor Leo – December 9, 2023

Delve into the wonders of the Maldives with Emperor Leo and enjoy a 30% discount. Rates start from €1,537.00 for new bookings only.

• Emperor Virgo – November 26, 2023

Sail the Best of Maldives with Emperor Virgo and enjoy a 30% discount on your journey. Rates start at €1,467.00 for new bookings only.

• Emperor Voyager – November 4, 2023

Embark on a 7-night adventure in the Maldives with Emperor Voyager and save 30%. Rates start at €1,572.00 for new bookings only.

• Maldives Aggressor II – February 4, 2024

Explore the Best of Maldives with Maldives Aggressor II and enjoy a fantastic $1200 discount. Rates start at €2,381.00, including discounts.

• Scubaspa Yang – October 7, 2023

For those seeking a last-minute escape, Scubaspa Yang offers a 25% discount on the Best of Maldives adventure. Rates start at €1,881.00 for new bookings only.

• Scubaspa Ying – November 18, 2023

Last-minute travelers can also enjoy a 25% discount on the Best of Maldives voyage with Scubaspa Ying. Rates start at €2,201.00 for new bookings only.

Don’t miss out on these incredible liveaboard dive offers! Whether you’re drawn to the Galapagos’ unique biodiversity, the stunning reefs of Indonesia, the historical charm of Egypt’s Red Sea, or the tropical paradise of the Maldives, there’s an adventure waiting for you. Book now and make your underwater dreams a reality.

See more worldwide liveaboard options at: https://www.scubadivertravel.com

The Galapagos Islands, often hailed as the “Enchanted Isles,” are a paradise for both divers and nature enthusiasts alike. This remote archipelago is where Charles Darwin first formulated his theory of evolution, and to this day, it remains one of the world’s most pristine and captivating natural laboratories. If you’re yearning for an extraordinary underwater adventure, then look no further than the Galapagos Islands. Here, we’ve unearthed a liveaboard offer that promises an unparalleled journey through this evolutionary marvel:

Aqua – 03 Oct 2023 – from €2,996.00 – Itinerary A – Diving Trip (Baltra – Baltra) – (35% OFF)

Embark on a voyage of discovery with Aqua’s remarkable 35% discount on their Itinerary A diving trip. Starting on October 3, 2023, this expedition offers an extraordinary opportunity to immerse yourself in the unique marine world of the Galapagos. From swimming with playful sea lions to encountering ancient giant tortoises, every moment here is a testament to the incredible biodiversity that has made these islands legendary.

Explore crystal-clear waters teeming with hammerhead sharks, schools of colorful fish, and marine iguanas that gracefully swim beneath the surface. Aqua’s expert guides will lead you to the most iconic dive sites in this UNESCO World Heritage site, providing you with an up-close and personal encounter with the evolution that inspired Charles Darwin.

The Galapagos Islands offer an unparalleled chance to witness nature in its purest form, and Aqua’s discounted liveaboard trip is your ticket to experiencing this wonderland. Whether you’re an avid diver or an eco-adventurer, seize this opportunity to explore the archipelago that forever changed our understanding of life on Earth. Book your place today, and get ready to embark on an evolutionary journey like no other.

See more Galapagos Islands Liveaboard Deals at: https://www.thescubanews.com/galapagos/

Prepare to embark on an unparalleled underwater odyssey as we unveil this week’s exceptional liveaboard offers, curated from the far reaches of the internet. From the mystical depths of Saudi Arabia to the captivating Galapagos Islands, the tropical wonders of Indonesia to the historical treasures of Egypt, and the paradisiacal Maldives to the vibrant marine world of Belize, and not forgetting the hidden Caribbean gem of Honduras and the tropical allure of Thailand. Our carefully selected liveaboard deals encompass it all. Dive into the details of each destination below:

Saudi Arabia: Jeddah’s Hidden Treasures

• Almonda – 07 Oct 2023 – from €722.00 – Five Corals & Seven Sisters (Jeddah – Jeddah) – Last Minute Deal! (30% OFF)

Discover the secrets of the Red Sea with Almonda’s last-minute deal, offering a remarkable 30% discount on the Five Corals & Seven Sisters itinerary in Jeddah.

Galapagos: The Evolutionary Marvel

• Aqua – 03 Oct 2023 – from €2,996.00 – Itinerary A – Diving Trip (Baltra – Baltra) – (35% OFF)

Venture to the Galapagos Islands, where Aqua’s 35% discount on the Itinerary A diving trip promises encounters with the most iconic species in this living laboratory of evolution.

Indonesia: Paradise Beneath the Waves

• Aurora – 11 Dec 2023 – from €2,418.00 – Raja Ampat Central (Sorong – Sorong) – DIVE & SNORKEL) (20% OFF)
• Ecopro Duyung Baru – 05 Apr 2024 – from €1,857.00 – Komodo (Labuan Bajo – Labuan Bajo) – Early Bird Special! (25% OFF)
• Indo Aggressor – 21 May 2024 – from €3,559.00 – Komodo National Park (Labuan Bajo-Bali) – Travel the World Special! (25% OFF)

Indonesia beckons with its diverse underwater world. Aurora offers a 20% discount for exploring Raja Ampat Central. Ecopro Duyung Baru presents an Early Bird Special with a 25% discount for the Komodo expedition, while Indo Aggressor invites you to the Komodo National Park with a 25% discount through their Travel the World Special.

Belize: The Caribbean Gem

• Belize Aggressor III – 18 May 2024 – from €2,388.00 – Belize Exploration – Lighthouse Reef, Half Moon Cay, and Turneffe Reef (Belize – Belize) – Travel the World Special! (25% OFF)

Journey to Belize’s heart, and explore Lighthouse Reef, Half Moon Cay, and Turneffe Reef with Belize Aggressor III’s Travel the World Special, offering a 25% discount.

Egypt: Dive into History

• Blue Horizon – 01 Jan 2024 – from €788.00 – Northern Wrecks & Reefs (Hurghada-Hurghada) – Group specials also available! (20% OFF)
• Blue Melody – 26 Jan 2024 – from €788.00 – North & Safaga (Hurghada-Hurghada) – Group specials also available! (20% OFF)
• Emperor Echo – 23 Nov 2023 – from €1,116.00 – Daedalus, Fury and Elphinstone (Marsa Ghalib departure) – Special Price Offer! Valid for new bookings only. (20% OFF)

Unearth the submerged history of Egypt with Blue Horizon’s 20% discount on Northern Wrecks & Reefs or North & Safaga. Alternatively, opt for Emperor Echo’s Special Price Offer of 20% off for exploring Daedalus, Fury, and Elphinstone.

Maldives: Atolls of Bliss

• Blue Voyager – 04 Oct 2023 – from €1,669.00 – Project Shark: Central Atolls (Male-Male) – Group specials also available! (20% OFF)
• Conte Max – 15 Oct 2023 – from €1,425.00 – Central Atolls (Male-Male) – Last Minute Offer! (30% OFF)
• Duke of York – 15 Oct 2023 – from €1,654.00 – Central Atolls (Male-Male) – Last Minute Offer! (30% OFF)
• Emperor Serenity – 10 Apr 2024 – from €2,680.00 – Best of Maldives (Male – Male) – Special Price Offer! Valid for new bookings only. (20% OFF)
• Maldives Aggressor II – 07 Jan 2024 – from €2,359.00 – Best of Maldives (Male – Male) – $1200 OFF – Rates include discounts!

The Maldives beckons with multiple offers. Blue Voyager invites you to join the Project Shark expedition with a 20% discount. Conte Max presents a Last Minute Offer with a 30% discount, while Duke of York offers a similar deal. Emperor Serenity extends a Special Price Offer with 20% off, and Maldives Aggressor II provides a whopping $1200 discount on the Best of Maldives adventure.

Honduras: The Caribbean’s Hidden Gem

• Roatan Aggressor – 09 Dec 2023 – from €2,060.00 – Roatan, Utila & Cayo Cochinos (French Harbor – French Harbor) – $999 OFF – Rates include discounts!

Uncover the hidden treasures of the Caribbean with Roatan Aggressor, offering an enticing $999 discount for exploring Roatan, Utila, and Cayo Cochinos.

Thailand: Tropical Paradise Awaits

• The Junk – 12 Nov 2023 – from €720.00 – Similan & Surin Islands (Thap Lamu – Thap Lamu) – Thailand Offers! Valid until September 30, 2023. (20% OFF)

Experience the allure of Thailand’s Similan and Surin Islands with The Junk’s enticing 20% discount, valid until September 30, 2023.

These exclusive liveaboard offers are your passport to some of the world’s most stunning underwater destinations. Whether you’re a seasoned diver or a newbie, now is the perfect time to embark on your dream dive vacation. Don’t miss out on these incredible deals – book your adventure today and make a splash in the deep blue!

See more liveaboard travel deals at: https://www.scubadiverdeals.com

Explorer Ventures Fleet® is excited to announce its new group travel specials for DEMA 2023, offering dive shops the chance to keep more cash in their pockets, with free liveaboard berth spaces and low deposit terms.

This year’s 2023 DEMA specials provide dive shops with the flexibility of selecting cash savings and deposit amounts based on group size, while also allowing them to choose when and where they would like to travel into 2026. This is perfect for groups wanting to dive the Caribbean, Turks and Caicos, Red Sea, Maldives, and Galapagos Islands, on the following vessels: Caribbean Explorer II, Turks & Caicos Explorer II, Grand Sea Explorer, Emperor Explorer, Humboldt Explorer, and Tiburon Explorer. With standard free berth spaces also included (one complimentary space for as few as five booked, up to two per charter), dive shops can save even more money while offering their clients an unforgettable liveaboard experience. Plus, the lowered deposit terms allow dive shops to start with an initial small investment allowing for additional time to promote and sell the trip. 

According to Clay McCardell, Explorer Ventures Fleet’s CEO, “We know how important it is for dive shops to have flexibility when planning group trips, particularly in light of the current conditions. Our new specials offer the opportunity for dive shops to save money, while also enjoying the freedom to customize each group’s size according to the shop’s unique needs.”

These new 2023 DEMA specials are perfect for dive shops looking to book an inclusive liveaboard dive trip with friends or clients. The promotion offers versatility and affordability, while also delivering a memorable experience on one of Explorer Ventures Fleet’s superior liveaboards. 

Show specials can be booked from September 15^th until November 30th, 2023.

For the best chance for your preferred dates, don’t wait to reserve your trip!

DEMA 2023 SPECIALS

Booking window: September 15-November 30, 2023 
Travel Window: Now through 2025 (plus 2026 for Galapagos. See destination specific dates below) 

Special Deposit Offer: $600 non-refundable initial deposit for groups of 6-11 or $1200 for groups of 12+ to hold reservation. Remainder of deposit due 90-days later or 9 months prior to travel date, whichever comes first. Regular booking terms otherwise apply. Excludes Indonesia.

Caribbean Liveaboard Holidays

Turks & Caicos Explorer II® Turks & Caicos Islands
$800pp discount – Plus 5 paid/1 free; 10 or more paid/2 free 

Caribbean Explorer II® – Saba/St. Kitts 
$800pp discount – Plus 5 paid/1 free; 10 or more paid/2 free

Valid for travel year-round through December 2025. Not applicable to Silver Bank whale weeks.

Galapagos Liveaboard Holidays 

Humboldt Explorer®
$1000pp discount – Plus 5 paid/1 free; 10 or more paid/2 free

Tiburon Explorer®
$800pp discount – Plus 5 paid/1 free; 10 or more paid/2 free

Valid for travel: Dec 1, 2023-June 30, 2024; Dec 1, 2024- June 30, 2025; and Dec 1, 2025- June 30, 2026

Maldives Liveaboard Holidays

Emperor Explorer® 
10% pp discount for 7-night trips – Plus an extra comp with full charter!
10% pp discount for 10-night trips – Plus an extra comp with full charter!
Package includes free nitrox!

Valid for travel year-round through December 2025

Red Sea Liveaboard Holidays

Grand Sea Explorer® 
$100 pp discount – Plus 5 paid/1 free; 10 paid/2 free; 20 paid/3 free; 24 paid/4 free
Package includes free nitrox!

*Conditions apply; Valid for travel December-August through December 2025

Indonesia Liveaboard Holidays

White Manta Explorer® and Blue Manta Explorer® 
16 paid/2 free, based on upper and main deck pricing 

*Conditions apply; Available for Sangalaki and Komodo trips only. Additional berths and single supplements (if applicable) may be added at retail price, up to 24 berths. 

Explorer Ventures Fleet has been in operation for over 36 years and is recognized as a leader in the liveaboard industry. With nine liveaboard vessels operating in eight countries, the fleet provides distinctive and memorable diving experiences, allowing divers to explore the world’s most pristine diving locations. The fleet’s unique itineraries cater to divers of every experience level, on top-rated vessels which are equipped with all the amenities necessary for 7-to-14-night diving excursions. Liveaboard packages include comfortable accommodation, up to 27 dives during the week, top-notch dining experiences, and service from award winning crews. Add these package inclusions to the affordable group rates, free berths, and low deposits – you’ll be hard pressed to find a better group trip for your dive shop!

For further information on the Explorer Ventures Fleet’s 2023 DEMA group specials and to book, visit their website, email, or call. See you at DEMA!

DEMA BOOTH #2447

https://www.explorerventures.com

Terms & Conditions: All specials are valid only for new group reservations booked and deposited between September 15 and November 30, 2023. They cannot be combined with other discounts, 12-month incentives, or off-peak charter specials and are not applicable to specialty itineraries or previously booked groups. Additional Terms may apply, contact us for details.

The Galapagos Islands, an ecological wonderland, beckon with their extraordinary marine biodiversity and unique underwater landscapes. We’ve curated a collection of liveaboard dive offers that will transport you to the heart of the Galapagos’ mesmerizing dive destinations. From diving itineraries around Baltra and Santa Cruz to encounters with iconic species, these deals are your passport to exploring the enchanted waters of the Galapagos.

