The underwater world of Galapagos voted best diving in 2000 by Rodale's Scuba Diving Magazine and is one of the last places where you can dive with large schools of sharks! Let Scuba Iguana be your guide as you explore these internationally acclaimed waters.

EclipseOur tours offer first-class Galapagos diving, food, and accomodation at a lower price than the Galapaogs live-aboard scuba yachts. With over 500 species of fish in the islands, 17% of which are endemic, there is a lot to see under the sea. At each of our dive sites you have excellent chances of seeing a variety of invertebrates, reef fish, eels, rays, sea turtles, and sharks along with their respective behaviors.

What are you waiting for? We offer daily trips to the central island destinations (trips depart at 7am). Contact us today to arrange your dive trip in an underwater paradise!

We use only the best dive technology and 7mm wetsuits to keep you comfortable as you encounter thermoclines. Prices listed include all equipment, dive boat, Dive Master Guides, a snack onboard, lunch and clean towel. We dive in dive sites all over the Galapagos Islands. Here we list the Galapagos dive sites in the order of their level of challenge to the divers' skills, Academy Bay being the easiest.

Academy Bay

This is the bay of Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island with 5 dive sites all within 20 minutes from our base by boat. Three of the sites are generally calm with little current; ideal for students or novices.

Eclipse

At the other two sties, the dives could be a little more complicated if there is a current so they are suitable for intermediate or expert divers. Frolic with sea lions or listen as the damselfish munches away at its algae farm.
You may also see marine iguanas, rays, and even sharks all just outside your hotel's door!
Trip duration: 4-5 hour.

Santa Fe Island

This island is a solid structure of basaltic lava rocks about an hour away from our base. The 4 dive sites here generally have excellent visibility and mild currents, making these sites ideal for novices. At the same time, the animals and topography (including a spectacular arch) make them interesting for intermediates and experts. We can see stingrays, eagle rays, garden eels, turtles, sea lion colonies, morays, pelagic fish, and maybe white tip reef sharks and/or hammerhead sharks.
Trip duration: 7-8 hours.

Beagle Rocks

EclipseThese are 3 exposed rocks located south of Santiago Island, about 1h30’s cruise from Itabaca channel.

This beginner/intermediate dive site starts on a 12 meters deep platform and leads to a wall, covered with black coral and sea fans, that drops to more than 60 meters.

Pelagic species that can be observed include hammerheads, Galapagos sharks, mantas during the hot season, small rays, turtles and sea lions.

Pinzon

The small island of Pinzon is located on the west side of Santa Cruz Island, about 1h30's cruise away from our base. This beginner/intermediate dive site is on the east side where 2 tower-shaped rocks emerge. A wall covered in black coral drops to 10 meters and from there it's a sandy slope that drops to more than 50 meters.

Species commonly observed include the red lipped bat fish, sea horses, sting rays, turtles and white tip reef sharks.
Trip duration: 8-9 hours.

Cousin Rock

EclipseAn islet with a wall dropping from the surface into the deepest depths, Cousins Rock is home to a big area of sloping rock plates known as a "Planchonal" about two hours from our base.

There can be strong currents here that separate the productive and unproductive sides of the dive site.

Cousins is full of spectacular endemic young black corals and other sightings may include frogfish, fur seals, sea turtles, sea horses, and usually, hammerhead sharks.

Trip duration 8-9 hours.

Seymour Island

North Seymour is an uplifted island of lava flow about 90 minutes north of our dive base. There are 5 dive sites suitable for all levels of divers, although sometimes the currents can be strong. These sites have the most different species per square foot of sandy bottom. We can see cleaning behavior, a large garden eel colony, sea turtles, sea lions, fur seals, eagle rays, yellow-tailed grunts, big-eyed jack, and frequently white tip reef sharks and hammerheads. Occasionally, Galapagos sharks can also be seen here.
Trip duration: 8-9 hours.

