Central Galapagos, Wolf & Darwin (8 Days / 7 Nights - 19 Dives)
Trip highlights: whale sharks, hammerhead sharks, shark action, dolphins, manta rays, seals/sea lions, turtles, schooling fish & big pelagics, non diving activities
Diving environment: advanced divers, drift diving, off the beaten track
Dive sites and activities: Baltra North East, Carron Point, Wolf: Landslide, Shark Bay, The Window, Banana; Darwin: Arenal, The Towers; Cape Douglas,Punta Vicente Roca, Cousin's Rock. Visit giant tortoises in Santa Cruz Highlands and Los Gemelos craters.
Day 1
The Galaxy Diver II crew will greet you at the dock where the liveaboard is moored. After lunch, you’ll attend a briefing on the dive deck to familiarise yourself with the vessel, as well as the safety protocols and diving procedures that will be followed throughout the safari. Then it’s time to take the plunge with a check dive off the north-eastern coast of Baltra Island - your first opportunity of the trip to encounter rays, skates, and the famously friendly Galápagos turtles beneath the waves. A delicious dinner will be ready and waiting upon your return to the boat.
Core Days
Most days on this liveaboard include up to 4 dives, with 2 or 3 dives scheduled on days when the vessel is cruising between islands. Before each dive, your guide will provide a detailed briefing on the site’s topography, current conditions, and the marine life you’re likely to encounter - ensuring you’re well-prepared for each underwater adventure.
From the moment you descend at Wolf Island, the underwater world bursts into life. Vast schools of scalloped hammerhead sharks glide in mesmerising formation along the rock faces, while sleek Galápagos sharks patrol the deeper blue. At high-energy sites like The Landslide, powerful currents sweep you past bustling cleaning stations, where marble rays and green turtles gather. Stay alert - silky sharks may appear in a flash, and with a bit of luck, you might spot the elusive mola mola drifting silently in shafts of sunlight.
At Darwin Island, the marine spectacle intensifies. Beneath the famous Darwin’s Arch, enormous whale sharks -some stretching over 12 metres - drift through the deep like ghostly giants, particularly from June to November when pregnant females pass through the area. Closer to the surface, swirling schools of bigeye trevally form shimmering silver storms, weaving around playful sea lions and inquisitive Galápagos sharks. As you ascend, look up - hammerheads often form dramatic silhouettes against the glowing surface.
Cabo Douglas offers a truly extraordinary experience: diving alongside marine iguanas - the only lizards on Earth that forage beneath the waves. These fascinating reptiles graze on algae-covered rocks and occasionally expel bursts of saltwater, resembling miniature aquatic dragons.
Punta Vicente Roca blends intricate macro life with spectacular marine drama. Drift alongside inquisitive bottlenose dolphins or search the sandy bottom for the quirky red-lipped batfish as it hops along. The highlight is found in a shadowy cave, where white-tip reef sharks rest in tranquil clusters, breathing steadily within their secret retreat.
On the final full day of your cruise, you’ll head inland to explore the lush Highlands of Santa Cruz, where you can observe giant tortoises roaming freely in their natural habitat - a fitting finale to an extraordinary trip through the Galapagos.
Day 8
On your final morning, enjoy breakfast before heading to Santa Cruz’s Los Gemelos, a pair of striking sunken volcanic craters surrounded by lush highland vegetation. After exploring this unique geological wonder, you’ll continue to Baltra Airport, arriving in time for your departing flight.
[Information is best estimate in ideal circumstances and subject to changes beyond our control. The itinerary is a guide only and may be adapted to best suit the weather, tides, currents, availability and other prevailing events. Price is for the cruise, not for an exact number of dives].