Galaxy Diver

• Departure: 03 Jan 2024
• Price: from €4,623.00

Join the Galaxy Diver on a remarkable diving itinerary that takes you from Baltra to Santa Cruz. Dive into this natural wonder with a 20% discount and explore the rich marine life and unique underwater topography that defines the Galapagos.

The Galapagos Islands are renowned for their remarkable biodiversity, both on land and underwater. Diving here offers the chance to encounter marine species found nowhere else on Earth, from hammerhead sharks to graceful sea turtles.

With this liveaboard dive offer, you’ll have the opportunity to dive into the crystal-clear waters of the Galapagos, swim alongside iconic creatures, and witness the captivating interplay of life below the surface. Don’t miss this chance—book your Galapagos dive adventure today and experience the magic of this unique archipelago!

Find more worldwide liveaboard travel deals at: https://www.scubadiverdeals.com

For a limited time only, save up to $2000 (that’s up to 45%) per person on fifteen newly added Year of Savings weeks. Book now for the biggest savings, the Bonus Event ends September 15. 

Explorer Ventures Fleet® invites you to take the plunge and discover the beauty of the Galapagos, Saba & St Kitts, and the Turks & Caicos Islands with their Year of Savings Bonus Event. For a limited time, you can indulge in the ultimate underwater adventure for as low as $1,495 USD per person for a 7-night trip! After September the discount is reduced by half for the same weeks. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to explore the Caribbean and Galapagos’ most stunning dive sites and create unforgettable memories! 

Year of Savings Bonus Event Weeks

Booking window: Now until September 15, 2023

Travel window: September 30 to December 30, 2023

See all Year of Savings dates here.

Caribbean Explorer II – Save $1200! Savings of over 45%!

Dive the Caribbean’s vibrant hidden gems of Saba and St Kitts.

Now only $1495 per person

• September 30 to October 7, 2023
• October 14 to October 21, 2023
• November 25 to December 2, 2023
• December 2 to December 9, 2023

Turks & Caicos Explorer II – Save $1200! Double the savings!

Dive the crystal-clear waters and deep walls of the Turks & Caicos Islands.

Now starting at $1,995 per person

• September 30 to October 7, 2023
• October 21 to October 28, 2023
• October 28 to November 4, 2023
• November 18 to November 25, 2023

Humboldt Explorer – Save $2000! Double the savings!

Dive Galapagos’ best itinerary for maximizing time underwater with hammerheads.

Now starting at $4,195 per person

• October 23 to October 30, 2023
• October 30 to November 6^th, 2023
• November 27 to December 4, 2023
• December 11 to December 18, 2023

Tiburon Explorer – Save $1600! Double the savings!

Dive with endemic marine iguanas, molas, and rare sharks in the Galapagos Islands. 

Now starting at $5,395 per person

• November 4 to November 11, 2023
• November 18 to November 25, 2023
• December 23 to December 30, 2023

See all Year of Savings dates here.

Explorer Ventures Fleet® is renowned for its exceptional liveaboard diving trips, offering unique and immersive experiences that cater to all levels of divers. With their fleet of superior yachts, you can travel in comfort and style as you explore the vibrant coral reefs, magnificent shipwrecks, and diverse marine life that their eight destinations have to offer. 

Booking a liveaboard holiday with Explorer Ventures is the perfect way to experience the exhilaration of diving while enjoying the convenience and comfort of a fully equipped liveaboard. With expert guides and a range of diving available on each itinerary, including night dives and wreck dives, you can tailor your day to suit your preferences and enthusiasm level. But that’s not all – Explorer Ventures also offers a range of extras to ensure you have a worry-free, dream vacation. From airport transport and on-board classes to rental gear and island excursions, there is something to meet every need on their liveaboard diving trips. 

So why wait? Book your fall or winter liveaboard holiday with Explorer Ventures and embark on the dive adventure of a lifetime. With their unbeatable sale price of up to $1800 off per person on the Bonus Event Sale, you simply can’t afford to miss out on this incredible opportunity!

Learn more at: https://www.explorerventures.com

Looking for the ultimate adventure? Dive into our exclusive selection of liveaboard special offers that will take you to some of the most breathtaking destinations around the world. Whether you dream of exploring the vibrant coral reefs of the Maldives, swimming with sharks in the Bahamas, or encountering unique marine life in the Galapagos, we have a liveaboard trip just for you. Don’t miss out on these incredible deals available for a limited time only!

The Bahamas

Bahamas Aggressor

• Departure: 06 Jan 2024
• Price: From €2,068.00
• Destination: Exuma Cays and Southwest Eleuthera (Nassau – Nassau)
• Special Offer: Travel the World Special! (25% OFF)
• Learn more http://bit.ly/3KGvzwn

Bahamas Master

• Departure: 03 Apr 2024
• Price: From €3,003.00
• Destination: Grand Bahama Adventure (Freeport – Freeport)
• Special Offer: Early Bird Deal (40% OFF)
• Learn more https://bit.ly/3J7QzLo

Belize

Belize Aggressor III

• Departure: 20 Jan 2024
• Price: From €2,268.00
• Destination: Belize Exploration – Lighthouse Reef, Half Moon Cay, and Turneffe Reef (Belize – Belize)
• Special Offer: Travel the World Special! (25% OFF)
• Learn more http://bit.ly/40CnnmB

Maldives

Blue Voyager

• Departure: 03 Sep 2023
• Price: From €1,939.00
• Destination: Best of the Central Atolls with Baa (Male – Male)
• Special Offer: Group specials also available! Contact us for more details. (20% OFF)
• Learn more http://bit.ly/42GIG7X

Emperor Voyager

• Departure: 14 Oct 2023
• Price: From €1,432.00
• Destination: Best of Maldives 7 Nights (Male – Male)
• Special Offer: Valid for New Bookings on a Limited Time. (30% OFF)
• Learn more https://bit.ly/3GpH0pC

Horizon 3

• Departure: 04 Feb 2024
• Price: From €1,996.00
• Destination: Best of the Central Atolls (Male – Ari – Vaavu – Male)
• Special Offer: (20% OFF)
• Learn more https://bit.ly/40sgcwb

Virgin Islands

BVI Aggressor

• Departure: 27 Jan 2024
• Price: From €2,202.00
• Destination: Best of British Virgin Islands (Tortola – Tortola)
• Special Offer: Travel the World Special! (25% OFF)
• Learn more http://bit.ly/3ZreryO

Costa Rica

Cocos Island Aggressor

• Departure: 18 Nov 2023
• Price: From €4,453.00
• Destination: Cocos Island Adventure (Puntarenas – Puntarenas)
• Special Offer: $1600 OFF – Rates include discounts!
• Learn more https://bit.ly/3NVSXpX

Sea Hunter

• Departure: 12 Nov 2023
• Price: From €4,793.00
• Destination: Cocos Island Expedition (Puntarenas – Puntarenas)
• Special Offer: Special offer valid for new bookings only. (20% OFF)
• Learn more https://bit.ly/3rniX5Y

Galapagos Islands

Galapagos Master

• Departure: 15 Jan 2024
• Price: From €7,938.00
• Destination: Master the Galapagos 10-night (San Cristobal – San Cristobal)
• Special Offer: Early Bird Deal (20% OFF)
• Learn more https://bit.ly/3XAgQ9R

Philippines

Infiniti

• Departure: 27 Jan 2024
• Price: From €1,670.00
• Destination: Malapascua & Leyte (Cebu – Cebu)
• Special Offer: (25% OFF)
• Learn more https://bit.ly/3K1dWqf

Resolute

• Departure: 01 Aug 2024
• Price: From €1,648.00
• Destination: Cebu (Visayas) (Mactan, Cebu – Mactan, Cebu)
• Special Offer: Early Bird Special! Valid for new bookings only. (35% OFF)
• Learn more http://bit.ly/3FWLPqr

Indonesia

Komodo Sea Dragon

• Departure: 26 Jul 2023
• Price: From €1,247.00
• Destination: Komodo National Park (Labuan Bajo – Labuan Bajo)
• Special Offer: (20% OFF)
• Learn more https://bit.ly/3ojg2Kk

Neptune One

• Departure: 04 Aug 2023
• Price: From €2,031.00
• Destination: Komodo North & South (Labuan Bajo – Labuan Bajo)
• Special Offer: Last Minute Deal! (20% OFF)
• Learn more http://bit.ly/3TR0zwt

Red Sea, Egypt

Red Sea Aggressor II

• Departure: 18 Nov 2023
• Price: From €1,335.00
• Destination: Northern Red Sea, Ras Mohamed, Straits of Tiran (Hurghada – Hurghada)
• Special Offer: $1056 OFF – Rates include discounts!
• Learn more http://bit.ly/3TMB3J1

Honduras

Roatan Aggressor

• Departure: 13 Jan 2024
• Price: From €2,135.00
• Destination: Roatan, Utila & Cayo Cochinos (French Harbor – French Harbor)
• Special Offer: Travel the World Special! (25% OFF)
• Learn more http://bit.ly/40nNSM8

Solomon Islands

Solomons Master

• Departure: 30 Mar 2024
• Price: From €4,851.00
• Destination: Best of Solomons (Honiara – Honiara)
• Special Offer: Early Bird Deal (40% OFF)
• Learn more https://bit.ly/44ycRhr

Thailand

The Junk

• Departure: 23 Oct 2023
• Price: From €1,026.00
• Destination: Similan & Surin Islands (Chalong – Thap Lamu)
• Special Offer: Summer Sizzler -20% Off!
• Learn more https://bit.ly/46O29FE

The Phinisi

• Departure: 25 Oct 2023
• Price: From €2,209.00
• Destination: Best of Thailand (Thap Lamu – Chalong)
• Special Offer: Summer Sizzler! Valid until August 31, 2023. T&C apply. (20% OFF)
• Learn more https://bit.ly/44gSp53

Book now and embark on an unforgettable liveaboard experience at a fraction of the price. These deals won’t last long, so hurry and secure your spot today! Visit Scuba Diver Travel for more details and to book your dream liveaboard adventure.

Learn more at: https://www.scubadivertravel.com

Launch the fireworks! Explorer Ventures Fleet® has some huge deals for you this sunny summer holiday. Starting July 4th, for a short time only, they’re offering GRAND discounts in August. You and your friends can save $1000 per person off select liveaboard departures in the Caribbean and Turks & Caicos Islands. August in the Caribbean brings sunny days, fair winds, cheaper airfare, and some gloriously clear waters for an ultimate summer diving vacation.  

But wait, there’s more.  Explorer Ventures Fleet® has also thrown in some extra special fireworks for Galapagos! A whopping $1400 off per person for the luxe Tiburon Explorer in high season, cruising the Best of Galapagos itinerary. This rare addition is from a last-minute cancellation (their loss is your gain!) 

These deals won’t last long, so turn off your barbeque, put down that beverage and give them a call at 1-800-322-3577 (USA), or 1.307.235.0683. 

Save $1000 per person on all Grand August sale departures!

Saba & St Kitts, Caribbean – Multi-country itinerary diving two topographically different islands. Explore lava tubes, pinnacles, wrecks, and finger reefs. Then head ashore for two [optional]land tours to see a UNESCO world heritage site, sugarcane farms, and lush rainforest covered volcanos.

• Caribbean Explorer II – Now starting as low as $1,695 pp
• August 12-19, 2023
• August 19-26, 2023

Turks & Caicos Islands – Best of Turks itinerary diving deep walls and shallow reefs in impeccable visibility. This itinerary is known for its many reef and nurse sharks, calm waters, and award-winning costume-wearing crew. 

• Turks & Caicos Explorer II – Now starting as low as $2,195 pp
• August 12-19, 2023

BONUS week – Save $1400 per person

Galapagos Islands – Best of Galapagos itinerary diving the famous Wolf & Darwin Islands, plus other local islands for unique opportunities to see endemic marine iguanas and spot the elusive mola molas. Two land tours are included to head ashore for local bird-watching and giant tortoises. 

• Tiburon Explorer – Now starting as low as $5,595pp 
• August 19-26, 2023

Book now and dive into August for the ultimate summer holiday! https://www.explorerventures.com

The Scuba News Travel Team carefully select from hundreds of liveaboard travel operators around the world. If you find a good deal at The Scuba News and make a booking, we may receive a small commission. This, however does not affect the price you pay.

Embark on a Spectacular Journey through the Galapagos Islands

The Galapagos Islands, renowned for their unique and diverse ecosystem, offer an extraordinary opportunity to witness the wonders of nature up close. Dive into the crystal-clear waters and explore the underwater realm teeming with marine life, or set foot on the pristine shores and encounter fascinating wildlife found nowhere else on Earth. We’ve curated a collection of exclusive liveaboard deals in the Galapagos, allowing you to embark on an unforgettable adventure in this enchanting archipelago. Take advantage of these special offers and immerse yourself in the natural splendor of the Galapagos!

1. Galapagos Master – Master the Galapagos 7 Night

• Departure Date: 07 Aug 2023
• Starting from €4,767.00
• Last minute offer! (20% OFF)

2. Tiburon Explorer – Western Archipelago, Darwin And Wolf Islands

• Departure Date: 19 Aug 2023
• Starting from €5,149.00
• Valid for new bookings made and deposited on or before Aug. 18, 2023. T&C’s apply. (21% OFF)

Note: Prices and discounts are subject to change. Contact the respective liveaboard for complete details and booking inquiries.

Prepare to be captivated by the extraordinary beauty of the Galapagos Islands as you dive into the azure waters and encounter a multitude of marine species, including playful sea lions, graceful sea turtles, and schools of colorful fish. Explore the pristine landscapes and observe the iconic Galapagos tortoises, iguanas, and an array of unique bird species. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the wonders of nature in a truly remarkable destination. Book your Galapagos liveaboard adventure today!

See more worldwide liveaboard options at: https://www.thescubanews.com/liveaboards/

As the sun shines brightly and summer reaches its peak, avid scuba divers around the globe eagerly anticipate July—a month brimming with diving possibilities. With warm waters, excellent visibility, and an abundance of marine life, July offers an ideal opportunity to explore some of the world’s most breathtaking underwater landscapes. Join us as we unveil the best scuba diving spots for July, promising unforgettable experiences beneath the waves.

