I’m not usually a fan of using words such as “ultimate,” “amazing” or “best ever” in a review. But, there are certain destinations and experiences that deserve superlatives. This is certainly the case for my most recent liveaboard trip aboard the Galapagos Sky.
The Place
Straddling the Equator, 590 miles west of South America’s Pacific Coast, the Galapagos Islands showcase a biosphere that once inspired Darwin’s theory of evolution. On islands and surrounding rock formations, marine iguanas, giant land tortoises and tropical sea birds capture the imagination. And the diversity isn’t confined to the land. Inside the 140,000 square kilometer marine reserve that surrounds these islands, species such as sea lions and penguins, normally indigenous to cooler regions, live side-by-side with a host of sharks, reef fish and sea turtles commonly found in more tropical climates.
The prolific range of marine life found in these waters results from the convergence of five major oceanic currents that converge on the lonely cluster of islands on the equator.
When the south Equatorial Current arrives from the west, it is joined by the colder, plankton rich Humboldt Current. This cool, nutrient laden water is further enriched by deep upwellings generated by the Cromwell or Equatorial Undercurrent, which brings up even cooler nutrient-laden water. When the three currents mingle and rise to sunlit depths generate, it creates ideal conditions for massive plankton blooms, which are essential for sea birds and larger forms of marine life.
The variety of cetaceans in the Galapagos is impressive, and includes bottlenose dolphins to pilot whales, false killer whales, orcas and sperm whales. At times, these waters are even visited by the ocean’s largest creature, the blue whale. During my most recent trip, we were fortunate to see one of these majestic leviathans pass in front of our bow while on the way to Fernandina Island.
The Boat
The M/V Galapagos Sky is a purpose-built liveaboard launched in the year 2000 by Santiago Dunn and operated under the name of Sky Dancer as part of the Peter Hughes fleet. My first introduction to this boat was in 2001, when I spent a memorable week enjoying a winning combination of good food, good service, and exceptional diving. Today, the parent operation is known as Ecoventura, and the Sky is considered one of the premier luxury liveaboard dive yachts in the Galapagos.
My most recent visit to the Sky was late 2016. And now, I’ll use one of my infrequent superlatives to say that I was “ecstatic” to be back aboard. There was an immediate sense of familiarity, as the boat is obviously maintained to a high standard and offered the same comforts and amenities I remembered.
Guest accommodations aboard this 100-foot yacht include eight private en-suite cabins, hosting a maximum of 16 passengers. Cabins are split four-and-four, with four Master Staterooms on the upper Dolphin deck, and four Deluxe Staterooms located just below on the Iguana deck, which also holds the main saloon. The Masters command a slight premium, as they have slightly more interior space, offer the option of a king-sized bed or two twins, and have large picture windows. All staterooms provide individual climate control, and include a private head and shower, where guests will bind a mirrored cabinet and wardrobe, bathrobes, hairdryer, and marine-safe biodegradable toiletries.
The interior décor of the Sky has a very yacht-like feel, with polished hardwood floors and furnishings. The booth seating of the dining is reminiscent of an upscale restaurant, and each table enjoys ocean views through large picture windows. The saloon area includes a large wrap-around settee that invites mixing and mingling. All furnishings have undoubtedly been replaced more than once since my first visit, because everything from the upholstery to the trim work looked brand new. Even the salon’s bar seemed to have benefited from some upgrades.
The Sky’s eight-member crew follows the Peter Hughes tradition of passenger-pampering, from nightly turn down service in your cabin, to morning coffee delivery, and attentive meal service that creates a refined yet not overly pretentious ambiance. The menu varies between international fare and local recipes, and all beverages including wine and beer are gratis with dinner during the voyage.
Of course, the real meat and potatoes of any liveaboard dive yacht is the dive deck. The Sky’s large, semi-enclosed aft dive deck is well designed to accommodate 16 guests, plus two guides with plenty of room to suit-up at the same time without bumping into one another. There is individual gear storage beneath each diver’s station on the bench seats, and heated freshwater showers for rinsing after the dive. The deck also includes a large two-tiered camera table and a separate charging station with 110 and 220-volt power. The camera rinse tank can hold about three full size DSLR systems at a time, so when there are a lot of serious photographers aboard, the usual post-dive protocol is to dunk once and move the camera to the table. In addition to offering cameras and Scubapro brand dive equipment for rent, the Sky provides complimentary 32 percent nitrox for qualified divers. In my opinion, if you are not already nitrox certified, get it before you go!
Diving in the Galapagos
The Galapagos is a dream destination for many, but probably not the best place for new divers who have yet to master buoyancy control or their overall comfort level in the water. Currents are nearly present on all dives, sometimes mild but other times quite strong. And don’t pack a tropical-weight wetsuit, because although these islands straddle the equator, the water can be surprisingly chilly, with temperatures sometimes getting as low as 50 to 58 degrees Fahrenheit.
Because conditions at most sites are not conducive to diving from an anchored or moored boat, the Galapagos Sky conducts all dives from 22-foot, outboard powered inflatables. After a through and usually entertaining pre-dive briefing on the aft deck, the crew loads all gear into the launches for a short run—usually five to ten minutes—to the starting point of the dive. Each launch carries up to eight divers, plus a divemaster/guide. As a matter of protocol, all dive guides working in the waters of the Galapagos are trained Park Naturalists in addition to being certified dive instructors or divemasters.
