GALAPAGOS

Galápagos has a reputation for being advanced diving—and you should absolutely be a comfortable, confident diver—but it’s often made to sound much more extreme than it actually is. Yes, we can have current, surge and changing conditions, but that’s also what brings the incredible marine life here. Our guides brief every dive based on the conditions that day, and we dive as a group. You don’t need to be an extreme diver; you need solid buoyancy, comfort in the water and the ability to follow the dive plan. For many of our guests, Galápagos ends up being far more manageable—and a lot more fun—than they expected.

This is the reason we come to Galápagos. Hammerhead sharks, sea turtles, sea lions, rays, marine iguanas, penguins and huge schools of fish are among the encounters Galápagos is famous for, while Darwin and Wolf bring the possibility of some truly massive pelagic action. Wildlife changes with the seasons and nothing in the wild is guaranteed, but the cooler season is particularly associated with whale shark encounters around Darwin, generally from roughly June into November. The magic of Galápagos is that you never really know what might come out of the blue—and some of our best encounters have been the ones we never expected.

Probably not as cold as you’ve heard. Most of our diving is generally around 19–22°C / 66–72°F, depending on the site and conditions. On some dives we can encounter colder thermoclines, occasionally around 15–16°C / 59–61°F, but these colder layers may only be part of the dive. We recommend being prepared with appropriate exposure protection—typically a good wetsuit, hood and whatever additional thermal protection you personally prefer. The goal is simple: stay warm so you can focus on what you came all this way to see.

We strongly recommend Nitrox for this expedition. With multiple dives each day over several consecutive days, Nitrox can help extend allowable no-decompression time on many dives and reduce nitrogen loading compared with air when used appropriately. It doesn’t replace conservative dive planning, but it’s an excellent tool for repetitive diving. If you’re not Nitrox certified yet, talk to us before the expedition and we can help you get ready.

I would avoid saying simply that Nitrox is “safer,” because that is too absolute. The wording above gets across the safety benefit you’re thinking about without making a claim you don’t want on the website.

Yes—we strongly recommend both. Galápagos is remote, and that’s part of what makes diving here so extraordinary. Dive accident insurance can help cover specialized expenses associated with a diving accident that ordinary health or travel insurance may not cover, including hyperbaric treatment and emergency transportation depending on the policy. We recommend DAN membership and appropriate dive accident insurance, as well as travel protection for things like trip cancellation, interruption and baggage. Always review the policy and make sure the coverage is appropriate for your trip.

We do make open-ocean crossings—it’s Galápagos—but the Galaxy Diver III is a large, wide and stable liveaboard, and most guests settle into life onboard very quickly. If you know you’re prone to motion sickness, the best approach is to prepare before you feel sick rather than wait for symptoms to start. Speak with your doctor or pharmacist before traveling about the option that’s appropriate for you, and start your trip prepared. Once we’re out there, the reward for those crossings is getting to places like Darwin and Wolf.

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Absolutely. An Aquatics International trip leader will be with the group throughout the expedition—from arrival and getting everyone settled to the diving, onboard experience and everything in between. You’re not simply booking a spot on a liveaboard and being sent on your way. We’re traveling and diving Galápagos together.

Yes. Galaxy Diver III has Starlink onboard, so you can stay connected while we’re at sea. That means you can check in with home, share some of the adventure and stay connected during the expedition. That said, we’re still operating in one of the most remote places on Earth, so connectivity can vary—and honestly, Galápagos is a pretty great place to disconnect for a while.