1. Komodo National Park, Indonesia: Embark on an exhilarating journey to Komodo National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its remarkable biodiversity. In July, the region boasts optimal diving conditions, offering crystal-clear waters, mild currents, and warm temperatures. Dive among vibrant coral reefs, encounter graceful manta rays, and witness the famous Komodo dragons in their natural habitat. Komodo National Park promises a captivating underwater adventure for divers of all levels.
2. Socorro Islands, Mexico: Venture to the remote Socorro Islands in Mexico’s Pacific waters for a thrilling encounter with marine giants. July welcomes the arrival of humpback whales and whale sharks, making it an exceptional time to dive in this extraordinary destination. Prepare to be awestruck by close encounters with giant manta rays, playful dolphins, and hammerhead sharks. Socorro Islands’ awe-inspiring marine encounters make it a bucket-list destination for divers seeking unforgettable experiences.
3. Similan Islands, Thailand: Escape to the stunning Similan Islands in the Andaman Sea for a dive expedition like no other. July brings calm seas, excellent visibility, and warm waters, providing an ideal backdrop for underwater exploration. Dive into a wonderland of vibrant coral gardens, encounter leopard sharks, and marvel at the diverse marine life that inhabits these tropical waters. The Similan Islands offer an idyllic retreat for divers seeking natural beauty and unforgettable diving experiences.
4. Galápagos Islands, Ecuador: Embark on a journey to the legendary Galápagos Islands, where biodiversity thrives both on land and beneath the waves. In July, this UNESCO World Heritage Site welcomes divers with cooler waters, making it an ideal time to witness incredible marine encounters. Dive alongside curious sea lions, graceful marine iguanas, and schools of hammerhead sharks. The Galápagos Islands offer a unique blend of adventure and conservation, leaving divers in awe of nature’s wonders.
5. Raja Ampat, Indonesia: Uncover the wonders of Raja Ampat, an archipelago in Indonesia renowned for its unrivaled marine biodiversity. July brings optimal diving conditions with warm waters and excellent visibility, allowing divers to explore the vibrant coral reefs and encounter a vast array of marine species. From swimming with mantas to spotting pygmy seahorses, Raja Ampat promises an extraordinary diving experience in one of the world’s most pristine marine environments.

While planning your scuba diving adventures in July, remember to prioritize safety and responsible diving practices. Stay informed about local regulations, weather conditions, and conservation efforts. Prepare your gear, pack your sense of exploration, and get ready to dive into the depths this July. Happy diving!

Don’t forget to share this article with fellow diving enthusiasts, igniting their passion for underwater exploration. Dive into July’s depths and make this summer a season to remember beneath the waves.

Start planning your next getaway with our guide to 100’s of liveaboards worldwide at: https://www.thescubanews.com/liveaboards/

The Galapagos Islands are a true natural wonder, known for their unique wildlife and breathtaking landscapes. But did you know that beneath the surface lies an equally captivating world? Prepare to embark on an extraordinary diving adventure through the waters of the Galapagos Islands aboard the Galaxy Diver liveaboard. Immerse yourself in the magic of this pristine marine sanctuary.

Galaxy Diver – Diving Itinerary (Baltra – Santa Cruz)

Departure Date: 08 Nov 2023

Starting from €4,381.00

Dive Route: Baltra – Santa Cruz

**20% OFF** – Don’t miss this limited-time offer.

Explore the untouched dive sites surrounding the Galapagos Islands, where a symphony of marine life awaits. From playful sea lions to schools of hammerhead sharks, you’ll encounter an abundance of incredible underwater creatures. The Galaxy Diver liveaboard provides a comfortable and immersive diving experience, ensuring you make the most of your journey through the Galapagos archipelago.

Why Choose Galaxy Diver Liveaboard?

1. Unparalleled Wildlife Encounters: Dive alongside unique marine species, such as sea lions, marine iguanas, and even the iconic Galapagos penguins, as you explore the pristine waters of the archipelago.

2. Expert Naturalist Guides: Benefit from the expertise of knowledgeable naturalist guides who will share their insights and help you discover the hidden gems of the Galapagos underwater realm.

3. Comfort and Convenience: Enjoy well-appointed cabins, delicious onboard cuisine, and excellent facilities that cater to your comfort and relaxation during your liveaboard experience.

4. Eco-Friendly Practices: The Galaxy Diver is committed to environmentally friendly practices, ensuring the preservation of the delicate ecosystems you’ll encounter.

5. Limited-Time Offer: Take advantage of the exclusive 20% OFF discount and embark on an unforgettable Galapagos diving adventure at an exceptional value.

Embark on a journey of wonder and exploration in the Galapagos Islands. Dive into the enchanting waters that teem with life, and witness the unique beauty that has inspired scientists and nature enthusiasts for centuries. Join the Galaxy Diver liveaboard and immerse yourself in an experience that will leave you in awe of the Galapagos’ captivating marine realm.

*Note: Prices and availability are subject to change

View more Galapagos Liveaboard options at: https://www.scubadivertravel.com

Are you ready for an unforgettable diving adventure? We’ve rounded up the best liveaboard deals this week, offering you incredible savings on extraordinary destinations. Dive into crystal-clear waters, encounter fascinating marine life, and explore stunning underwater landscapes. Don’t miss out on these exclusive offers!

Saudi Arabia

Almonda – 05 Aug 2023 – from €1,207.00

Five Corals & Seven Sisters (Yanbu – Jeddah)

Summer Discount! Enjoy 30% OFF!

Indonesia

Amaya Explorer – 20 Apr 2024 – from €2,853.00

Raja Ampat (Wayag – Misool) (Sorong – Sorong)

Early Bird Specials! Get 15% OFF!

Amira – 22 Jul 2023 – from €3,168.00

Komodo (Labuan Bajo – Bima)

Special Offer! Valid for new bookings only. Enjoy 20% OFF!

Cheng Ho – 15 Jun 2023 – from €1,370.00

Labuan Bajo – Komodo – Labuan Bajo (5N/6D)

Limited Time Offer! Save 30% on this adventure!

Indo Aggressor – 06 Sep 2023 – from €2,797.00

Komodo National Park (Labuan Bajo – Labuan Bajo)

Last-minute Deal! Save 20% on this epic journey!

Egypt

Blue Adventurer – 28 Jul 2023 – from €783.00

Simply the Best (Hurghada-Hurghada)

Group Specials Available! Dive into savings with 30% OFF!

Emperor Elite – 29 Jun 2023 – from €1,012.00

Daedalus, Fury and Elphinstone (Marsa Ghalib departure)

Exclusive Offer! Valid for new bookings. Enjoy 30% OFF!

Maldives

Blue Force One – 22 Jul 2023 – from €1,482.00

Central Atolls Classical Route (Male – Male)

$300 OFF! Rates include discount. Don’t miss out!

Carpe Novo – 30 Jul 2023 – from €1,618.00

North Male – South Male – Vaavu – Ari – Rasdhoo – Baa – Raa – Baa (Male – Dharavandhoo)

Exclusive Discount! Save 30% on this incredible journey!

Carpe Vita – 09 Sep 2023 – from €1,804.00

North Male – Rasdhoo – Ari – South Male (Male – Male)

Early Bird Deal! Enjoy a 10% discount on bookings.

EcoPro Moonima – 30 Jul 2023 – from €1,466.00

Cruise, Snorkel, Chill (Hulhumale – Hulhumale)

Plus Free Nitrox! Dive and relax with a 20% discount.

Felicity – 05 Aug 2023 – from €1,641.00

Best of Maldives (Male – Male)

Last Minute Special Offer! Don’t miss the 50% OFF discount!

Horizon 3 – 06 Aug 2023 – from €1,305.00

Best of the Central Atolls (Male – Ari – Vaavu – Male)

Summer Special Discount! Save 50% on this unforgettable adventure!

Maldives Blue Force 3 – 15 Jul 2023 – from €1,389.00

Central Atolls Classical Route (Male – Male)

$300 OFF! Rates include discount. Book now and save!

Galapagos

Galaxy Diver – 08 Nov 2023 – from €4,381.00

Diving Itinerary (Baltra – Santa Cruz)

Limited Time Offer! Dive into Galapagos with 20% OFF!

Micronesia

Pacific Master – 18 Jul 2023 – from €5,817.00

Bikini Atoll (Kwajalein – Kwajalein)

Last-minute Offer! Enjoy a 20% discount on this extraordinary dive.

These deals won’t last forever, so seize the opportunity to embark on your dream diving vacation. Book now and create memories that will last a lifetime! Dive into the wonders of the underwater world while enjoying incredible discounts.

See the full range of liveaboards we have listed at https://www.scubadivertravel.com

Following on from our recent feature on the complete remodeling of the Humboldt Explorer Liveaboard in the Galapagos Islands, our friends at Explorer Ventures have released some more fantastic pictures of the new look.

Related: Re-introducing Humboldt Explorer – Newly remodeled and ready for divers

Experience the NEW Humboldt Explorer – Learn more at: https://www.explorerventures.com

Prepare to embark on a once-in-a-lifetime diving expedition to the awe-inspiring Galapagos Islands. We have gathered exclusive liveaboard deals that will take you on an extraordinary journey through this unique archipelago, where diverse marine life and untouched landscapes await. Don’t miss out on these limited-time offers and dive into an adventure like no other!

Galapagos Aggressor III

Galapagos Islands with Wolf & Darwin (Baltra – Baltra)

• Departure: 14 Dec 2023
• Price: Starting from €4,868.00
• Travel the World Special: 25% OFF!

Galaxy Diver

Diving Itinerary (Baltra – Santa Cruz)

• Departure: 04 Oct 2023
• Price: Starting from €4,362.00
• Special Offer: 20% OFF!

The Galapagos Islands are renowned for their unique biodiversity and are a true paradise for divers. Swim alongside playful sea lions, encounter curious marine iguanas, and marvel at the grace of hammerhead sharks. With these exclusive liveaboard deals, you’ll have the opportunity to explore the iconic sites of Wolf and Darwin Islands, where thrilling encounters with hammerheads and other pelagic species await.

Immerse yourself in the wonders of the Galapagos, both above and below the surface. Explore diverse dive sites, from vibrant coral reefs to volcanic formations, and witness the incredible wildlife that inspired Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution.

Book your Galapagos diving adventure today and embark on a voyage of discovery in this UNESCO World Heritage Site. These liveaboard deals are in high demand, so secure your spot now and get ready to experience the natural wonders of the Galapagos Islands!

Are you ready for the diving adventure of a lifetime? We have gathered exclusive liveaboard deals from around the world that will make your heart skip a beat! From the stunning Indonesian archipelago to the captivating waters of Egypt and the pristine Maldives, there’s a dive destination for everyone. Get your fins ready and dive into these limited-time offers before they’re gone!

Indonesia

Aliikai Voyage

Raja Ampat – North & Central Raja Ampat (Sorong – Sorong)

• Departure: 23 Jan 2024
• Price: Starting from €4,610.00
• Special Deal: 20% OFF for new bookings only!

Amaya Explorer

Raja Ampat (Misool) (Sorong – Sorong)

• Departure: 01 Mar 2024
• Price: Starting from €2,130.00
• Special Deal: 15% OFF with Early Bird Specials!

Egypt

Aphrodite

Sataya, Fury Shoals Family and Friends (Port Ghalib – Port Ghalib)

• Departure: 03 Jun 2023
• Price: Starting from €994.00
• Special Offer: 20% OFF for new bookings only!

Snefro Spirit

Sinai Classic (Sharm El Sheikh – Sharm El Sheikh)

• Departure: 11 Jun 2023
• Price: Starting from €799.00
• Special Offer: €200 OFF on Twin Berth Cabins! Rates include discounts.

Maldives

Carpe Diem

North Male – Baa – Raa – Baa – Rasdhoo – Ari – Vaavu – South Male (Male-Male)

• Departure: 19 Sep 2023
• Price: Starting from €2,288.00
• Early Bird Deal: 10% OFF for an unforgettable diving experience!

Carpe Novo

Baa – Raa – Baa – Rasdhoo – Ari – Vaavu – South Male (Dharavandhoo-Male)

• Departure: 06 Sep 2023
• Price: Starting from €2,881.00
• Early Bird Deal: 10% OFF for an amazing underwater adventure!

Carpe Vita

North Male – Rasdhoo – Ari – South Male (Male – Male)

• Departure: 08 Jul 2023
• Price: Starting from €1,397.00
• Special Offer: 30% OFF, valid until July 15, 2023!

EcoPro Moonima

Central Atolls (Male – Male)

• Departure: 20 Aug 2023
• Price: Starting from €1,460.00
• Special Offer: 20% OFF + Free Nitrox for an eco-friendly diving experience!

Felicity

Best of Maldives (Male – Male)

• Departure: 01 Jul 2023
• Price: Starting from €1,633.00
• Last Minute Special Offer: 50% OFF, don’t miss out on this incredible deal!

Horizon 3

Best of Maldives (Male-Ari-Vaavu-Male)

• Departure: 07 Jan 2024
• Price: Starting from €2,970.00
• Special Offer: 20% OFF for an unforgettable dive safari!

Galapagos

Galapagos Aggressor III

Galapagos Islands with Wolf & Darwin (Baltra – Baltra)

• Departure: 14 Dec 2023
• Price: Starting from €4,868.00
• Travel the World Special: 25% OFF for an extraordinary diving expedition!

Galaxy Diver

Diving Itinerary (Baltra – Santa Cruz)

• Departure: 04 Oct 2023
• Price: Starting from €4,362.00
• Special Offer: 20% OFF to explore the wonders of Galapagos!

Micronesia

Pacific Master

Truk Lagoon 10 Nights (Weno – Weno)

• Departure: 03 Jan 2024
• Price: Starting from €3,048.00
• Early Bird Deal: 10% OFF for an unforgettable dive adventure!