Floreana Island

EclipseThe island of Floreana is about 90 minutes south from our dive base. There are 9 dive sites here with generally calm waters. On the occasion that we do find strong currents, we can quickly move to another site, which makes Floreana ideal for all levels of divers.

This site is one of the best in the central islands to see significant coral colonies, such as pebble coral and endemic black coral. You might encounter baby birds as they make unsuccessful attempts learning to fly.You may look on as barberfish clean sea turtles of parasites.

Floreana is also one of the best sites to dive with sea lions. If if that isn't enough there is the enticing gauntlet of sea horses, stingrays, eagle rays, turtles, long nose hawkfish, barracudas, pelagic fish, white tip reef sharks, Galapagos sharks, and hammerhead sharks.
Trip duration: 8-9 hours.

Daphne

This is an isolated offshore tuff cone with vertical walls all around it about one hour from our dive base. The main dive site is a shelf of boulders at about 60 feet and the diving can be difficult depending on the currents and surge. We usually see many Galapagos sharks here, some schools of pelagic fish, and multicolored sponges on the rock wall.

Guy Fawkes

EclipseThese 4 islets are located on the northwest side of Santa Cruz Island, about 1h15's cruise from Itabaca channel.
In general the ocean bottom descends in slopes, some almost vertical.
The walls of the islets are eroded, full of cavities in some parts, and big rocks covered in black coral in others.

At this intermediate site divers can observe pelagic species such as Galapagos sharks, white tip reef sharks, turtles, and a wide variety of reef fish and sea lions.

Gordon Rocks

EclipseThis tuff cone formation is a world famous dive site about one hour from our base. There are 4 dive sites in the area, but only two are for novices.

The other two sites are for intermediates and experts because there can be strong currents and surge. The Gordon Rocks dive sites are mostly walls with a deep bottom.

Blend in and blow few bubbles and you may be blessed with a hammerhead sighting! Hammerhead sharks are the main attraction of Gordon Rocks, where they often conglomerate in large schools.

You won't be able to stop looking at this aquarium as you're likely to also see reef fish, large pelagic fish, golden rays, stingrays, eagle rays, turtles, morays.
Trip Duration: 7-8 hours.

THESE DAILY DIVE TOURS INCLUDE: Two dives, dive boat, divemaster guides, dive gear (complete wetsuit, regulator with octopus, BCD, mask, snorkel, fins, booties, gloves, hood, scuba tuba, tanks and weight belt), snack and hot lunch (Does not include lunch in Academy Bay).

**Please note: We need a minimum of two passengers per trip (3 for Academy Bay). Minimum age to dive is 12 years old. Depth limit is 30m/100ft and no one can dive alone. Dive time limit is one hour. Travel time to and from dive sites will vary according to sea conditions. Dive sites can be changed or cancelled depending on weather/sea conditions.

Baltra Airport / Charles Darwin Research Station (Santa Cruz Island)

We arrive at Baltra Airport and transfer to the Itabaca Channel to take a ferry across to Santa Cruz Island. A 30-minute bus ride takes us to a restaurant in the Highlands of Santa Cruz Island to enjoy lunch, and then continue to Puerto Ayora.

Charles Darwin Research Station:

After driving down from the highlands, we visit the Charles Darwin Research Station and the giant tortoise pens within an impressive giant prickly-pear cactus forest home to many land birds. These are the headquarters of scientific investigation, conservation and the National Park administration. Late afternoon stroll along the main street of Puerto Ayora before embarking on Yacht Isabela II. Expedition plan review, Captain’s welcome cocktail and dinner.

Post Office Bay & Baroness Cove/Cormorant Point (Floreana Island)

After breakfast, we land at Post Office Bay to visit the historic barrel that has been serving as a post office in the archipelago for over two centuries. Snorkeling off the beach.

Cormorant Point (Floreana Island):

Our visit to Punta Cormorant takes in an olivine-crystal beach for an easy walk by a brackish water lagoon where bird species like greater flamingos may be observed. On the other side of the island, we come to a white-sand beach where sea turtles come out at night to nest. We can usually snorkel at “Champion Islet” site, panga ride or ride in our glass-bottom boat.

