Dive Review of GALAPAGOS AGGRESSOR III in
Galapagos Islands

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GALAPAGOS AGGRESSOR III: "Galapagos Jan 2022", Jan, 2022, by PAUL KECSKEMETY, AZ, US ( Reviewer 3 reports with 3 Helpful votes). Report 12132 has 1 Helpful vote.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity
Dive Operation		Shore Diving	N/A
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	We flew American Airlines from Phoenix to Guayaquil, spent the night then boarded an early 3 hour flight to Baltra. Transportation was waiting for us after exiting customs for a ride to the boat at Itabaca Channel. After the safety briefing, all in the water for a short check-out dive to get proper gear set-up, weights, etc. There was always an active night watch present; charging stations were all on the dive deck and particular attention paid to boarding of offboarding divers on the 20 ft dive tenders (zodiacs) Itabaca Channel - Punta Carrion: Sting Rays, Sealions, Whitetipped Sharks, Tigersnake Eel, Mobularays. Golden Cownose Rays, Mola Mola. Roca Blanca and Cowley Island: Many playful Sealions, Mobula Rays, Golden Cownose Rays, Mantas, School of black stiped Salema, many Tropical Fishes, Seaturtles. Wolf Island: Schools of Hammerhead Sharks, Galapagos Sharks. Eaglerays. Yellow Fin Tunas, Dolphins, Scorpionfish, King-Angel Fish, School of Snappers, pufferfish, Barracudas, Trumpetfish, Lots of big green Pacific Seaturtles, Lobsters, and many spotted moray Eels. Treavally Jacks, Big Eye Jacks, Indo-pacific Bonito, and many playful FurSeals. Darwin Island: Juvenile Whaleshark, (very unusual for this time or year) many Hammerhead Sharks, also many Galapagos Sharks and Green Pacific Sea-Turtles. Dolphins. Isabela and Fernandina Island: Red lipped Batfish, Galapagos Searobin, many Marine Iguanas, Flightless Cormorants and Penguins, Seahorses. Bluefooted Boobies, Pelicans, many playful Sealions. Stingrays. Cousins Rock - Bartholome: White tipped Sharks, Mobula-rays, many Eaglerays, Seastars, Turtles, Barracudas..Pufferfish, Tropical Fish, Black Coral. Dive Conditions: Currents: moderate at Wolf and Darwin Island. Moderate Currents also on Fernandina and Isabela Island. Visibility: 50 - 70ft at Wolf and Darwin Island. Roca Blanca and Cowley moderate about 15 - 40ft. with some currents. Visibility at Fernandina and Isabela moderate 20 - 50ft. Very good at Cousins 40-70ft with currents. Water Temperature: Up north at Darwin and Wolf Island were up to 24C (75F). Roca Blanca and Cowley 22C (72F) In the west Part of the Islands, 14-18C (57-64F), really cold even with a 7mm. Layer as much thermal protection as you are comfortable with. During the week mostly sunny with some periods of intermittent clouds. Air Temperature mild between 26C - 28C. (78F - 82F). Wind moderate. Divers took an afternoon break for a land tour on Bartholome Island, beautiful Landscape and View. Landscape of Lava, with Lava-cactus and Lava-lizards, with coast exploration with the Dinghy's to see Penguins, Sealions and the famous Pinnacle-Rock. An additional land tour on Santa Cruz Island at the Highlands to see the Giant Galapagos Tortoises. Passengers & Crew: 10 Crewmembers and 14 Guests from USA and Germany: This is NOT a trip for novice divers. The combination of current, sometimes significant surge, cold water, and sometimes poor visibility make dives a bit uncomfortable and sometimes challenging. The crew accommodated at least one novice diver on this trip who usually depleted his air within 25 minutes, had buoyancy issues which negatively impacted other divers.
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	251-500 dives
Where else diving	Red Sea, Maldives, Komodo, Fiji, Truk, Palau, Hawaii, Caribbean, Turks
Closest Airport	BALTRA	Getting There	AMerican Airlines from Phoenix to Guayaquil, hotel overnight in Guayaquil then early morning 3 hour AVIANCA flight to Baltra. No delays!
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny, rainy, dry	Seas	calm, surge
Water Temp	57-72°F / 14-22°C	Wetsuit Thickness	7
Water Visibility	15-60 Ft/ 5-18 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	no
Enforced diving restrictions	Follow dive master
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	yes
What I Saw
Sharks	Lots	Mantas	Squadrons
Dolphins	Schools	Whale Sharks	1 or 2
Turtles	> 2	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter	N/A	Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's	N/A	Shore Facilities	N/A
UW Photo Comments	Unlike some other trips, photogs were accommodating and considerate of other divers. Willing to share photos with others on board.

Report currently has 1 Helpful vote

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Dive Review of GALAPAGOS AGGRESSOR III in Galapagos Islands

GALAPAGOS AGGRESSOR III: "Galapagos Jan 2022", Jan, 2022,

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

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

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

Dive Review of GALAPAGOS AGGRESSOR III in
Galapagos Islands