Cristobal Island

The southwestern half of this island is inhabited and is formed by an extinct volcano. The other half of the island, the northeastern part, contrast dramatically, with flat, dry and harsh environments. The San Cristobal Interpretation Center was donated by Spanish government in 1998. Continuing the trail that exits from the Interpretation Center, at a short distance is Frigatebird Hill. Here it is possible to see Magnificent Frigatebirds and Great Frigatebirds in the same colony. This is the perfect place to compare and learn to distinguish them..The bay of Puerto Baquerizo in Cristobal Island has many dive sites from our base by boat. This is the capital of the Archipelago, with the airport close to Town, with many handcraft shops and fine seafood restaurants, where you can relax after the daily diving tours.

The Visitor Center is open to the public every day from 7am to 12pm and 1.30pm to 5pm.

El Junco Lake, El Junco Lagoon, a 45 minute bus ride from Puerto Baquerizo is one of the few permanent fresh water lakes in the islands. It is located in the highlands of San Cristóbal (2,300 ft./700 mts.). On the way, the different vegetation zones can be seen. The lake itself is a beautiful, special panorama and the bird watching is exceptional.

Kicker Rock or Leon Dormido This island is a solid structure forming a pinnacle huge rock,It is divided by a narrow canal that small boats can pass through. This rock is home for a great number of sea birds, it is one of te best dive sites, about thirty minutes away from our base. generally have excellent visibility and mild currents, making these sites ideal for novices. At the same time, the animals and topography make them interesting for intermediates and experts. We can see stingrays, eagle rays, garden eels, turtles, morays, pelagic fish, and maybe white tip reef sharks and/or hammerhead sharks.

 Isla Lobos, is located north of Cristobal, 1 hour across a small channel. Isla Lobos means ”Sea-Lion Island”, and the name is certainly appropriate because they frolic, leap and make a racket here. It is also a nesting place for Blue-footed Boobies and a good place for snorkeling.

Floreana Island

Flamingos lagoon-Floreana

Punta Cormoran in Floreana offers a great possibility for the visitor to enjoy some beach time in the Galapagos. Here, the extroverted mockingbirds sit on top of visitor’s hats, peck at their feet and investigate their belongings,also sea lions colonies.

The island of Floreana is about 2 hours 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.

POST OFFICE Is the best known for its colorful history of pirates, whalers, convicts and.by British whalers to send letters to and from England. This tradition has continued over the years, and even today. This tradition has continued over the years and even today visitors may drop off and pick up letters, without stamps, to be carried to far off destinations. Punta Cormorant offers two highly contrasting beaches. The landing beach is of volcanic origin and is composed of olivine crystal, giving it a greenish tinge. At the end of the short trail is a carbonate beach of extremely fine white sand. Formed by the erosion of coral skeletons; it is a nesting site for green sea turtles. Between these two beaches is a salt lagoon frequented by flamingos, pintails, stills, and other wading birds. An old eroded volcanic cone called Devil's Crown is a popular roosting site for seabirds such as boobies, pelicans, and frigates. Red-billed tropicbirds nest in rocky crevices.

 

 

 

The center of the crown is an outstanding snorkeling spot full of sea lions and colorful fish. You may look on as barber fish clean sea urtles of parasites. Floreana is also one of the best sites to dive with sea lions. If that isn't enough there is the enticing gauntlet of sea horses, stingrays, eagle rays, turtles, long nose hawk fish, barracudas, pelagic fish, white tip reef sharks, Galapagos sharks, and hammerhead sharks

Isabela Island

Sierra Negra Caldera

Created by the lava of six volcanoes that flowed together, this 1800 squared foot island is the largest in Galapagos. Graffiti dating back to the 1800's is written on the rocky cliff left over from bucanneers and whaling ships. The trails lead to a salt water lagoon and offers a great view of the lava fields and the ocean. A Panga ride reveals penguins, shearwaters and noody terns.

 

Santa Cruz island

Supports one of the largest human populations of the four inhabited islands. Some 15,000 residents are distributed between the cattle farming communities in the lush highlands and the coastal town of Puerto Ayora. Here you can visit the Charles Darwin Research Station to see the huge land tortoises, which once flourished in the islands. The populations were decimated in the early 1800's by the whaling ships that stopped in the
islands to fill their holds with fresh meat. A bus ride into the highlands takes you to Los Gemelos, two deep pit craters situated in the scalesia forest with lots of interesting bird life, or for a trek through the gigantic lava tubes, or to the Tortoise Reserve to search for large tortoises in their natural habitat. On the north shore of the island, accessible only by the sea, is an extensive mangrove lagoon called Black Turtle Beach. Here in the peacefulness of the mangroves turtles break the surface of the still waters, while fish, rays and small sharks cruise below.

We offer a detailed briefing prior to each dive and a checkout dive to all new passengers in a calm environment. Guides are locals, trained in our dive center and have a minimum of 3 years experience. We provide a guide for groups of 4-8 passengers depending on their training level. For introductory dives the maximum depth is 12meters/40feet and it is required that a guide accompany one introductory diver at a time.  ● The depths and bottom time are planned and established according to PADI’s norms and depend on the divers’ level of experience. The maximum depth of the dives varies between 15mt (50 feet) and 30mt (100 feet), the maximum bottom time is of one hour and the minimum surface interval is one hour. ● Each diver will have to present his/her dive certification (PADI, NAUI, SSI, ACUC, DIVA, CMAS, FEDAS, YMCA, ETC...) and logbook. Also, the divers will have to sign the release of responsibility and expressed assumption of risk. For minors; their parents or legal guardians will have to sign (minimum age to dive is 12 years old). ● To practice recreational dive activities the diver must be in good health and not under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Passengers who declare health problems will need a doctor’s authorization permitting them to dive. ● Our daily dive tours included 2 dives (except introductory and night dive), two dives, dive boat, dive guides, diving tanks and weight belt), lunch. Our dive boat complies with the Ecuadorian Marine security prerequisites and norms. Additionally, our first aid kit includes 2 oxygen tanks (one hour’s duration). We are affiliated to the hyperbaric chamber;

Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island is full of gift and souvenir stores, as well as all sorts of Ecuadorian craftwork. Although the prices are much higher than stores on mainland Ecuador, they are cheaper than the cruise ships’ boutiques.Puerto Ayora is the place to be for nightlife in the Galapagos. In the center of the archipelago, Santa Cruz Island has a fair number of pubs and discotheques that stay open until late into the night.

Single supplement:There is no single charge for the diving boat,but there is for hotels and transfers.