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Dive Review of Aggressor II in
Galapagos Islands

Aggressor II, Sep, 2002,

by Greg Regnier, IL, United States . Report 654.

No photos available at this time

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 4 stars Food 5 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity N/A
Dive Operation 4 stars Shore Diving 3 stars
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ N/A
Beginners 1 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments Over all, this is indeed a trip of a lifetime. The service on board was excellent, and the food was extraordinary. The crew was very attentive and went out of their way to anticipate our needs. There were great evening activities that included fish ID classes and an excellent star gazing lesson on equitorial and southern hemisphere skys.

To say that the diving is strenuous is an understatement. To do this trip again I would be spending a lot more time in the gym getting in shape. Getting out of a panga is easy, getting back in when you're a little older and not in peak physical shape - well that's another story.

The animals are fantastic. Getting up close and personal with both sea and land animals in this setting is truly amazing. The sharks are abundant and curious. And need I say anything about whale sharks? To see these animals up close is breathtaking. Add to this the opportunity to have penguins nibble on your toes, sea lions play with your fins, see eels, turtles and fish by the thousands plus some great rides on the currents and you have a dive vacation made in heaven. And, as if this were not enough already, the appearance of a whale and her calf was the crowning occurrence.

A couple of notes on essential gear are in order. The absolute best thing that I had with me was a pair of kevlar gloves. In many instances the dives consisted of getting to a site, fighting the currents to get wedged into a spot and watching the animals swim around you. Having a pair of gloves that withstood the rigors of clinging to volcanic rock was priceless. I dove with a drysuit, but would probably go with a 5mm suit if I were to do this again. If you are inclined toward getting a chill, consider diving dry, but do not feel compelled to go out and get more gear just for this trip.

My experience on the Aggressor II was great and I heartily recommend this trip to those who enjoy a bit of adventure, are interested in seeing some extraordinary animals and being pampered during the process.

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 251-500 dives
Where else diving Turks & Caicos Aggressor, Red Sea, Mediterranean, Persian Gulf, Florida, Mid-west USA
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, dry Seas currents
Water Temp 65-73°F / 18-23°C Wetsuit Thickness 0
Water Visibility 40-65 Ft/ 12-20 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions No specific restrictions other than the physical restritions of the dive sites. On average, depths did not exceed 110 feet.
Liveaboard? yes Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

Sharks Lots Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks > 2
Turtles > 2 Whales >2
Corals 1 stars Tropical Fish 4 stars
Small Critters 4 stars Large Fish 4 stars
Large Pelagics 5 stars

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter N/A Boat Facilities 4 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 4 stars Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments [None]
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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