Dive Review of NEMO in
Galapagos Islands

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NEMO, Jan, 2005, by mickey rosenberg, RI, usa ( Reviewer 6 reports). Report 1580.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity	N/A
Dive Operation		Shore Diving
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$	N/A
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	My wife is an avid snorkeler, but not a diver, and hates being trapped with dive nuts, so Darwin and Wolf were definitely out. Pre trip, we were advised that there aren't many boats that do the standard Southern route (called Naturalist cruises) and also offer Scuba. That is not true: there appeared to be many. Non-the-less, the NEMO, an 82 foot cataraman, turned out to be a wonderful choice. In excellent condition, wonderful crew, and fabulous Alexsis- our guide topside was incredibly knowledgeble- and as I was the only diver, he took me to some great spots- only 3-5 dives , but they were great, and I did a few more land based dives later, so I was far from dissappointed. Gordon Rocks- our first dive, was electifying, "walls" of Hammerheads, A large Bull shark being harassed by two sea lions (that was a surprise), many white tips and Galapagos sharks, turtles and eagle rays, and a very healthy assortment of fish. Each dive was similar, mild to strong currents, extreme temp. variations- about 70 f on the surface, dropped off into the 50's at depth. I found a 5mm 1-piece best, I took alittle 2 mm beany as I don't like hoods, and tough 3 mm gloves were critical on the one dive withmax current and surge to grab a rock here and there. Took my reg/computer and Rx mask and 1 mm wetsuit was great (not critical this time of year)for snorkeling. Rental gear decent, was very glad I didn't take full gear, as the travel (2 days each way) arduous. Only downside to a sailboat- tiny cabins, little real sailing, a fair amount of noisey motoring (ear plugs and I-pod God sent) the great crew and travel mates-4 Swiss Docs and spouses (I'm a Doc) more than made up for it. In Puerto Aroya, we spent 5 days after our week at sea, we stayed at the Red Mangrove Inn, a very cool place right near The Chas Darwin Center: Artsy colorful, and they up graded us to the "minor" suite-ask for it even if you have to pay more- 360 views of the sea and surrounds. For day trip diving, I checked out the touted Scuba Iguana- they seemed very professional, but had large classes of newbies, and full boats with check out dives; so I went with Scuba Extra across from Hotel Silberstein. Good choice for me, with 3 or 4 experienced divers, and two dive masters, spoiled again! On my last day on Island,I biked around, and came upon the Hyperbaric Chamber, so I went in talked with the Docs and got a tour. First class small facility. They treat mostly local "fisherman" who violate all the profiles, next dive masters, and only 3-5 tourists a year. They wanted me to spread the word that Fishing Bans were being violated, as the Mayor of the Galaps- afisherman-threw his polital support behind the President of the Counrty in return for lack of enforcement of the ban. Potentially devastating to the ecology.They were upset and worried. I was upset when I showed them my DAN Card and asked if it would cover a series of Chamber treatments- they said the reimbursement didn't come close to covering their expense- No! I e-mailed DAN this iinfo a few weeks ago, and so far, no response. Perhaps Undercurrent could investigate? So go the the Galapagos soon, before all the Sharks are in Asian soup!
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	101-250 dives
Where else diving	[Unspecified]Carib
Closest Airport		Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny, dry	Seas	surge, currents
Water Temp	55-70°F / 13-21°C	Wetsuit Thickness	5
Water Visibility	40-60 Ft/ 12-18 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	?
Enforced diving restrictions	[Unspecified]100 feet/60 min
Liveaboard?	yes	Nitrox Available?	N/A
What I Saw
Sharks	Lots	Mantas	None
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	N/A	Boat Facilities	N/A
Overall rating for UWP's	N/A	Shore Facilities	N/A
UW Photo Comments	[None]

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Dive Review of NEMO in Galapagos Islands

NEMO, Jan, 2005,

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 NEMO in
Galapagos Islands