Punta Suarez/Gardner Bay (Española Island)

Our morning outing at Punta Suárez provides an exciting walk on lava/boulder terrain to visit its unique sea bird colonies, including the waved albatrosses (April - January), boobies, swallow-tail gulls, and the famous “blowhole”. Also, look for red-green-black marine iguanas. Back on board for lunch.

Gardner Bay (Española Island):

In the afternoon, we set down at this beautiful, white coral beach for a short walk to observe the sea lions, mockingbirds, finches or enjoy the beach. There is great snorkeling in this area, or else there is time to kayak, panga ride or ride the glass-bottom boat.

Punta Pitt/Cerro Brujo (San Cristóbal Island)

In the morning, we land on the eastern tip of the island. The trail that ascends from the beach provides spectacular views of the shoreline and is the only site in the Galápagos where the three species of boobies can be found together, as well as the two frigate species, plus a colony of bachelor sea lions. After the walk, if conditions are favorable, there is a chance to swim, kayak or snorkel from the beach or a panga ride.

Cerro Brujo (San Cristóbal Island):

In the afternoon following lunch on board, a dinghy ride along the shores of tuff-stone layers takes us to Cerro Brujo's expansive, white coralline beach, great for walking, with rewarding birdwatching with good views of seabirds and shore birds. Also, look out for Galápagos sea lions. These are the same shores that Charles Darwin walked upon, back in September 1835. After the walk, there is a chance to swim and snorkel.

Puerto Baquerizo Moreno (San Cristóbal- Chatham Island)

After breakfast, we depart to pier and airport for our flight back to the mainland.

YACHT ISABELA II
SOUTHERN
FRI / TUE

5D/4N
Classic cabin
$3,691

Cabin Deck


Specifications

Construction:
  • 1979
Reconstruction:
  • Pensacola, Florida, 1988
Refurbishment:
  • Panama, March 2000
Category:
  • Deluxe
Gross Tonnage:
  • 1.025 tons
Type of Vessel:
  • Motor Yacht
Capacity:
  • 40 guests
Gross Tons:
  • 4077 tons
Length:
  • 53.72 meters (166 feet)
Beam:
  • 11.58 meters (38 feet)
Speed:
  • 10 knots
Electricity:
  • 110 Volts 60 Hz.
Engines:
  • 2 GM Detroit Diesel 900 BHP each
Navigation Equipment:
  • Gyrocompass, Automatic Pilot, radar, and GPS
Safety Certificates:
  • SOLAS 74 - ISM
Fire Detector:
  • Automatic with control from the bridge.
Life Jackets:
  • In each cabin
Lifeboats:
  • 2 units semi enclosed
Landing Craft:
  • 3 Zodiacs + glass bottom boat
Owner:
  • ETICA / Metropolitan Touring
Decks:
  • 3 (Sun deck, Cabin deck, Main deck).
Crew:
  • 24
Naturalist:
  • 3
Medical Officer:
  • Permanently on board

Rate includes:

  • Accommodation in double CLASSIC CABINS.
  • English speaking naturalist guide.
  • Transfers in Galapagos to the boat and return.
  • Full board.
  • Soft beverages (water, coffee and tea).
  • Free use of Snorkeling equipment.
  • Snacks after each excursions.
  • Briefings.
  • HOLIDAYS SURCHARGE.

Not included:

  • Internal flights from Ecuador (Guayaquil or Quito) to Galapagos and return. USD 540 per person ( subject to change).
  • Entrance fee to the islands USD 100 per person (subject to change).
  • Transit Control Card USD 20 per person (subject to change).
  • Beverages.
  • Gratuities for crew and guide.
  • Personal items not mentioned.



Notes:

  • Single supplement: 100%
  • No children discount for this departure
  • In addition to the cruise, we will be pleased to arrange additional programs in Ecuador mainland or Peru. Please contact us for a free quote!