Book your dream liveaboard trip today and dive into an ocean of savings! These exclusive offers won’t last long, so make sure to secure your spot and experience the underwater wonders that await you.

See all worldwide liveaboards at https://www.thescubanews.com/liveaboards/ and all the latest liveaboard deals at: https://www.thescubanews.com/liveaboard-deals/

Prepare to dive into a world of extraordinary underwater adventures with our exclusive liveaboard deals, available for a limited time only! We’ve curated an enticing selection of offers that will ignite your passion for exploration and leave you with unforgettable memories.

Indonesia – Amaya Explorer

Discover the breathtaking beauty of Raja Ampat (Misool) and take advantage of our early bird special, saving you 15% on this once-in-a-lifetime experience. Book now to secure your spot!

Learn more about this offer

Maldives – Carpe Diem

Immerse yourself in the wonders of the Maldives, navigating through North Male, Baa, Raa, Rasdhoo, Ari, Vaavu, and South Male. Don’t miss our exclusive early bird deal, offering a 10% discount for a limited time!

Learn more about this offer

Mexico – Cassiopeia

Embark on an unforgettable journey to Revillagigedo with the Cassiopeia liveaboard. Take advantage of our special deals and enjoy $500 off! Rates include additional discounts.

Learn more about this offer

Egypt – Emperor Asmaa

Explore the magnificent reefs and wrecks of the Red Sea, departing from Hurghada. For new bookings, we’re offering an incredible 30% off, making this an ideal opportunity to witness the underwater wonders of Egypt.

Learn more about this offer

Galapagos – Galaxy Diver

Dive into the mesmerizing depths of the Galapagos Islands with our special 20% off offer on the Galaxy Diver itinerary. Experience the unique marine life and stunning landscapes at a discounted rate.

Learn more about this offer

Dominican Republic – Turks and Caicos Aggressor II

Embark on an unforgettable journey to Providenciales, West Caicos, and French Cay. With rates that include discounts, you can save an incredible $1004 and explore the diverse underwater world of the Dominican Republic.

Learn more about this deal

Don’t miss out on these remarkable liveaboard deals, as they won’t be available for long! Each destination offers its own magical allure, promising unparalleled diving experiences that will leave you in awe.

Book now to secure your spot and embark on an adventure that will redefine your love for diving. Seize this opportunity and create lifelong memories!

View all of the latest liveaboard travel deals at: https://www.thescubanews.com/liveaboard-deals/

Are you ready to embark on an extraordinary dive expedition to the mesmerizing Galapagos Islands? We are thrilled to present you with a series of exclusive liveaboard deals that will take you on a once-in-a-lifetime journey through this untouched paradise. Get ready to witness the wonders of nature and dive into an experience like no other!

Galapagos – Galapagos Aggressor III

Immerse yourself in the captivating wonders of the Galapagos Islands with our exclusive liveaboard deal. Explore the pristine waters and encounter the unique marine species that call this archipelago home. Don’t miss out on our 25% discount on this remarkable journey. Secure your spot now and prepare for an adventure you’ll cherish forever.

Learn more about this offer

Galapagos – Galaxy Diver

Dive into the heart of the Galapagos Islands on an exhilarating itinerary designed to showcase the best of this natural wonderland. Discover the enchanting underwater landscapes, encounter mesmerizing marine life, and take advantage of our 20% discount on this unforgettable dive experience. Limited spots available, so book now to avoid disappointment!

Learn more about this offer

Galapagos – Humboldt Explorer

Experience the magic of the Central Archipelago, Darwin, and Wolf Islands aboard our luxurious liveaboard. Celebrate the “Year of Savings” with our special offer, granting you a 16% discount on this extraordinary journey. Dive into the untouched beauty of the Galapagos Islands and create memories that will last a lifetime.

Learn more about this offer

Liveaboard Diving the Galapagos Islands

The Galapagos Islands are a living laboratory of evolution, offering a unique opportunity to witness nature at its purest. From swimming alongside playful sea lions to encountering giant tortoises and swimming with hammerhead sharks, the Galapagos is a paradise for divers seeking awe-inspiring encounters.

Liveaboard expeditions provide an immersive way to explore the diverse ecosystems of the Galapagos Islands. Our experienced guides will lead you to the most iconic dive sites, where you’ll witness the incredible biodiversity and pristine underwater landscapes that have made the Galapagos a bucket-list destination for divers worldwide.

Beyond the incredible diving, the Galapagos Islands offer a myriad of terrestrial wonders. Explore the volcanic landscapes, walk in the footsteps of Charles Darwin, and encounter unique wildlife found nowhere else on Earth. This is a destination that will leave a lasting impact on your heart and soul.

Don’t miss this exclusive opportunity to dive into the untamed beauty of the Galapagos Islands at a discounted rate. Secure your spot now and get ready to embark on a truly remarkable adventure!

View all worldwide liveaboards at https://www.thescubanews.com/liveaboards/ and all the latest liveaboard travel deals at: https://www.thescubanews.com/liveaboard-deals/

Are you ready for an unforgettable diving experience? We have put together some of the best liveaboard deals for you this week, featuring some of the most sought-after diving destinations in the world!

Whether you’re looking for the pristine coral reefs of Saudi Arabia, the magnificent marine life of Indonesia, the underwater wonders of Mexico, or the Arctic adventure of a lifetime, we have something for everyone!

Take advantage of these special offers, including early bird specials, last-minute discounts, and up to 35% off on selected trips. Plus, some of these deals also offer discounts for group bookings, so you can enjoy the adventure with your friends and family.

Check out our top picks for this week:

Saudi Arabia – Almonda: Dive into the crystal-clear waters of the Red Sea and explore the Five Corals & Seven Sisters sites. Book now and enjoy a 20% summer discount!

Indonesia – Amaya Explorer: Discover the hidden treasures of Raja Ampat – Wayag and take advantage of our 15% early bird special.

Egypt – Emperor Asmaa: Explore the reefs and wrecks of the Red Sea departing from Hurghada with our 30% discount offer.

Galapagos – Humboldt Explorer: Experience the magic of the Galapagos Islands and save up to 16% with our Year of Savings Specials.

Maldives – Horizon 3: Enjoy up to 1400USD off on our Best of the Central Atolls itinerary. Book now and save!

Arctic – Ortelius: Join us on a 19-day ultimate Arctic discovery voyage and save up to €3030 with our Combination Trip offer.

Dominican Republic – Turks and Caicos Aggressor II: Travel the world and explore the beautiful Providenciales, West Caicos, and French Cay with our 25% off special offer.

Don’t miss out on these incredible opportunities to dive in some of the world’s most amazing locations. Book now and make memories that will last a lifetime!

View all available Liveaboard Travel Deals at: https://www.thescubanews.com/liveaboard-deals/

See a complete list of Worldwide Liveaboards at: https://www.thescubanews.com/liveaboards/

Check out this selection of brand new Galapagos Islands Liveaboard Holiday Deals for 6th May 2023 which have just been added to The Scuba News.

• Galapagos Aggressor III – 14th September 2023 from €4760 – Galapagos Islands with Wolf and Darwin – 25% OFF
• Galaxy Diver – 5th July 2023 from €4265 – Baltra and Santa Cruz – 20% OFF
• Humboldt Explorer – 25th December 2023 from €4714 – Central Archipelago, Darwin and Wolf Islands – 16% OFF

View all available Worldwide Liveaboards at: https://www.thescubanews.com/liveaboards

View all new Liveaboard Travel Deals at: https://www.thescubanews.com/liveaboard-deals/

Explorer Ventures Fleet is offering hot deals on four liveaboard destinations for only three days! Starting on Tuesday, May 9, divers can seize unbelievable prices on the Maldives, Saba & St Kitts, Turks & Caicos Islands, and Galapagos Islands. These discounts are so large that the special hasn’t been offered for two years! If history is any indicator, some weeks will sell out in the first few hours. Don’t miss your chance. 

These super deals don’t mean Explorer Ventures Fleet’s diving packages are any less incredible. The liveaboard packages include 8-days/7-nights on the vessel, comfortable accommodation, up to 27 dives (including night dives), chef-prepared meals and snacks, beverages, diving amenities, and around-the-clock service from a friendly and experienced crew. 

How it works: On Monday, May 8, Explorer Ventures will release the details of the Crazy Insane Specials, including the destinations, discount amounts, and departure dates. Then on Tuesday, May 9, at 9am EDT, their office will open for bookings. Due to the demand of this sale, the bookings will be handled in the order received and must be paid in full by the end of the day to hold your spot! 

Be first in line to receive the Crazy Insane Specials by signing up for Explorer Ventures Fleet’s newsletter and following @explorerventures

About Explorer Ventures Fleet® 

Explorer Ventures is guided by three principles: excellence in service, exceptional value, and nurturing connections in each destination. From the very first step in the reservation process to each moment on your dive, the company’s focus is on customer service. They also strive to Dive Green, by acting as stewards of the environment, so that future generations will be able to enjoy and experience the oceans as we do now.

Learn more about the fleet here: https://www.explorerventures.com

Check out this selection of brand new Galapagos Liveaboard Holiday Deals for 27th April 2023 which have just been added to The Scuba News.

27th June 2023 – Aqua – Itinerary A Diving Trip – 18% OFF

19th October 2023 – Calipso – Puerto Baquerizo Moreno – 15% OFF

23rd October 2023 – Humboldt Explorer – Central Archipelago, Darwin and Wolf Islands – 16% OFF

View all available Worldwide Liveaboards at: https://www.thescubanews.com/liveaboards

View all new Liveaboard Travel Deals at: https://www.thescubanews.com/liveaboard-deals/

Experience the new Humboldt Explorer this summer for only $3,995 pp – that’s $2200 in savings! 

Humboldt Explorer, Explorer Ventures Fleet’s liveaboard based in the Galapagos Islands, has been newly remodeled and is back in the water ready for divers. Diving on Humboldt Explorer is already a five-star experience, but now the liveaboard has even better accommodations. It also features a more contemporary salon and sun deck, upgraded dive deck, and fresh plumbing. Humboldt Explorer received the Fleet’s largest overhaul to date. Short of building a new vessel, the liveaboard is brand new. 

The staterooms were torn down to their bulk heads; the rooms have had a complete restoration with new walls, new plumbing in the bathrooms, and an installation of new fire protection in electrical outlets and light plugs. The cabins were redesigned with more ambient light and neutral colors, plus new floors, doors, art, closets, and dressers. The cabin air conditioner units and entertainment systems have also received upgrades. Guests can be assured they will sleep well on the new Humboldt Explorer.

The salon was modernized with increased ambient lighting and neutral paint colors, new or re-upholstered living and dining room furniture, and new floors and cabinets. Along with these big changes, the salon received new air conditioners and buffet equipment. Up top, the sun deck received new teak flooring and a very attractive bar with grill to allow the chef to make meals upstairs. Two custom designed seats were added on the bow for guests to enjoy the Galapagos’ panoramic views. 

The dive deck had one of the biggest physical changes, with the deck being expanded and raised to a single level to allow easier movement of divers. Outdoor showers were also relocated to the stern and new charging stations were installed. The crew also did maintenance on tank hoses, stainless steel seats, and the diving table. 

Lastly, the engine room had an overhaul of the two MTU series 60 marine machines, changing every part of the engine, leaving it practically new. Maintenance and painting of the bilges was done, and all water circulation and hot water pipes, were upgraded. The compressor, nitrox, 100kw generators, steering system and hydraulic jack all received maintenance or repair. Meaning Humboldt Explorer’s moving parts and safety systems are all operating as good, if not better, than new. 

Experience the upgraded Humboldt Explorer for yourself and receive $2200 in savings. The limited-time Introductory Offer means you only pay $3,995 per person when you book a trip for one of three departures: May 29-June 5, July 10-17, or July 31-August 7, 2023. The Introductory Offer is valid until May 5, 2023, after which these dates go back to the normal rate – so do not miss your chance!

Experience the NEW Humboldt Explorer – Learn more at: https://www.explorerventures.com

Are you a qualified travel agent, dive shop owner, or wholesaler interested in a great deal for a FAM aboard Humboldt Explorer? Inquire with Explorer Ventures Fleet’s Galapagos Manager Jennifer Cumming for details – jcumming@explorerventures.com.

The MV Humboldt Explorer yacht, part of the experienced Explorer Ventures fleet, offers year-round diving in the Galapagos Islands, including the world-famous Wolf and Darwin dive sites. There are 8 double or twin cabins on board, located on the upper or lower decks. All rooms are complete with private en-suite bathrooms, individually controlled AC and a flat-screen TV. The air-conditioned salon on the main deck features a TV, CD/DVD, video library and lounge area and is where all meals, which are a mix of American and local cuisines, will be served. The top deck offers partial shade, sun loungers and a hot tub to warm up in between dives.

The M/V Humboldt Explorer liveaboard offers incredible diving in the Galapagos year-round. The high season is from July to November when conditions are colder, currents are stronger and visibility is less, but this is the best chance to see whale sharks when diving at Darwin and Wolf. The low season is from December to June when the currents are not as strong and the visibility is clearer and the water is warmer. Hammerheads, eagle rays, sea lions, Galapagos sharks and silky sharks and huge schools of fish are generally present all year. The spacious dive deck is equipped with individual gear storage, a large camera table and charging station and a separate fresh water rinse tank for underwater camera equipment. Diving takes place from two large tenders to make getting to and from the dive sites as easy as possible, and nitrox is available for those certified.

View more Worldwide Liveaboards at: https://www.thescubanews.com/liveaboards/

WHY THIS PLACE IS SO VALUABLE TO US. AND WHY WE NEED TO TREAT OTHER PLACES LIKE IT

As far as records show, the Galapagos Islands were first stumbled on by Fray Tomás de Berlanga in 1535, when he first discovered the archipelago after sailing from Panama, with Ecuador as his intended destination. Protection is proving successful here and fortunately, as I was recently able to see with my own eyes, the Galapagos Islands is not short of biodiversity. Despite the urgent call for protection of species around the globe, which is undoubtedly and unavoidably a result of human impact, there are places which provide a safe-haven for other forms of life to live full and healthy lives, seemingly bearing less of the bain of the negative impacts of our actions. Of course, nowhere is completely sheltered from the industrial scale pollution, fishing and trophy hunting that takes place every second around the clock, but through my experiences, I hope to share about the potential beauty, growth and abundance that can be achieved with the cost of a little attention and a few amendments.

