Highlight
Known locally as Deep Blue, Galapagos Master is a 32 metre scuba diving liveaboard vessel which underwent a complete interior refit to the highest standards in 2015. Constructed from steel, the vessel is steadier than most due to being designed to be lower to aid stability and speed. Mostly recently refurbished in early 2023, Galapagos Master offers 7 and 10 night itineraries covering some of the top dive sites in the Galapagos.
She welcomes a total of 16 divers on each liveaboard trip, maximising safety and comfort for all guests on board. Featuring eight air-conditioned cabins spread across three decks, each has its own private en-suite bathroom with hot water, and ample storage room for all of your personal belongings. For added convenience and flexibility, Galapagos Master offers some cabins that can be used either as a twin or as a double bedded room.
The communal areas include a spacious indoor lounge on the middle deck where guests can relax and unwind while watching their favourite movie, or their latest underwater shots, on the plasma screen television. The indoor dining area brings a tantalising array of mouth-watering meals, complimented by the adjacent cocktail bar. Photographers can take full advantage of the indoor camera set-up station which includes multiple charging points (US round pin plug). Additional storage drawers to the aft of the vessel mean that even photography charter groups will have no problem finding enough space for their equipment.
Galapagos Master’s top sun-deck ensures that sun worshippers can top up their tan while soaking up the Galapagos sights. Or, for those who prefer to relax out of the sun, the shaded upper level is an ideal location to chill out in cushioned lounge chairs and benches.
The boat has an official license to operate and organise diving activities in the Galapagos issued by the Ecuadorian government and the National Institute of the Galapagos ensuring you that all the safety tests have been passed as well as complying with the strict environmental rules of the park. With all the latest safety devices – GPS, VHF radios, satellite communication, two life rafts, emergency oxygen and AED – you will know you are travelling in total protection and safety.
Technical Specifications
Vessel type | Motor |
Year built | 2001 |
Length | 32m |
Width | 7.5m |
Capacity | 16 |
Hull | Steel |
Maps & Itinerary
Our Galápagos itineraries involve some long-distance cruising and, while we endeavour to ensure the number of scheduled dives indicated below is fulfilled, bad weather and other factors can hinder the boat’s ability to reach a specified dive site in good time and may impact the number of dives possible.
Number of scheduled dives:
● 7 nights: up to 18
● 10 nights: up to 27
To allow our guests to explore the Galápagos to its fullest, we organise two island tours as part of the itinerary:
● North Seymour Island where we watch iguanas, blue-footed boobies and other bird
and land life.
● Highlands of Santa Cruz to see Giant Tortoises in the wild
Your Cruise Director will schedule up to 4 dives per day except when afternoon land tours are offered. Due to the strength of currents, the last dive of the day must be made with plenty of daylight to ensure the safety of all divers. Therefore, there are no night dives.
Safety and dive briefings are generally conducted in English but can also be given in Spanish if required. If you or any of your group do not speak or understand English or Spanish, please let us know before you arrive.
PLEASE NOTE: Morning dives between breakfast and lunch, and afternoon dives between lunch and dinner are conducted back-to-back with a surface interval of 1-1 ½ hrs between the two dives. All guests remain on the dive deck and in their wetsuits during this time and will be offered snacks and refreshments.
The following is an example of the day-to-day schedule.
Itinerary
- 7 nights and 10 nights
- Embarkation is between 14:00 and 14:30 followed by introductions, boat and safety briefings and lunch. There will usually be a shallow check dive scheduled in the afternoon.
- Full breakfast followed by dive briefings
- Dives 1 and 2
- Lunch
- Afternoon land tour of North Seymour Island
- Dinner
- Full breakfast followed by dive briefings
- Dives 1 and 2
- Lunch and relaxation followed by dive briefing(s)
- Dive 3 and, where possible, dive 4
- Dinner
- Full breakfast followed by dive briefings
- Dives 1 and 2
- Lunch
- Afternoon land tour of Santa Cruz Highlands and Puerto Ayora Town
- Dinner
- Breakfast on board followed by disembarkation no later than 08.30.
Depending on your flight departure time, you may have a few hours to fill before your
transfer to San Cristobal Airport; you can visit the Interpretation Center, which is a 10-minute
walk from the pier, do some last-minute shopping, or relax in a local cafe.
- After boarding at San Cristobal, all diving guests on board Galapagos Master will carry out a
check dive. Carried out in a sheltered bay in an excellent shallow spot, at a max depth of 9m
(30ft), this will allow you to check your dive gear but also become acquainted with some of
the local marine life.
- After boarding at San Cristobal, all diving guests on board Galapagos Master will carry out a
check dive. Carried out in a sheltered bay in an excellent shallow spot, at a max depth of 9m
(30ft), this will allow you to check your dive gear but also become acquainted with some of
the local marine life.
