Dive Review of Humboldt Explorer in
Galapagos Islands

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Humboldt Explorer: "Bucket List to the Galapagos worth the visit", May, 2018, by Chuck Bari, AR, US ( 1 report with 2 Helpful votes). Report 10248 has 2 Helpful votes.
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	[None]Galapagos is it on your bucket list? This was always a trip on my list that I really never thought I would make as single diver and the group I make most of my trips with I don’t for see them running a tour here. When the opportunity arose for me to go to as a buddy for an acquaintance, I jumped all over it. I read through the Humboldt ‘s frequently asked questions and their recommendations of what to bring. I spoke with a friend who had been to the Galapagos and had a pretty good idea that the diving would be somewhat physical. We arrived to San Cristobal a day early and arrangements had been made with Jennifer (All Bookings on the Humboldt go through her) for us to stay at a local hotel called the Galapagos Eco Friendly it was a off the beaten path somewhat but extremely clean and breakfast was great with a breath taking view. We spent the afternoon doing the tourist thing and enjoying some of the island. We were transferred to the harbor where we boarded the Humboldt. First impressions are paramount with me and I wasn’t caught off guard for what I had expected. The dive deck is a split deck with room for about 5-6 on the lower deck and 10 on the upper deck. I always try to get away from the crowd and don’t mind walking some distance in my gear so went to one of the corners of the upper dive deck. Tank sizes are 80s and 100s nitrox is available and for the small up charge I would recommend it. (The nitrox was between 29-34%) Check out dive was just what you expect pretty plain but with interactions with the sea lions it was cool. Next morning did two dives that were really just an extension to the check out dive but with much more to see and just a touch of current that was to come. Next was a land excursion tour followed by an all night cruise to the Wolf and Darwin island areas. Upon reaching Wolf the briefing changed to include passing out dive alerts, surface markers, and GPS Locaters for all who needed. I had expected this as they recommended all of these items. The dives at Wolf and Darwin are not for the recent open water graduates current and surge can be strong. I wasn’t disappointed in the diving sharks, turtles, dolphins and more moray eels than Arkansas has mosquitoes. The dives at Darwin didn’t have much to see the week we where there but the captain changed the itinerary to let us go back the Wolf a day early and we dove extra dives at Wolf where we had shivers of hammerheads every dive. We cruised back most of the night to dive around cousin’s rock which was just an ok dive after the dives at Wolf. Finally we had a land tour and tortoise tour on Santa Cruz. Now for the Live aboard cabin was small but that was expected. I had plenty of room for all of my gear and clothes; bathroom was small but functional with plenty of hot water. The cleaning lady had the rooms cleaned and towel animals made before the first dive of the day was over every day. The food was good just not my favorite, whatever was left over from lunch would be a soup at supper I think, and breakfast would always include some form of fresh juice. Lots of gelatin based desserts. The staff all were extremely nice and helpful, the language barrier wasn’t too big of a problem the two dive guides spoke decent English. As I said from the beginning this was a bucket list thing for me and I was quite glad I did it. Would I do it again, yes but some changes in the time of year when I go and with a somewhat different itinerary.
Websites	Humboldt Explorer
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	251-500 dives
Where else diving	Truk, Caribbean, Bonaire,
Closest Airport		Getting There	Must fly to Mainland Ecuador then to the Galapagos
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny	Seas	surge, currents
Water Temp	69-73°F / 21-23°C	Wetsuit Thickness	5
Water Visibility	30-60 Ft/ 9-18 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	?
Enforced diving restrictions	[Unspecified]
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	yes
What I Saw
Sharks	Lots	Mantas	1 or 2
Dolphins	Schools	Whale Sharks	None
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		Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's		Shore Facilities	N/A
UW Photo Comments	I kept my large camera and housing under the sink in my bathroom as that was the most out of the place for it. Charged my batteries on the night stand. Can do roll ins with the camera or pass it to you your choice. So much to shoot so many options I found myself shooting more shark silhouettes as the vis wasn't best for my skill set the surge does make wrestling larger cameras more challenging.

Report currently has 2 Helpful votes

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Dive Review of Humboldt Explorer in Galapagos Islands

Humboldt Explorer: "Bucket List to the Galapagos worth the visit", May, 2018,

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 Humboldt Explorer in
Galapagos Islands