After being shown to our rooms and given a tour of the boat, we enjoyed our first lunch together, followed by the check dive which, although modest, still presented us with an array of marine life including some nudibranchs and a white tip shark. Post dive we were served with hot tea, a home-made snack and embarked on our 18-hour cruise to Wolf Rock where we would spend the first full day of diving. Excitement was flowing through the boat about what would be in store. I awoke with the sunrise, took my morning coffee, and headed up to the bow where, as we approached Wolf Rock, we were joined by a pod of dolphins riding the wake of the boat, swimming sideways and jumping within inches of the front, as is there nature. This would become normality over the coming days, and it was rare not to see them swimming around the vessel or leaping in the distance during the surface intervals. After a detailed briefing about what to expect for the day, the underwater etiquette we should display to respect the environment as well as having the best possible chance of wildlife interaction, we were ready to gear up and roll in. With 12 divers on board, groups were kept to maximum of 6, although it’s worth noting as the maximum capacity on board the Galaxy Diver is 16, it may be that groups are made up of 8 people. Therefore, it’s important to practice good buddy techniques at all times, regardless of your certification level or experience (considering the conditions are frequently challenging).

WOLF ROCK

Upon descent, it was around 25 seconds before we were surrounded by Hammerhead and Galapagos sharks. Finning down from the plateau to the edge of the slope in a medium current, which was requiring a mild effort and good positioning to move through, we formed a staggered line between 15-25 metres. Look into the blue, sharks. Peer up to the surface, sharks. Glance behind to see what’s there, seawater, followed by more sharks. We spent 45 minutes as watching 2-3m hammerheads and 3m+ Galapagos sharks glided through the current, occasionally making their way to the rocks to request a clean from the wrasse and butterflyfish who were ever-waiting to provide their service, as well as to get a better look at us (which was great, as we also got a better look at them). As with most marine life, I found it better to either mimic them by trying to swim effortlessly into the current, not moving forward but just holding my position. Or anchoring my finger to one of the rocks and moving as little as possible, just breathing, and absorbing the moment. This way they are more likely to approach you and see you as less of a threat, than if you are frantically using all 4 limbs in an attempt to beat the current or going out to them in order to get a close-up view or photo. They will simply swim away.

Whilst there was also a handful of Giant Moray Eels, Cortez Rainbow Wrasse and an assortment of Triggerfish, among many other species, the sharks did have centre stage, which rung true throughout the group when we rendezvoused for breakfast after the first immersion was complete. Although visibility dropped throughout the day (and is commonplace throughout the year – photographers take note!), it still made for some eerie and exciting encounters. Drifts through the current became a task of navigating large boulders, schools of Jacks that blocked the sunlight as you approached, and occasionally taking shelter behind rocks to see one or two sharks playing chase, on their way to wherever they are heading.

DARWIN’S PILLARS

Approaching the Pillars in the panga (the name for the rubber dinghy used for transporting us between sites and the mothership) there is a sense of eeriness. There are no palm trees or blue waters here. The wind blows the light rain onto my face and as the panga bounces through the swell, it feels like needles to the skin. The ocean we ride on is rough and black, clouds above us coat the sky and the sun barely shines through. I have over 2000 dives in various places around the globe, and even though I was anticipating this upcoming one, I would be lying if I said I didn’t feel a touch nervous. Between June and November, it is likely to encounter Whale Sharks on this dive site. I had not yet had any experiences with Whale Sharks (though not for lack of trying), and the reality really set in when during the briefing, we were given detailed instructions about the etiquette and instructions of diving this site, as it was highly likely one would grace us with its presence. Once we plunged onto the plateau beneath the towering arches, it took no more than 10 minutes at around 15m before Paolo heads out into the blue, signaling for us to follow. As I swim with the group through the schools of fish and gaze up, an enormous shadow emerges and cruising towards me is a 14m female whale shark. It’s hard to grasp how the sheer size of the world’s largest fish through words alone. All my imaginations of the stories I had heard and the images and videos I had seen were realized in that moment. She turned 90 degrees upon reaching the group and swam effortlessly past us. I could count every spot, every detail from mere inches away. The thought of how a new-born fish the size of my forearm can grow to this size is truly astonishing. Effortlessly gliding through the current, I struggled to keep up alongside it, my expression switching from smiles to gazing in awe. As if I wasn’t already convinced, I am now certain how important it is to work to keep this species protected.

3-4 dives on a single dive site can be a hard-sell in most locations for fear of repetition. With the variety of life here, and the melting pot of pelagic species it seems that 4 dives is certainly not enough.

FERNANDINA AND ISABELA

Fernandina is the western-most island and the most recently formed. What is responsible for the rising and reduction of the islands around the Galapagos is the ‘Galapagos Hotspot’. It is thought that particularly hot areas of magma sit below the surface of the Earth’s crust here, and is what encourages this continuous volcanic activity. The topography of the Galapagos Islands therefore changes somewhat frequently (although we’re talking over decades, centuries, and millennia here). What is most appealing to us as divers and explorers here, is the different forms of life that call it home. One thing I can say is we definitely know where the idea for Godzilla came from after visiting these wonderful creatures:

After basking in the sun until their bodies have heated enough, these marine iguanas dive into the ocean almost in unison, to feed on the algae that grows on the rocks between 1-20 metres. Though they look similar to a mythical beast about to cause havoc, they are docile, harmless and are content minding their own business. A photographer’s dream. Isabela Island is the largest of in the Galapagos and fringed by molten rock. Though fierce and daunting, it’s possible to see the gentlest fish in the ocean in a few dive sites around here, the oceanic manta ray. They can gather in the bays and are often seen cruising up and down the coast. I the right season, it’s also possible to spot mola mola’s as well, but we were not so lucky on this trip. Despite the incredible encounters with nature that you have read about here, I cannot recommend enough how important it is to experience this first-hand. I would challenge anyone not to visit this magical part of the world and not be moved by what there is to be seen, heard, and felt. It is clear why this is at the top spot of any diver’s list.

• Duration: 8D/7N
• Date: October 12-19, 2022
• Conditions: Weather: Sunny/overcast
• Surface: 21-23 Celsius Water: 17-24 Celsius
• Open sea: Fairly rough
• Bays: Calm

See more images at: https://www.instagram.com/theoceanta/

Save up to $1000 on a liveaboard holiday and apply it to your airfare! Take back control of your travel plans and your pocketbook.

Are expensive flights keeping you grounded? This Flexible Flights offer by Explorer Ventures Fleet® means you can save up to $1000 pp on your liveaboard package and apply the savings towards your flights. If you’re traveling from cities in the continental USA to the Caribbean, your airfare could be free! For further destinations like the Maldives or Galapagos these savings would go a long way to reducing your air costs. You’ll have more money to spend on fun, not flights!

Enjoy the best liveaboard rates, the flexibility to personalize your air plans, and the security knowing our reservations team is available to help you book your liveaboard trip hassle-free. Choose a highlighted week from the destinations below and the discount will be taken off the package rate at the time of booking. You then apply the money saved to your own flights offering you more control over the route and time that’s best for your schedule. Better yet, if you would prefer to apply the savings to something else (say, new camera gear to snap a close-up of that hammerhead), you could do that too! 

This offer is for a limited time only. Book a liveaboard package, book your flights, then book it out of there! Ready to dive in? Here are the details:

Flexible Flights Offer

Booking window: February 28 to March 31, 2023
Travel window: Select dates between March-December 2023

Galapagos Islands – $1000 discount toward airfare
Liveaboard: Humboldt Explorer 

Galapagos Islands – $800 discount toward airfare
Liveaboard: Tiburon Explorer

Maldives – $250 discount toward airfare
Liveaboard: Emperor Explorer

Turks & Caicos Islands – $800 discount toward airfare
Liveaboard: Turks & Caicos Explorer II

Saba & St Kitts – $800 discount toward airfare
Liveaboard: Caribbean Explorer II

Red Sea – $100 discount toward airfare
Liveaboard: Grand Sea Explorer

See Offer Details >>

Contact the Explorer Ventures team or your preferred travel agent to book – https://www.explorerventures.com

Terms & Conditions: Offer valid for new bookings made and paid in full between February 28 and March 31, 2023. Subject to availability. Not combinable with other discounts or group booking terms (excl. Red Sea), not applicable to previously booked trips. Does not count toward the 6th trip credit

GETTING TO KNOW THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS AND A FEW OF ITS INHABITANTS 

Renowned under many alias’, the Enchanted Islands (most famously known as the Galapagos) can be accessed via a 2-hour flight from Guayaquil Airport, in West Ecuador. Another way to access the islands by air is from Quito Airport (Mariscal Sucre International).

A 13-hour direct flight from Amsterdam took me to Quito (Ecuador) where I stayed in the Hotel Mariscal located just 10 minutes’ drive from the airport. Although it’s very close, a taxi costs $10 whereas the local bus will cost $1. The hotel is priced very reasonably at $26 per night for a double-bed room. Some websites recognised it as a “hostal”, I got confused as well but it’s the same place! This included a transfer to the airport in the early morning for my departure to Baltra, which is the main airport accessing the Galapagos Islands. It is located next to Santa Cruz Island (one of four inhabited islands). The other island you may have to fly to, depending on your itinerary, is San Cristobal. Floreana and Isabela are two of the largest islands in the Galapagos and the only others with human inhabitants, however they are only accessible by boat.

There are 3 domestic flight companies operating flights in and out of the Galapagos which are Avianca, Latam and Tame.

In the Hotel Mariscal, there’s a small diner 1 minute walk from the accommodation which has dinner and breakfast available. A decent burger with fries and a beer set me back $10. I could have gone for something a bit more luxury, there is also the Wyndham Hotel available less than 10 minutes from the airport. Prices start from $120 for a room for non-members, though the Hotel Mariscal was perfectly comfortable and sufficient for the overnight stay I needed. The city of Quito is located around 1 hour taxi drive from the airport ($30-40$), or 2 hours on the local bus ($5-10). I won’t go into detail here about the city as I didn’t have time to explore, we’ll save that for another time!

It’s worth noting that there are 2 ‘high seasons’ to consider when traveling through Ecuador that can affect availability and price. These are mainly due to school vacations. December – February (Guayaquil/coastal regions) and June – August (Quito/Highlands).

Arriving in Quito airport, it was necessary for me to do two things: purchase the TCT card and have my luggage scanned and tagged before checking in.

The TCT card is a Transit Control Card and should be purchased by every foreigner planning on entering the Galapagos. There is also regulations for locals and workers, however for the purpose of this article, I’ll just stick to the tourist information. It costs $20 and you will get two identical cards, one for entering and one you will need to show upon exiting, so make sure to keep it safe! A good thing to bear in mind is that when booking with Galaxy Diver, they can have this arranged for you before you arrive. This won’t cost any extra and could save you a lot of time. I also made use of the ATM’s at the opposite end of the airport (no need to panic about getting lost, it’s a really small departure hall) to take some cash for the National Park fee which is $100 and only payable in cash once you arrive in Galapagos.

After having my luggage scanned and tagged (which takes place in a room, next to the TCT desk), I was ready to check-in and board my flight to Baltra. The process of having your bag scanned is to ensure that no foreign objects, particularly biological or contraband are entering the National Park. It is a highly sensitive ecosystem and the introduction of any plants, animals or chemicals could severely effect the ecosystem, so bear this in mind before packing your favourite cactus. Although this can be a lot to get through, especially at 05:00am in the morning, if you travel with Galaxy Divers, they will send a representative to meet you at the airport to guide you through all the necessary steps. They were helpful and made the whole process very simple.

There are water-bottle filling stations throughout the airport after check-in and a few bars and café’s for refreshments, as well as some souvenir shops. My flight stopped in Guayaquil on the way to Baltra and we were asked to stay on the flight whilst they loaded more guests and supplies. This is normal and you should remain on the plane, unless otherwise instructed.

Upon arriving at the airport, I paid the National Park Fee, collected my bag and met the representative of the Galaxy Diver. We awaited the remaining guests and were escorted by our guides for the week to the boat, via minibus. We were welcomed to the port by a few endemic Blue-Footed Boobies and sea lions resting under the pier, which was an awesome welcome.

Now, the real fun begins. Follow on to part two to see the Enchanted Islands underwater, my first experience with the largest fish on the planet and a close encounter drifting through schools of sharks in strong currents, limited visibility, and long way from land.

KEY TIPS

• Keep the TCT card in good condition for when you leave
• National Park Fees are payable in cash only
• Planning to arrive in Galapagos the same day as the cruise starts? Book the flights through the dive operator
• Spread your travel out. Allow yourself enough time to get to the islands in time for the cruise so you are not rushing.

Trip Details

• Vessel: Galaxy Diver
• Date: October 12-19, 2022
• Duration: 8D/7N

 Conditions

• Weather: Sunny/overcast
• Surface: 21-23 Celsius
• Water: 17-24 Celsius
• Open sea: Fairly rough
• Bays: Calm

Year of Savings 2023: Save Up to 30% on Liveaboard Holidays

As soon as December hits, it’s holiday time! Explorer Ventures isn’t waiting around this year. We’re offering a SNEAK PEEK at the top diving deals for our annual Year of Savings event, including up to 30% OFF liveaboard holidays in the Maldives, Palau, and more. Choose from six liveaboards!

This special sale event offers a first pick of liveaboard deals from January to May next year, plus a bonus of June and July for Galapagos. Then in early January 2023, we release everything – all Year of Saving’s holiday departures through to December! So, if you’re looking to travel late next year, make sure to put a note in your calendar and sign up for our monthly newsletter. Get in line first to grab your preferred trip dates for reduced prices.

If you’re ready to get in the water asap, check out the below sale!

