bmyates 3 Posted May 2, 2008 (edited) This is a unique opportunity to dive the Galapagos before liveaboard rates start spiking in 2009. I have a non-commercial charter October 13-20 on Deep Blue, one of the newest and nicest liveaboards in the world (the boat Eric has chosen for Wetpixel Galapagos trips, e.g., this one). Clear back in 2006, I secured two 1-week charters on Deep Blue during whale shark season for my travel group (I don't do this commercially). Each charter is for 16 people, and all 32 spots were spoken for over a year ago! However, one participant's recent knee surgery isn't healing well, so he (and probably his wife) is dropping out. Therefore, there is one - or possibly two - spots suddenly available on the October 13-20 charter. The price is same as if you booked directly through Deep Blue -- if they had any late-autumn space available, which they don't: $3,395 (plus assorted other charges all Galapagos divers pay, e.g., fuel surcharge, airfare and hotel in Quito ,and the standard park fees and other taxes). That may sound pricey - and indeed, the Galapagos has long been expensive relative to other dive destinations - but it is less than comparable cabins on 2008 trips on the Sky Dancer ($3,695) or Aggressors ($3,995) IF there was space on them. Also, note that diving in the Galapagos is about to get considerably MORE expensive... According to the Aggressor and Peter Hughes websites, in 2009, the Dancer will be charging $3,795-$3,995/wk (+ $160 fuel surcharge), and the Aggressors will be charging $4,095-$4,295. In 2010, the Aggressors will cost $4,495-$4,695! (Dancer doesn't have published rates beyond 2009, but they will likely be similar.) Adam Smith would be proud; this is capitalism (i.e., supply and demand determine price) at its purest!!! Here's why. In 2007, there were approximately 14 yachts offering dive trips that included Darwin and Wolf) Islands (links are to nice island write-ups by Eric). Due to a number of recent changes at the Galapagos National Park, most of those boats have dropped out of the dive business (at least for now), and there now appear to be only 4 boats with the necessary permit to operate dive trips to Darwin and Wolf in 2008. Those boats are the 2 Aggressors, Sky Dancer, and Deep Blue. Because demand for these trips is so high and the supply of space is suddenly so limited, those 4 boats are almost completely sold out for 2008 and much of 2009, and are raising their prices accordingly. Anyway, contact me if you are interested in joining us! Bruce Caveats: 1. Galapagos diving involves "cool" water (e.g., upper 60s and lower 70s, so a full 5-7mm wetsuit is required) and strong currents, so is considered appropriate only for experienced divers; 2. My group's agreement/waiver states that if you can't get along, i.e., your behavior (underwater or topside) is persistently diminishing other people's enjoyment of the trip, you give us the right to put you off at the nearest port. For 99.9% of the divers I've met, that's not an issue, but if you seem to repeatedly have "run-ins" or "personality conflicts" with other people on dive trips, this might not be the trip for you. (That's about as delicately as I can phrase it. ) Edited May 2, 2008 by bmyates Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BotSO 0 Posted June 18, 2008 TRIP IS NOW FULL. If any spots open up on this trip, give me a shout... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stewsmith 14 Posted June 18, 2008 (edited) i didnt realise the deep blue had a permit to dive at darwin and wolf. i thought it was only aggressor and hughes. i hope you have a better crew than we had on it a couple of years ago. i would actually decline a FREE trip on the deep blue if the crew were the same as what we had. oh and they do expect a tip of $600 per person just to fore warn you. if they dont get this they slag you off on the internet for being tight. what are the diving regs at darwin and wolf now. the last i heard was that you could not dive after 1pm or may be 2pm. with the liveaboards now only being a week long and not being able to combine land visits. i feel the price is way too high. ok the galapagos islands are very good, well darwin and wolf are, some of the others not so good. but when you take into account the travel time to darwin you are not left with many diving days on a 7 week liveaboard. i would love to go back there but value for money it isnt and i would rather return to cocos. Edited June 18, 2008 by stewsmith Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
