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Dive Review of Galapagos Aggressor II in
Galapagos Islands

Galapagos Aggressor II, Aug, 2013,

by Richard J. Troberman, WA, US (Contributor Contributor 13 reports with 4 Helpful votes). Report 7104.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations N/A Food 5 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity 4 stars
Dive Operation 4 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 4 stars
Beginners 2 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments This was my third trip to the Galapagos Islands on the Aggressor (last trips were in 2003 and 2005). I have been spoiled by several recent trips on the Dewi Nusantara, but the Aggressor was more than adequate. Rooms were small but comfortable. AC worked. Bathrooms were adequate. Boat was well maintained, and crew was quick to respond to any problems. The food was the best I have ever had on a liveaboard (this was my 15th). Alfredo was the chef and he did a great job. Fruits, vegetables, and salads were always fresh. Preparations of main dishes always varied. Deserts (with lunch and dinner) were awesome. I had several friends on board who were vegan or vegetarian, and they also raved about the food.

This was a seven day trip, of which three days were at Wolf and Darwin. Dive guides Richard and Gustavo did a good job finding things. Saw 100s of hammerheads, and half a dozen huge whale sharks. I had just been to the Philippines and to Cenderawasih Bay, where we dove and snorkeled with juvenile whale sharks, but the adult females (mostly pregnant) in Galapagos were two to three times as big! Visibility could have been better. Current and surface conditions at Wolf and Darwin were unusually mild. Water temperature was 75 degrees.

For me, the highlights of the trip were seeing marine iguanas feeding underwater at Cabo Douglas (60 degree water temperature) and Mola Mola at Punte Vicente Roca (64 degrees). Also saw dozens of turtles sleeping in the sand at Punte Vicente Roca. I wore a new 5mm Pinnacle wetsuit with a 3mm vest and 3mm hood, and a heated vest from Thermalution. The heated vest definitely helped in the colder water. I didn't wear the heated vest at Wolf and Darwin, but it made the cold water in the Central Islands tolerable, if not comfortable.

Land tours from the dive boat have been restricted from when I was last there in 2005. Only land trips this time were at Bartolome and Santa Cruz. On previous trips we had been able to visit many other Islands (North Seymour, Espanola, Rabida, and more) that are now off limits to dive boats, but at least now (since May 2013) some land trips are available to divers, whereas they haven't been for many years.

All in all this was a great trip, and I would go back again.
Websites Galapagos Aggressor II   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 501-1000 dives
Where else diving Hawaii; Bahamas; Belize; St. Vicent; Cayman Islands; Galapagos; Australia GBR; Papua New Guinea; Tahiti; Solomon Islands; Palau; Philippines; Indonesia (Komodo, Raja Ampat, North Sulawesi, Borneo, Ambon, Alor, Cenderawasih Bay).
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, cloudy Seas calm, choppy, surge
Water Temp 60-75°F / 16-24°C Wetsuit Thickness 5
Water Visibility 20-60 Ft/ 6-18 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions Requested 55 minute limit, but not strictly enforced.
Liveaboard? yes Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

Sharks Lots Mantas None
Dolphins Schools Whale Sharks > 2
Turtles > 2 Whales None
Corals 4 stars Tropical Fish 4 stars
Small Critters 3 stars Large Fish 5 stars
Large Pelagics 5 stars

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

Subject Matter 4 stars Boat Facilities 3 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 4 stars Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments Camera table space was limited. Charging stations were crowded but sufficient. Crew carried cameras to tenders.
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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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