These sneak peek specials end January 3rd so don’t miss your chance.

Liveaboard Deals for January to May 2023

• Maldives – Whale sharks, mantas, channel dives and more

Everyone wants to dive the remote islands of the Maldives, but few actually go. Here’s your chance to discover the famous atoll on Emperor Explorer, on sale. Originally starting at $2,335, now starting as low as $1,856 pp on select weeks!

• Palau – Giant caverns, WWII wrecks, stunning reefs, and more

When it comes to exotic diving, Palau should be at the top of your list. Join us on our newest liveaboard Black Pearl Explorer without breaking the bank! Originally $3,150, now starting at $2,850 pp.

• Turks & Caicos – Reef sharks, vertical walls, epic visibility, and more

Now’s your chance to book a diving holiday on the award-winning and guest favorite, Turks & Caicos Explorer II, for a wildly affordable price! Originally from $3,095, now starting from $2,495 pp!

• Saba & St Kitts – Frogfish, seahorses, volcanic reefs, and more

How cool is it to visit three Caribbean Islands on one diving holiday? See a bit of everything on Caribbean Explorer II, for much less than it would cost you on your own! Originally $2,595, now $1,895 pp!

• Galapagos Islands – Marine Iguanas, schooling hammerheads, whale sharks, and more

Book the highly rated Tiburon Explorer and Humboldt Explorer liveaboards for less, both recommended by divers for their level of service, safety standards, and quality of staterooms! Humboldt Explorer – originally $6,195, now starting at $5,195 pp! Tiburon Explorer – originally $6,995, now starting at $6,195 pp!

See the full list of departure dates for the Sneak Peek sale HERE >>

Contact the Explorer Ventures’ team or your preferred travel agent to book – https://www.explorerventures.com

_______

Looking for more options? Visit our fleet schedule and browse other destinations, dates, and discounts. 

*Terms and conditions apply to all specials. Sneak Peek sale ends January 3^rd, 2023.

The new Green Fins Hub is a game-changer in overcoming the biggest sustainability challenges in the marine conservation tourism industry.

Sustainable marine tourism is receiving a major boost with the launch of the Green Fins Hub this week. We are delighted to have been part of the pilot program with five of our liveaboards already Green Fins Hub members and in various stages of completing their assessments. 

“The new Green Fins Hub offers enhanced and global membership for participating dive and snorkel operators to conserve the marine environment. It is the first-ever global marine tourism industry platform, helping operators to make simple, cost-efficient changes to their daily practices by utilizing tried and tested solutions, keep track of their annual improvements and communicate with their communities and customers. The tool has been developed by The Reef-World Foundation in partnership with the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) to overcome the biggest sustainability challenges in the marine conservation tourism industry. The industry-backed digital platform is expected to scale up reach from about 700 operators across 14 countries today to a potential 30,000 worldwide, thus increasing coral protection and conservation worldwide.” UNEP

Explorer Ventures Fleet’s participating liveaboards include:

Humboldt Explorer, Galapagos Islands
Tiburon Explorer, Galapagos Islands
Turks & Caicos Explorer II, Turks & Caicos Islands
Caribbean Explorer II, Saba & St Kitts
Black Pearl Explorer, Palau

Since the beginning of our partnership with The Reef-World Foundation in 2018, we have become a pioneering liveaboard fleet for the Green Fins environmental program. We received the first official liveaboard Green Fins Membership in 2018 (Caribbean Explorer II) and have assisted in paving the way in overcoming the unique hurdles the liveaboard industry faces. Alongside our own sustainability management program Dive Green®, we have used Green Fins as a tool to guide and support best practices. Our organization is working towards creating an eco-friendlier liveaboard community and aiming to reduce our own footprint. We hope to expand the Green Fins Hub to the rest of our Fleet as part of our continued commitment to a more sustainable future. 

Learn about the Reef-World partnership and dedication to our Dive Green sustainability program here.

The world-recognized fleet won 16 awards at Scuba Diving 2023 Reader’s Choice. 

Explorer Ventures Fleet’s liveaboard Turks & Caicos Explorer II was rated #1 for Quality of Staff and Quality of Berths in Scuba Diving’s 2023 Reader’s Choice awards. The liveaboards Turks & Caicos Explorer II (Turks & Caicos Islands) and Humboldt Explorer (Galapagos Islands) have been recognized for 16 awards combined.

These awards are significant for Explorer Ventures Fleet as the company’s long-standing motto is ‘come as a guest, leave as family.’ They are delighted that their staff’s hard work, knowledge, and enthusiasm has been acknowledged by divers. Notably, two crew on Turks & Caicos Explorer II have been with the fleet for 10 and 22 years. Also, multiple office members have been with the company for between 15-20 years. Everyone at Explorer Ventures truly loves what they do, and they’re glad it shows.

“I don’t even know where to start. As a business owner in the dive industry, I know a tightly run ship when I see one. Bringing our customers to another company for a dive vacation for the first time always is a bit worrisome because you don’t know how things will go. This was an amazing experience for all of us in so many ways.” – Yvette (July 2022)

Scuba Diving 2023 Reader’s Choice Awards:

Turks & Caicos Explorer II, Turks & Caicos Islands
Dives Providenciales, West Caicos, French Cay. 8-days/7-nights aboard with up to 27 dives included.
It comfortably accommodates 20 guests. Explore signature sites and deep offshore walls

1. 1^st Place – Quality of Staff
2. 1^st Place – Quality of Berths
3. 2^nd Place – Quality of Liveaboard
4. Top 5 – Level of Value
5. Top 5 – Level of Luxury
6. Top 5 – Level of Safety
7. Top 10 – Best Overall
8. Top 10 – Quality of Food

Humboldt Explorer, Galapagos Islands
Spend four days at the famous Darwin and Wolf Islands. 8-days/7-night itineraries with up to 19 dives; two land tours included. Eight ensuite staterooms accommodate 16 guests. Enjoy the best of the Galapagos. 

• Top 5 – Quality of Food
• Top 10 – Quality of Berths
• Top 10 – Best Overall
• Top 10 – Quality of Liveaboard
• Top 10 – Level of Luxury
• Top 10 – Level of Safety
• Top 10 – Level of Value
• Top 10 – Quality of Staff

Learn about Explorer Ventures eight incredible liveaboard destinations.

Roderic Mast is Oceanic Society’s President and CEO. He is a lifelong conservationist, a marine biologist, and an experienced travel guide who got his start as a naturalist in the Galápagos Islands. He has worked in and visited more than 150 countries, and published many books, chapters and articles on flagship species, oceans, and rainforests. Rod is the co-chair of the IUCN-SSC Marine Turtle Specialist Group and the co-founder of the State of the World’s Sea Turtles (SWOT) Program. Rod is a passionate photographer, author, and public speaker.

DIVE IN with Liz and Sylvia is a casual, free-flowing, and educational conversation and encourages ocean and nature enthusiasts of all ages to join. Sylvia, Liz, and Rod will take questions via Q & A text and voice call-in from the attendees. Get your questions ready!

Post your comments on Twitter and use #DIVEINWITHUS

Details

Presented by Ocean Elders

Date and Time: Jun 11, 2022 03:00 PM in Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Learn more at: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_7OtjYaArTPeSETzKAjip9g

Sea turtles are amazing creatures, found around the world in tropical and subtropical waters. They play a vital role in marine ecosystem health and have been in the ocean for more than 100 million years.

They are an understandably popular dive and photography choice and you can dive with them at a variety of top liveaboard diving destinations.

The Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Six of the seven species of sea turtle can be seen at the Great Barrier Reef, where they feed and nest. The best way to go turtle spotting is during a Great Barrier Reef liveaboard cruise to the outer reef, where you’ll typically dive Ribbon and Osprey reefs. Both of these stunning reefs are great places to see green, hawksbill and loggerhead sea turtles. Keep your eyes open for the less commonly seen Olive Ridley and leatherback sea turtles as well.

The MV Spoilsport Australia offers special Turtle Spectacular safaris in November each year to explore the far northern reefs. These safaris include a visit to Raine Island,which has been a green turtle nesting site for over 1,000 years. Thousands of turtles return to Raine Island to lay their eggs in the warm sands each year.

Galapagos Islands

The Galapagos green sea turtle is the only type of green sea turtle that nests on the beaches of the Galapagos Islands. These turtles have a slightly darker and more domed shell than green sea turtles and can be seen when Galapagos liveaboard diving. Cabo Marshall and Cabo Douglas are both good dive sites for sea turtle sightings and there are plenty of other marine life highlights to enjoy at this world-class dive destination.

Thailand

The Similan Islands are home to some of the best dive sites in Thailand and include thriving reefs, submerged boulders and stunning rock formations. This is a great destination to encounter green sea turtles whilst also enjoying marine life such as whale sharks, manta rays and more. The Surin Islands are less accessible and, as such, are a sought after liveaboard diving destination. The healthy reefs at these islands have huge numbers of green and hawksbill turtles.

The Whale liveaboard caters for just 12 guests and offers safaris to the Similan Islands, as well as other North and South Andaman dive destinations.

Oman

Oman liveaboard diving is a great way to experience this turtle hotspot and relatively new dive destination. Oman is visited by Hawksbill and green sea turtles and the Daymaniyat and Hallaniyat Islands are well known for their nesting sea turtle populations. The Musandam Peninsula also has sea turtles at the coral reefs found there.

May and June are the months to visit to see hawksbill and green sea turtles nesting on island beaches.

There are more great destinations to go swimming with sea turtles, including Malaysia and the Maldives. Find out all about them in The Top 5 Places to Dive with Sea Turtles.

This article was written by divers and writers at LiveAboard.com

As scuba divers, we know that the Galápagos Islands Archipelago is known for the massive number of sharks and other marine life that makes their home there. In a forward thinking move, the government of Ecuador has recently taken steps to insure that the Galápagos Islands are always known for that. Ecuador’s president, Rafael Correa, On March 21^st,  announced that the protection of the Galápagos islands have been enhanced with the creation of the Galápagos Islands Marine Sanctuary. Most of the Galápagos Islands were in one way or another already protected. For example:

• Only a few islands are occupied, all others have restrictions on visiting.
• Only 116 visitors sites are available, 62 for scuba diving and snorkeling and 54 land sites.
• Scuba dives are escorted dives only, kept in a group.
• Tourist most have licensed local guides who enforces conservation measures when visiting approved sites.
• Use of motor vehicles are restricted outside of the inhabited zones.
• Fishing is controlled in many areas.

The  Galápagos Marine Reserve is the largest area that is being incorporated into the new sanctuary. It has about 15,000 square miles while the remainder of the 18,000 square mile sanctuary is made up of twenty one smaller areas. The reserve is at the far northern reaches of the archipelago around the famous islands of Wolf and Darwin. These two islands are about 300 kilometers from the central islands and San Cristobal Island where most visitors arrive by air. The far north is the destination of the majority of the scuba diving liveaboards in the  Galápagos Islands.

This move to create the Galápagos Islands Marine Sanctuary instead of maintaining the marine reserve had been discussed for about two years. However a study by The Charles Darwin Research Station  in part sponsored by the Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic (LEX-NG) Fund is said to have been a major factor in pushing the creation to completion. The research project was completed in late 2015 and presented to the government in early 2016. The study focused on the Galápagos Marine Reserve and had officially established that the area had a fish biomass averaging 17.5 tons per hectare, making it the highest biomass in the world. This figure is almost double that of the Cocos Islands to the north, which is the second highest figure in the world. The  biomass was about 80% sharks and rays, while studies at Cocos Island show a 50% split between reef fish and the larger sharks and rays.

While that was great news, there was also some negative findings. There was a noticeable decline in many of the 26 shark species that called the area home. This was attributed to illegal fishing. While the market for shark fins has been declining, there is still a sizable market for them primarily in Asia. Many countries in the western pacific have declared shark finning illegal and establish strict measures to stop the trade. Palau and Indonesia once a major source of shark fins have changed their policies when they catch illegal fisherman. In the past they would confiscate the fish and nets, fine the boat owners and perhaps a short stay in jail for the captain. Now they confiscate the boats as well and destroy them. With such large stakes the boats are going elsewhere, such as the Galápagos Marine Reserve. These new rules bring with them enhanced protection and a much stronger position of enforcement. Anti-poaching marine patrols will be established and other advance methods employed to enforce the no fishing zones.

For the scuba dive, this is a very welcomed step. Many of our best locations are slowly being destroyed. Recent reports from the Great Barrier Reef have cited massive coral bleaching and the biomass there is falling, it only one tenth of the Galápagos Marine Reserve and in some places much less than that.

Wolf and Darwin Islands are dived from liveaboard boats that depart San Cristobal Island for departures of seven to twelve days. Diver can experience diving conditions that represent both temperate and tropical conditions. While the biodiversity of the area is not the highest in the world it does have the unique advantage of the broadest range of species having both warm water and cold water marine life. Plus there are dozens that are only found around these islands.

To learn more about diving in the Galápagos Islands Marine Sanctuary and the liveaboards that visit the area visit the website of dive zone for their Galápagos Islands diving information.

The Galapagos Master welcomed aboard a group of German divers for a week of unforgettable diving. After greeting everyone with a drink and making sure everyone was comfortably settled into their cabins, Cruise Director Juan Carlos (JC) briefed the guests on what to expect from their Galapagos experience, both in and out of the water. A short while later, we donned our gear for an easy check dive. This was a great chance to fine tune their buoyancy, practice deploying their submersible marker buoys and get a quick glimpse of a playful sea lion or two. It was also the first opportunity for our guests to sample Chef Angel’s otherworldly hot chocolate and hors d’oeuvres, served on deck right after the dive.
All of our guests seemed comfortable, confident and excited to take on the more challenging dives to come. Onward to the island of Santa Cruz!

First on our schedule today was Punta Carrion. Hammerhead sharks, a Galapagos shark, a white tip reef shark, a manta, a mobula ray, an eagle ray, a marble ray and, for those inclined to look for the small stuff, literally thousands of nembrotha nudibranchs. We even enjoyed the company of a few sea lions, who were keen to pose for photographs and show off their underwater barrel rolls.
A short surface interval later, we were back in the water at Isla Moscera for another brilliant dive. Mobula rays, green turtles, a huge manta and 15 – 20 hammerheads were the highlights this time.

