Galaxy Diver III Liveaboard, Galapagos Islands

Diving onboard Galaxy Diver III

All dives are conducted from two tenders, allowing divers to enter close to the most suitable point for each dive site. The vessel always has two dive guides onboard, with eight divers per guide. Rental equipment is available when reserved before arrival, including regulators, BCDs, computers, 7mm wetsuits, masks, fins and 15-litre tanks. Complimentary nitrox is provided for suitably certified divers, and a nitrox course can be arranged at an extra cost. Each diver is also issued a surface marker buoy, Nautilus Lifeline and dive alert.

The eight-day itinerary includes 19 dives, including the initial check dive at Baltra. Twelve dives take place around Wolf and Darwin, visiting sites such as Shark Bay, La Banana, La Ventana, El Derrumbe, El Arenal and Darwin’s Tower. The route continues to Vicente Roca Point, Douglas Cape and Cousin Rock, with opportunities to encounter schooling hammerheads, Galapagos and silky sharks, eagle rays, turtles, sea lions, penguins and marine iguanas. Whale sharks are most commonly associated with the cooler season, although wildlife encounters can never be guaranteed.

Due to park regulations, the liveaboard cannot mix snorkeling and diving on a single itinerary, so while non-divers are welcome onboard, they will not be able to snorkel or follow the dive boats.

Diving in the Galapagos Islands

The Galapagos Islands sit at the meeting point of several ocean currents, creating nutrient-rich conditions that support an unusual mixture of tropical and temperate marine life. Hammerhead sharks, Galapagos sharks, rays, turtles, dolphins and sea lions can be encountered throughout the year, alongside endemic species including marine iguanas and Galapagos penguins.

The sites in the central islands offer volcanic walls, pinnacles, reefs and macro life, but the remote Wolf and Darwin Islands are the defining Galapagos liveaboard experience. These northern sites are known for strong currents, blue-water diving and large schools of sharks, with whale sharks most frequently encountered from June to November. Galaxy Diver III combines these remote areas with the western islands of Isabela and Fernandina, providing a tempting overview of Galapagos diving during a single expedition.

Learn more about diving in the Galapagos Islands on the ZuBlu site here.

ZuBlu’s dive travel experts will help you book the ideal trip onboard Galaxy Diver III, including your preferred cabin type, itinerary, diving, equipment rental, transfers and any special requests. Share your travel dates, group size, diving experience and budget, and we’ll recommend the best options for your trip.

We’ll also help with practical travel planning, including flight routes, arrival timings, embarkation details and transfers, making sure your itinerary works as smoothly as possible from start to finish.

Once you’ve finalised your plans, your travel expert will put a complimentary hold on your preferred cabin and send a final quote that includes accommodation, meals, diving, transfers, rental equipment, port fees or other extras. This quote will also show any costs paid in advance or onboard - there are no hidden fees - as well as a payment schedule and cancellation terms and conditions.

Your booking is confirmed once the required deposit, or full payment when necessary, has been received.

After confirmation, your dedicated guest concierge will take over and assist with flight routes, transfers, any personal information required by the liveaboard, and questions about your reservation. They are there to make the entire process as straightforward as possible.

Ready to start planning your trip? Talk to a travel expert now.

Looking for more information about liveaboards in the Galapagos Islands? Read more in our guide here.

Getting there

Galaxy Diver III embarks and disembarks at Baltra in the Galapagos Islands. Travellers first fly internationally into mainland Ecuador, normally arriving through Quito or Guayaquil, before taking a domestic flight to Seymour Galapagos Ecological Airport on Baltra Island (GPS). Flights from mainland Ecuador to the Galapagos take approximately three hours, depending on the routing, and can be booked through the liveaboard.

Trips run from Wednesday to Wednesday. Guests are met on arrival at Baltra Airport and transferred to the liveaboard for boarding, lunch, a safety briefing and an afternoon check dive. The cruise returns to Baltra the following Wednesday morning.

Divers should allow at least 24 hours between their final dive and any onward flight. International connections should not be booked too close to the domestic Galapagos flight, and an overnight stay in Quito or Guayaquil before the cruise is recommended in case of delays. The ZuBlu travel team can assist with any travel plans.

Other activities

The itinerary includes a guided excursion into the Santa Cruz highlands, where guests can look for giant Galapagos tortoises and endemic birdlife. Other surface activities and wildlife viewing opportunities depend on the final itinerary, sea conditions and national park regulations.

Good to know

• WiFi - Complimentary starlink internet is available onboard, although service may be limited or unavailable in remote areas.
• Mobile coverage - Should not be relied upon during the trip, particularly around Wolf and Darwin.
• Plug type - 110 and 220V, USB adaptors are provided in the cabins.
• Payments onboard - Payments are in US dollars by cash or credit card, but card payments may occasionally fail due to connectivity issues in the Galápagos.
• Currency - US dollar.
• Time zone - Galapagos Time, six hours behind UTC.
• Languages - Spanish is Ecuador’s official language; English is spoken by the guides and some crew.
• Itinerary duration - Eight days and seven nights, normally Wednesday to Wednesday.
• Dives - 19 scheduled dives, including a check dive; itineraries can change depending on the conditions.
• Experience - Advanced certification, at least 50 logged dives and experience in currents and cold water are recommended.
• Nitrox - Complimentary for suitably certified nitrox divers.
• Insurance - Dive-specific insurance covering recompression treatment and emergency evacuation is required.
• Other fees - US$200 per person, US$20 transit control card
• Single travellers - Cabin sharing is normally available; a private cabin carries a 50% supplement.
• Seasickness - Medication is worth considering, particularly during the cooler and rougher months from June to November.