The Sky’s 8 day / 7-night cruise itinerary covers 5 1/2 days of diving. From the mainland airport in Guayaquil, Ecuador, guests typically catch a flight that arrives on the island of San Cristobal around noon on Sunday. After paying a $100 park fee (cash only), they are then transported to the boat for introductions and other formalities such as required safety briefings and a vessel orientation. That afternoon, there is time for a check out dive at a nearby site, which gives everyone a chance to get accustomed to the boat’s diving practices in a non-challenging environment.
From San Cristobal, our trip began with an overnight move to Santa Cruz Island to dive at Punta Carrion and around the northeast tip of Isla Pinzón. These sites are a great introduction to Galapagos diving. Most profiles run from 40 to 90 feet over volcanic rock and sand bottom, and the marine life in this area is extremely varied. On any given dive you can expect white-tipped reef sharks, marbled stingrays, green turtles, Galapagos fur seal and sea lions, eagle rays, cownose rays and mobula rays swimming in formation. My favorite smaller find is the region’s indigenous red-lipped batfish, which has lips so red it would make Revlon cosmetics jealous.
Following our third dive, the Sky set sail for the Wolf-Darwin volcanic ridge, which lies some 100 miles to the northwest. The voyage takes 16 to 18 hours over predominately open sea, where wave heights frequently running three to six feet. The small, uninhabited islands of Wolf and Darwin are the eroded crests of extinct volcanoes that rise from depths of more than 3.000 feet to become towering rocky precipices some 500 to 800 feet high. The most famous site in this area is Darwin’s Pillars (formally known as the Arch before the center collapsed) at Darwin Island.
The waters surrounding the Arch are a dynamic zone, where currents and surge converge around the submerged promontory of Darwin Island. In the course of a single dive, you may find schooling hammerhead sharks, large numbers Galapagos and silky sharks, eagle rays, thick schools of skipjack and yellowfin tuna, plus even a pod or two of bottlenose dolphins. In the months from June to September, this is the place to be for encounters with truly large whale sharks, which may reach lengths of 45 feet. Another diver favorite are the massive schools of bigeye jacks that form giant swirling funnel-shape formations known as Jack-nados. Other times, the jacks may appear like a massive blue steel wall, large enough to conceal a 40-foot whale shark. It can be quite a surprise when a shark breaks through the curtain.
While waters of the islands to the south are generally cool, Darwin and Wolf are more affected by the warmer waters of the Panama Current and the North Equatorial Countercurrent. The convergence of the two brings water temperatures that can rise as past the 80-degree mark during the months from December through March. One of the more obvious indicators of this warmer water is the higher number of hard corals present. But even the rocks that are not covered with coral are seldom barren, and are often covered with layers of barnacles sharp enough to do a nasty job on a prized wetsuit or ungloved hand. During the months of June through October, water temperatures fall into the cool range of 20.5 to 24 C (69 to 75 degrees). But these are also the best months for encounters with Darwin and Wolf’s big-ticket encounters, from packs of Galapagos, Silky and schooling hammerheads to whale sharks.
After spending a full three days around Wolf and Darwin islands, the Sky works its way south, venturing to the northwestern corner of Fernandina Island to visit Cabo Douglas for a marine iguana dive. For underwater viewing of marine iguanas as well as Galapagos Penguins, flightless cormorants, more green sea turtles, sea lions and horn sharks, Cabo Douglas is a must do. But be warned, the water here can get pretty chilly. Our coldest dive of the trip was at Punta Vincente Roca, off the western side of Isabela Island, where water temps plunged to about 16 C (low 60 degrees). Our goal at the site was mola mola (ocean sun fish). The site’s steep wall is reputed to be a favorite place to see these bizarre creatures. We didn’t run into one, but the dive was not a loss as we had a great fly by from a large school of golden cownose rays.
On the way back to port, we hit Cousins Rocks near Bartolome. This site is a large volcanic pinnacle awash in marine life, including large schools of barracuda, eagle rays, sea lions and sea turtles. Also interesting was a unique variety of black coral growing on its the more vertical profiles. If you allow time to search the corals, there are opportunities for finding longnose hawkfish, frogfish and seahorses among the branches.
Touring the Islands of Evolution
In addition to serving as dive platforms, the Sky’s launches are used to cruise the shorelines and rock outcroppings, which are home to penguins, flightless cormorants, marine iguanas, sea lions, blue footed and Nazca Booby birds, magnificent frigates and Noddy Terns. There are also a limited number of opportunities for land excursions. The Galapagos Park Authority sets the rules for land tours conducted by liveaboard dive boats, which are usually confined to Bartolome Island. This tour lacks the wildlife you would expect to see in the Galapagos, however, the climb to the top of the island’s volcanic shoreline and hillside offers a breathtaking view with its own brand of raw beauty.
During the Sky’s return back towards port on Saturday, an additional land tour is generally offered for a visit to see the Santa Cruz’s indigenous species of Galapagos Tortoises in their natural environment. Once back in San Cristobal, a final morning land excursion is provided which includes a visit to the Interpretation Center where for a presentation of some of the more interesting natural and human history of the Galapagos. Afterwards, take a walk through town before going back to the airport for late-morning departure.
Diving Season in the Galapagos
There is no such thing as an “off season” when diving in the Galapagos, though there are some seasonal differences both in water conditions and the abundance of certain species. January through May brings warmer and often clearer waters, along with a greater number of manta rays. June is peak season for schools of scalloped hammerheads, and the cooler water from July through November attract more whale sharks.
You book a trip on the Galapagos Sky as part a group, or on your own directly by visiting DiveEncounters (Galapagos Sky) website’s BOOK MY TRIP page, or going through the normal channels by emailing info@galapagossky.com or calling +1 (305) 262-DIVE (3483).