With two dives under our weight belts, we turned our attention to topside exploration at Seymour Norte. As soon as we arrived on the island, we were greeted by an enormous iguana lazing in the shade. A few paces later, we came upon a colony of frigate birds nesting just a meter from the walking path. An equally close-up visit with a blue footed booby wrapped up the island tour. No matter how much time we spend in the archipelago, we will never cease to marvel that, in the modern world, it is still possible to have encounters with wild animals that seem to take no notice of our presence. Absolutely wonderful day!
But as fascinating as the terrestrial creatures of Galapagos may be, our guests were already looking forward to the next dive. Lucky for them, our next site was one that should be near the top of every serious diver’s bucket list….the legendary Wolf Island.

To take advantage of the better light and higher activity levels associated with morning dives, we shifted our day’s schedule to the early side, three dives before lunch and one dive in the late afternoon.  This proved to be a wise decision.  On our first dive, at a site called Landslide, there were scalloped hammerheads everywhere, 5-7 at a time at the beginning of the dive, 20-30 at a time toward the end.  Determined to strike while the iron was hot, we returned to Landslide for our second dive and found the site again bustling with shark activity.

As the sun moved higher in the sky for our third and fourth dives, we still had plenty of encounters with hammerheads, green sea turtles and, on our final dive of the day, a dolphin!  Comfortable conditions and lots of marine life…there’s not much more a diver could ask for.    In the meantime, we moved on to perhaps the most iconic dive site in the entire Galapagos archipelago, Darwin Island.

Spirits were high on the dive deck as our divers prepared their gear with Darwin’s Arch beckoning in the distance. To keep a bit of space between our two dive groups, we decided that one group would drop in at the Theater, while the other would drop in at the sandy bottom. We had the dive site to ourselves so there was no need to crowd together.
The 40-meter visibility ensured that we saw everything there was to see: 10 or so hammerheads, a school a barracudas, rainbow runners, and a few yellowfin tunas on the first dive; 30 hammerheads plus a dolphin on the second dive; a few more hammerheads on the third dive; and golden cowrays and more yellowfins on the fourth dive. As we raised the Pilsens at dinner that evening, there were smiles all around.

For our return to Wolf, the scene was familiar: hammerheads zipping by while our divers hunkered down behind the rocks and boulders, trying to remain as still as possible.  The highlight of this day, however, was a pod of 30-40 dolphins which passed through both dive groups at a depth of about 10 meters.  It’s not unusual to glimpse dolphins at a distance, or to see a few up close, but to have so many dolphins, including juveniles, passing to the left, right, above and below is the kind of experience that makes even veteran divers pump their fists with excitement.  Great stuff, Mother Nature!  Please keep it coming.

The following morning we arrived at Punta Vicente Roca on the island of Isabela.  As soon as the first light peeked over the horizon, the area around our anchorage came to life as Galapagos penguins, flightless cormorants and sea lions all began to stir.  Underwater, the action was even better.  At one point, we had no fewer than six mola molas within clear sight.  A few sunfish, too caught up in the pleasures of a cleaning station to pay attention to much else, even drifted within a couple meters of one of our guests.  Add in a few sea lion encounters, a half dozen mobula rays and a Galapagos Bullhead Shark and you have the recipe for another tremendous day of diving in Galapagos.

Back on board, the saloon was abuzz with divers exchanging video footage. Without question, this was a day that will have a special place in our divers’ You Tube channels and personal highlight reels. With only two dives left on our itinerary, and the bar set at a vertiginous height, we bid adieu to Isabela and made our way to Cousins Rock.
The highlight of our last day of diving was a school of 25-35 eagle rays that came close enough to pop our bubbles with their tips of their wings. A great way to end a great week!
The last day of diving is always bittersweet. When each dive is better than the one before, you wish you could stay an extra day/week/month. Sadly, the time has come for our German friends to say farewell. We wish them good health and safe travels.
But for the crew of the Galapagos Master, the diving continues. Tomorrow, we welcome a new group of divers embarking on a new set of adventures. What do the waters of the Galapagos archipelago hold for them? Tune in next week to find out.

There are so many wondrous things about scuba diving in the Galapagos that it’s hard to pick highlights. The remote archipelago is uniquely positioned at the point where the frigid Humboldt Current clashes with the warm waters of the Equator; as a result, each island is its own microcosm, and each one differs hugely from the next. It is possible in the Galapagos to dive with penguins one morning, and schooling hammerheads the next; it is a world of extremes where strange creatures found nowhere else in the world rule by day and at night the stars of both hemispheres cast their glow upon the ocean. The Galapagos Islands are rightfully known as one of the world’s premier dive destinations, thanks to the incredible productivity boasted by the 28,000 square miles of protected waters that surround the archipelago. I remember the diving there as a constant procession of incomparable experiences; a dizzy blur of consecutive ‘best dives ever’. Looking back, there are many exceptional encounters written indelibly upon my memory- coming face-to-face with an enormous Galapagos shark; watching penguins dart hungrily through a silvery curtain of baitfish; rubbing noses with a family of sea lions; entering a cavern filled with so many resting female turtles that I swiftly lost count. One creature in particular however managed to capture my imagination and my heart, and that was the peculiarly bewitching marine iguana.

As the planet’s only extant marine reptile, these iguanas are a complete anomaly; like many of their island neighbors, they are endemic to the Galapagos. On the islands, they make up for their absence elsewhere in the world by basking on the shoreline in their hundreds like a scaly, reptilian carpet. While the hours that iguanas spend sunbathing may seem luxurious, they are in fact vital to their survival. Because their diet consists solely of seaweed and algae, the iguanas spend much of their time in the ocean searching for food. When they surface, their cold-blooded bodies are so chilled that the lizards become lethargic and clumsy, and only the sun’s heat can restore them to normal functionality.
They are found on all of the Galapagos Islands, although experts have distinguished six distinct sub-species throughout the region. On land, the air resonates to the sound of the iguanas’ sneezing; a continuous cacophony as first one and then the next expunges the salt ingested during their time in the water from their nasal glands. This method of coping with their unusual habitat is not the only evolutionary trait that iguanas display- in addition, they possess laterally flattened tails and spiked dorsal fins ideally suited to life in the water. Their claws are longer and sharper than those of terrestrial lizards, to aid in clinging to rocks in strong current; and their flattened snouts allow for easier purchase when feeding on algae beds.

Seeing an iguana on land is one thing, but to see them underwater for the first time is mind-boggling. It is such an incongruous sight- a meter long lizard grazing along the seafloor as calmly as a cow put out to pasture. Capable of diving to depths of up to nine meters, iguanas are proficient swimmers, and to see them in the water is to witness a masterclass in streamlined efficiency and diving prowess. For me, marine iguanas define what is so special about the Galapagos- a place unrestricted by the boundaries and expectations of the rest of the world, and where absolutely anything is possible.

Unlike Max I hadn’t worn my wolf suit, or made mischief of one kind or another. I hadn’t been sent to my bedroom for it to transform into an island of magical monsters, only reachable after a year of sailing.  I wouldn’t want to spend that long on a boat, so I behaved(ish) and looked into going to the Galapagos and spending my nights tucked up on dry land.

Simon’s left arm shot out, index finger extended, and he clenched his right fist and stuck it on the side of his head. I scanned left and right fast, peering through my mask into the milky blue water. “Where?! Where?!” my brain implored. “There!!!” my eyes answered. “At last” I smiled to myself with relief, bringing by camera up to eye level as the school of scalloped hammerheads cruised past 10 metres away, swaying over the sandy bottom of the underwater caldera in the middle of the site called Gordon Rocks. I now knew that Gordon certainly did, providing me, and many other divers over the years, with their first sightings of this oddly but brilliantly-shaped fish.

In the past I’d searched for hammerheads in the Red Sea and in South Africa on five blue dives with a solitary, faint blur my sole reward, and coming to the Galapagos they were on the top of my fish wish list. They are one of the emblematic Galapagan species after all; the t-shirt shops of Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz, the most-inhabited island of the archipelago, were draped in them, and along with the giant tortoise formed the logo of the Galapagos National Park. Yet I had been on the islands for a week, investigating land-based diving and nature tours with Red Mangrove’s suite of luxury lodges, and tacky miniatures and gaudy prints were all I’d seen. In terms of diving, the best had definitely been saved till last.

Not that the rest of the diving had been poor, we’d just been a bit unlucky. Gordon Rocks is normally the first or second diving destination from Santa Cruz island on Red Mangrove’s land-based island-hopping diving itinerary, but due to a last-minute flight cancellation, my partner and I missed Gordon Rocks on what should have been our first day of an eight-day tour whilst we occupied ourselves in Guayaquil on the mainland for an extra twenty four hours. Still, we had planned to have plenty of days “spare” on Santa Cruz looking at diving from Puerto Ayora, so we arranged to catch up at the end.

I also thought that I was on a bit of a lucky streak; I was randomly upgraded to first class on the flight to Guayaquil to meet up with Imi, and we were both upgraded for the two-hour A320 Tamé flight to Isla Baltra. Being greeted with cool water and chilled face towels by our escort enhanced the good vibe, as did the friendly banter with our guide on the 200-metre ferry ride and 42-kilometre drive across Santa Cruz island. By the time we had checked into our funky room metres from Puerto Ayora’s gently lapping bay, seen marine iguanas basking on the restaurant deck, snapped a sea lion snoozing in the shade on a coffee table, and eaten some tender calamari and chicken with perfectly steamed veg, we were naturally feeling pretty positive.

A post lunch-trip to snorkel with some sea lions resulting in a couple of half-decent pics, a boat ride to the white sands of Tortuga Bay and a guided nature walk to see the marine iguanas, Sally Lightfoot crabs, and large cacti growing from volcanic rock did nothing to dampen the feeling that everything would just fall perfectly into place, the late flight cancellation and re-jigged schedule a minor blip. After a brief meeting with our dive guide for the following day and a candlelit dinner, I was rocked to sleep by the wash of the ocean, dreaming about big fish with funny heads.

On the boat ride out to Sante Fé island the next morning, having left the busy cargo ships, numerous moored liveaboards and plentiful small craft behind, we were regaled with the previous day’s missed sightings of a manta, eagle rays, stingrays, whitetip reef sharks, and of course hammerheads. A reef manta (Manta alfredi) breached to the side of the boat, as if to say “come on, jump in, we’re waiting for you”.

Except they weren’t. Nature, of course, works to its own schedule. There was a six-metre cave swim-through, a group of silvery grunts, and a school of barracuda in the distance. “Never mind” I thought, “it was fine for a return to the water” but I was a little disappointed. I had been expecting the 10 -15 metre viz and the rocky underwater landscapes. Although the Galapagos are in the Pacific and on the equator, the water temperature drops to the low 20s, too cold for much coral growth, due to the passing Humboldt current coming up from the south. But I had also been expecting more action.

It is also about expectations – maybe I’d misread the hype – I had been expecting big stuff: sharks, big schools of fish and classrooms of rays, turtles, sea lions and marine iguanas. The two fellas from Quito doing DSDs and their two OW buddies naturally thought the whole experience had been grand. During the surface interval we motored back towards Puerto Ayora and descended upon a shallow site called La Loberia (lobo del mar being a sea lion in Spanish). The viz was at most 10 metres and full of fish poo, but we soon saw why we were here.

Two sea lions dived down from the surface, spinning and turning with incredible agility, zipping around us like underwater break-dancers as we approached a dark shadow in front of us. The other divers were ahead and, as I turned to take a snap, went in and disappeared. As I approached I saw that it was in fact a huge school of the endemic black-striped salema (Xenocys jessiae). Where were the others? I moved forward. The fish parted a little, but stayed inches from me. I went in some more and it got dark. I looked around and saw that they had surrounded me, I was engulfed in a giant amorphous blob of fish. I could hear the DM rattling his shaker, trying to guide me on. I tapped back on by strobe arm. I swam on and we met up, four divers in a zillion sardine-sized fish. Incredible. When we emerged back into daylight, more sea lions came to play briefly, then sped off, no doubt to get a stripy snack.

In the afternoon we were escorted to a small cruiser and sped off towards Isla Isabela, the largest of the four inhabited islands. As the cabin looked pretty full with 16 passengers we asked to sit on the flybridge with some cargo. We chatted to the skipper in dodgy Spanish as he opened the twin 300 HP four-strokes up for the two-hour crossing.

Approaching Puerto Vilamil we slowed to little more than an idle as the skipper skirted around the inside of the bay formed in the lava rocks. The contrast with Puerto Ayora was considerable; with little more than 3000 inhabitants, our home for the next four days was sleepy and quiet under the afternoon sun, our small boat the largest in the port. As soon as our feet hit the wooden pontoon of the port we were guided to a “panga”, a narrow speedboat, and taken for a snorkel in the shallow lagoon. The tide was going out, lifting up the sandy bottom, but not enough to obscure a spotted eagle ray and a small whitetip reef shark. I thought the tide of my luck was swinging back the other way.

Over a gourmet dinner, our dive guide for the morrow, Paco, seemed to think so. “95% chance of hammerheads at Isla Tortuga” he stated confidently before drawing a map of the dive site. It would be a fast drift dive around the outside edge of a crescent-shaped island that was once a volcano, with a few interludes hiding behind outcrops of cooled lava to hopefully watch the hammers go by and break my duck. Of course you know that I didn’t. We were accompanied by a huge school of Galapagos barracuda most of the first dive (good food for sharks), there were plenty of King Angelfish (who are partial to cleaning sharks), eagle rays and stingrays on the second dive (more shark food), four green turtles, and three schools of razor surgeonfish. The current was fun, and the diving was good, despite mediocre viz, and back in the aquamarine bay we saw more turtles and stingrays, and the world’s smallest and only tropical penguin; the cute Galapagos penguin.

After a dry day spent walking up Sierra Negra, the world’s largest active volcano crater, spanning an impressive 11 kilometres from side to side, we set off along the coast for Los Tuneles. As we bombed along we passed more than twenty turtles and five mantas on the 30-minute ride. Skipper Julio displayed admirable skill to get us through some rough surf before threading us through the treacherous lava rock formations to an astonishing haven. Los Tuneles is a maze of arches formed by lava tunnels in some of the most beautiful water I have seen. There were turtles galore to snorkel with, as well as juvenile eagle rays, stingrays, and the odd barracuda. By the time we were done we estimated that we had seen at least 50 turtles either from the boat or in the water.

Julio’s prowess wasn’t limited to tricky boat manoeuvres either. At Elfinado he donned mask and fins and found two arches occupied by close to a dozen whitetips, and then led us to the mangroves to show us his secret seahorse. Tail wrapped around a branch, with the sunlight filtering through the film-covered surface the view was ethereal. Just below a turtle snoozed, half-under a ledge on a bed of leaves in an almost autumnal composition. To cap a great day, he pointed us to narrow, shallow channel close to the port and told us to snorkel carefully along the top. The incoming tide made the water murky, but a couple of metres below us we made out first one, then two, then another now-familiar whitetip. As we pulled ourselves along the sides of the 100-metre long one-metre wide channel, we could see that the bottom was carpeted with them. My notes say “Photography value zero, thrill value high”. On a slack tide with some viz, it would have been amazing.

After a fun 90-minute flight on a 10-seater Norman Britten Islander to San Cristobal island we dropped our bags off and were whisked off on a short walk up to a water-filled crater to learn more about frigate birds and down to another beach popular with sea lions, before sorting out our gear at the dive centre for the next day’s diving with DM Jimbo.  Over dinner he told us about Kicker Rock (a.k.a. El Leon Endormido), talking up our chances of seeing hammerheads and the endemic Galapagos shark.

As Imi had decided to put on some additional neoprene, we stopped at Isla Lobos for a quick check dive. While we suited up, a rather cheeky sea lion hopped onto the boat and started checking out my gear for me and followed us into the water for a quick play around on the sandy bottom of the bay.

Alongside the lion-shaped rock, we rolled in and entered the channel formed by a 20-metre gap towards its western tip. Sheltered from the sun’s rays, the sea was grey as we hovered above the sandy peering ahead. A couple of stingrays were resting on the bottom and a third flitted past. We lay in the sand and waited and shortly three Galapagos sharks swam through the 25-metre deep channel.  A first for me; they are quite small but beautifully-shaped creatures, and move with their natural predatory grace.  I couldn’t help wondering whether they would be followed by hammerheads.  A couple more swam by, followed by a couple of blacktips. “Martillo, martillo, aqui martillo” I sang in my head, but none came. The vertical wall along the outside flank of the rock was madly mottled with blue and orange sponges, pencil urchins resting wherever they found a nook, often with a small hawkfish or the stunning blue and red of the endemic whitetailed damselfish juvenile. The sea was full of fish with king angelfish and in abundance, streamer hogfish and gringos (creole fish). We returned to the wall for a second diving, after going to the far tip looking for hammerheads (obsessed, me?) in the current, and were rewarded with more fish soup and five green turtles no less. Despite being hammerless that morning, the Sleeping Lion was certainly awake underwater.

After lunch back in the sheltered waters of Isla Lobos, Jimbo took us for a snorkel along the rocky edge to look for marine iguanas. We weren’t disappointed, as well as more damsels and razor surgeonfish, we quickly found an iguana trying to escape the playful attentions of a sea lion that was pulling its tail in a slapstick wrestling contest. Once that act was over, a pair of sea lions popped up, darting and whirling in random directions like a firework display run by delinquent kids. As the finale, yet another smooth, brown underwater puppy whizzed into view, a black object with a shiny end in its mouth. Like a Covent Garden juggler it tossed it up, watched it sink a few metres, flitted down to catch it, before doing it again. But what was it juggling?  After a few minutes our entertainer swam right up to my lens, looked at me, and placed the object on the sand below me before swimming off. I dived down and picked up an immaculate, but batteryless, 120-dollar dive torch.  Amazing. Was this the same curious and cheeky chappy from this morning who had borrowed a toy from another diver?

That wasn’t the end to the day though. No sooner back on shore, we were greeted by our guide who took us to the island’s visitor centre and up to frigate bird hill for more great views and wildlife info before a quick dinner with our host Daniella and a deep sleep. San Cristobal had been pretty action-packed, so they next day we chilled out firstly on the boat transfer back to Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz, and then walking around the Charles Darwin Research Station, attempting to slow down to the same pace as the old giant tortoises, the most well-known of them being the century-old Lonesome George, the last survivor of a species decimated by human activity.

And so we were finally doing day one on day eight, about to roll into the small volcanic crater that makes up Gordon Rocks. The overcast day and choppy seas did nothing to make me think that I’d come away with much.  How wrong I was. More than a dozen hammerheads cruised past just above the sandy crater bottom as soon as we had descended the 28-odd metres to get there. BINGO! As we did a circuit around the inside (and through some crazy thermoclines that went from 21 to 17 degrees C) there were swimming whitetip reef sharks, turtles, and large schools of king angelfish and razor surgeonfish again, basslets and butterflyfish, all good cleaner fish for large species.

Gordon Rocks really did rock.  It was a fitting finale to a most excellent first week as we moved into budget accommodation in the centre of town, a street back from the sea, for the final six days.

For 35 dollars a night we found a double with air-con of sorts (it was either on freezing or warm), private bathroom, and breakfast. There are plenty of restaurants serving main courses from $8, small stores sell fruits and snacks, there is a small supermarket down by the port, and lunch is provided on dive boats.

The following day we returned to Gordon Rocks and saw more hammerheads, whitetips, friendly turtles, and even a sea lion. The vertical currents and surge can definitely be quite a challenge for inexperienced divers, and the cold currents can be core-chilling. It’s quite common for divers to come up after 30 minutes as the combination of the above and going down to 30 metres sucks up their air. One fellow diver, an out of practice yet ex-commercial diver with 2000+ dives, was done in 19 minutes. For those who can hang around and check out the outside walls, the rewards are excellent though. Although my camera had already fogged up, I got to marvel at a huge, slow-moving school of countless one-metre-long snapper at 10 metres and then a wahoo as we surfaced, and on another safety stop saw over a hundred golden cow rays cruise past. They also put in a brief appearance on another visit to Santa Fe, as did a massive school of pompano that encircled us in a silvery fishy cylinder, and yet more Galapagos barracuda.

We also went to North Seymour with Galapagos Sub-Aqua, found more stingrays, marbled rays, eagle rays, a manta silhouetted above us in the gloom, and several pairs of whitetips resting under overhangs, the dives culminating in some exciting fast drifts over shallow water on the safety stops.

Whenever I think about Gordon Rocks my mouth curls into a smile. It epitomises the Galapagos for me. Even on a gloomy day it reflects the unique and enchanting nature of the archipelago’s diverse nature, its strong currents symbolising the challenges ahead, and its diverse life reminders of what we have to lose.

Travel info:

We were superbly hosted by Red Mangrove for our first week – see: http://www.redmangrove.com who have a range of off-the-shelf itineraries, and who also do tailor-made trips and can cater for a mixed group of divers and non-divers.

Indigo Safaris looked after our travel arrangements at no extra cost and they also work with a range of liveaboard dive vessels.  www.indigosafaris.com

Other places to stay:

Mid range:

La Casa Del Lago doubles at $90 who also make great breakfasts for $5.50, fruit salad, fresh juices, wholemeal bread, vegetarian omelets and Ecuadorian coffee. casadellago@galapagoscultural.com
Budget:
Hotel Espana on Santa Cruz

Doubles at $35, wi-fi, breakfast $4.00, hammocks in nice communal area. e-mail: hotelsgalapagos@yahoo.es
Casa Rosada  on Isabela on the beachfront – doubles $20 to $40 claudiahodari@gmail.com

Volcano Hotel on Isabela opposite the beach – doubles $40 volcanohotelisa@hotmail.com

Places to eat in Puerto Ayora:

La Garrapata: fish $7.80, starters $4.00, desserts from $3.40, real coffee, plus taxes

Café del Mar: grilled fish and plantain $8.00 plus taxes

El Jardin/The Garden: try the fish of the day and they sell great ice cream too.

K.T. Williams: this is where the locals go – fish in coconut sauce with rice $5, Calle Charles Binford. Calle Charles Binford is closed to vehicles at night as local restaurants put out tables and chairs.

We dived with Red Mangrove on Santa Cruz, Isabela, and San Cristobal and Galapagos Sub-Aqua on Santa Cruz.

Getting there:

Daily flights to Baltra (ostensibly Santa Cruz island) and San Cristobal from Quito and Guayaquil. Flights from Guayaquil are a little cheaper and Guayaquil is at sea level rather than over 4000 metres above at Quito. Return flights start at $492 in low season for Guayaquil – Baltra return and go up to $586 for Quito- Baltra returns in high season.

Liveaboards:

With some more sensible and less draconian regulations from the national park board, liveaboards have become a great way to dive the Galapagos again. They are not cheap, but they do take you to the best remote spots. http://www.indigosafaris.com/pages/the-galapagos/galapagos-liveaboards.php

In October 2015, during prime Whale Shark season, through Indigo Safaris, I will be giving a photography workshop on the newly-launched Galapagos Aggressor III and will be accompanied by leading Whale Shark expert Dr. Simon Pierce of the Marine Megafauna Foundation. The seven-night cruise will take in the best megafauna sites, including Darwin and Wolf Islands and will cost $5395. Simon is a treasure trove of marine information, not just about his giant fish friends, and I will help you bring back amazing images from this fantastic trip.

Do you still have some holiday to use up before the end of the year?

Use it for once in a lifetime diving in the Galapagos! Book by 20 September for an incredible saving of £350 off sailings until 31 January 2014 aboard the luxurious Aggressor I & II.

Learn more at:
http://www.regal-diving.co.uk/aggressor-i-ii

Check out the latest offers from blue o two including a last minute cancellation for this Friday!

M/Y blue Fin – Red Sea     

27 Sep – 04 Oct: Best of the Red Sea – £1145

11 Oct – 18 Oct: Simply the Best – £1295 (Package from Manchester £1365)

08 Nov – 15 Nov: Strait of Tiran and North – £995

15 Nov – 22 Nov: Best of Wrecks – £1099

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M/Y blue Horizon – Red Sea

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20 Sep – 27 Sep: Northern Wrecks and Reefs – £995 (Package from Manchester £1065)

18 Oct – 25 Oct: Project Shark: Simply the Best – £1249

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M/Y blue Melody – Red Sea

27 Sep – 04 Oct: North and Ras Mohamed – £1095

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20 Sep – 27 Sep: Northern Wrecks and Reefs – £995

25 Oct – 01 Nov: Simply the best – £1495

01 Nov – 08 Nov: Northern Wrecks and Reefs – £1099

08 Nov – 15 Nov: North and Brothers – £1149

M/V Carpe Diem – Maldives

22 Nov – 30 Nov: North Male – Ari – Felidhu – South Male – £1999*

28 Feb – 08 Mar: Project Shark: Maldives with Nikki Weeden – £2295*

M/V Humboldt Explorer – Galapagos Islands

10 Nov – 19 Nov: Galapagos Islands – £4569* Last male share!

S/Y Fiji Siren – Fiji Islands

04 Feb – 14 Feb: Lomaiviti & Taveuni Islands (10 nights) – £3013**

*Package price is subject to change due to fluctuations in flight prices. Final package price will be confirmed at

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To book or for more info contact our EXPERT TRAVEL TEAM now on 01752 480808, or visit our website www.blueotwo.com

Check out the latest offers from blue o two including next Friday, 16^th August on M/Y blue Fin sailing the iconic Northern Wrecks & Reefs for just £925pp!

M/Y blue Fin – Red Sea     

16 Aug – 23 Aug: Northern Wrecks & Reefs – £925

30 Aug – 6 Sep: Deep South Borderlands – £1295 (last female share!)

20 Sep – 27 Sep: Project  Shark: Simply the best  £1295

27 Sep – 04 Oct: Best of the Red Sea – £1295

M/Y blue Horizon – Red Sea

16 Aug – 23 Aug: Best of the Red Sea – £1395

23 Aug – 30 Aug: Best of the Red Sea – £1395

30 Aug – 06 Sep: North and Brothers – £1095

06 Sep – 13 Sep: Northern Wrecks and Reefs – £1295

13 Sep – 20 Sep: Brothers and Elphinstone – £1295 (last female share!)

20 Sep – 27 Sep: Northern Wrecks and Reefs – £995

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16 Aug – 23 Aug: In Focus with Saeed Rashid – £1149 (non-photographers welcome!)

23 Aug – 3- Aug: Northern Wrecks & Reefs – £1095

30 Aug – 06 Sep: Simply the Best  £1095

27 Sep – 04 Oct: North and Ras Mohamed – £1295

M/Y blue Voyager – Red Sea

23 Aug – 30 Aug: Best of Wrecks – £1095

06 Sep – 13 Sep: Strait of Tiran & North – £1149

20 Sep – 27 Sep: Northern Wrecks and Reefs – £1095

M/V Carpe Diem – Maldives

22 Nov – 30 Nov: North Male – Ari – Felidhu – South Male – £1999*

28 Feb – 08 Mar: Project Shark: Maldives with Nikki Weeden – £2295*

M/V Humboldt Explorer – Galapagos Islands

10 Nov – 19 Nov: Galapagos Islands – £4569* Last male share!

S/Y Fiji Siren – Fiji Islands

04 Feb – 14 Feb: Lomaiviti & Taveuni Islands (10 nights) – £3013**

*Package price is subject to change due to fluctuations in flight prices. Final package price will be confirmed at

time of booking.

**Excludes flights

To book or for more info contact our EXPERT TRAVEL TEAM now on (+44) 01752 480808, or visit our website www.blueotwo.com