- Named after the German geologist, Theodor Wolf, this extinct volcano reaches 253m (780ft)
above sea level and lies some 160km (100 miles) northwest of Isabela Island. Land visits are
not permitted; however, bird life, including red-footed boobies and vampire finch, may be
spotted from the boat. - For our dives at Wolf Island, we choose from a selection of reefs and walls, most having
typically medium to strong currents where the use of gloves is advised. Schooling pelagics are
the main draw with sightings of hammerheads, white tips and Galapagos sharks at each site.
During the season (May – November) whale sharks may also be seen here. Divers should also
be on the lookout for red-lipped batfish, barracudas, moray eels and dolphins. - El Durrumbe (the Landslide) – average depth is 20m (70ft).
- La Ventana (the Window) – a shallow lagoon leading down to a pinnacle and then out along
the reef wall – average depth 15m (50ft).
La Banana – Wall dive with an average depth of 9m (30ft) – can have strong currents.
Punta Shark Bay – Reef dive with an average depth of 20m (70ft) and usually good visibility.
However, care must be taken in the shallow water where waves crash up against the reef. - Anchorage – The reef, with typically a very mild current, provides a good spot for a sunset dive
with an average depth of 18m (60ft). - Hat Island – another spot with a milder current, this reef provides sightings of numerous
colourful fish species and an average depth of 20m (70ft). - Pinaculos (The Pinnacle) – known for its strong currents and speedy drift along the reef at an
average depth of 20m (70ft), the site is excellent for shark spotting and the many cracks &
crevices in the wall provide extra interest.
This extinct volcano reaching 165 metres (490 ft) above sea level was named in honour of
naturalist Charles Darwin. It is amongst the smallest islands within the Galapagos Archipelago
and like Wolf Island, land visits are not permitted.Perhaps the most famed dive site is «Darwin’s Arch» which provides an amazing drift dive
along the wall at an average depth of just 9m. Medium to strong currents are to be expected
but bring large numbers of hammerheads, black tips, silky and Galapagos sharks with them.
Schools of jacks are a common sight, along with turtles, angelfish and moray eels. Occasional
sightings of tiger sharks, manta rays and bottlenose dolphins make for a thrilling time spent
here. Whale sharks may also be seen between May and November.Sadly, on 18th May 2021, the top part of the iconic arch rock formation collapsed due to
natural erosion but the pillars remain standing, and the surrounding dive site is still accessible
with no effect on the marine life that has always delighted divers who have been lucky
enough to visit before.
- Cape Douglas
Situated on the northwest point of Fernandina Island, this wall dive, with an average depth of
20m (70ft), offers something truly spectacular and is now famed for the feeding marine
iguanas that congregate here along with sea lions, fur seals and speedy penguins! - Isabela Island
- Punta Vicente Roca
Alternatively known as «The Ice Box», due to its chilling thermoclines, this point off the
northwest coast of Isabela Island offers a wall drift dive, along which mola mola can be
spotted. The occasional Port Jackson shark may also be seen as well as the endemic Camotillo
(White-spotted sand bass). Punta Vicente Roca is also a fantastic place to spot Pacific
seahorses, frogfish, octopus, nudibranchs, flatworms and a variety of sponges. We stick to a
maximum depth of 30m (100ft) with an average of 18m (60ft) while enjoying some milder
currents! - Roca Redonda
This underwater volcano, with its bubbling streams of natural gas (fumaroles), plays home to
schools of hammerhead sharks and barracuda. Other commonly sighted marine life include
Galapagos sharks which typically come close to divers during safety stops, as well as manta
rays, silky sharks and some beautiful green/blue nudibranchs. With typically strong,
changeable currents and some down currents, the diving here is challenging, though with an
average depth of 18m (60ft). - Cabo Marshall
The craggy volcanic walls are covered with black coral bushes and the sheer variety of marine
life is astounding. Sightings of manta, mobula and cownose rays are to be expected during the
warm season (November – May). Meanwhile, shark varieties include scalloped hammerhead,
Galapagos and white tips. Schools of chevron barracuda and black striped salema are regular
visitors along with yellowfin tuna and big eye jacks. And let’s not forget the sea lions and
turtles!
- Cousin’s Rock
One of the most photographically productive dives of the region, Cousin’s Rock is formed of
coral-covered rock and lava flow. Sea fans, hydroid bushes, red sponges and small hard corals
encrust ledges and overhangs, sheltering hawkfish, nudibranchs, frogfish and seahorses.
Plenty of larger visitors are also seen here, including giant manta and mobula rays, spotted
eagle rays and hammerhead sharks. The wall drops beyond 30m (100ft) but rises to just 3m
(10ft) providing
- Itineraries can be modified due to weather conditions or Galapagos National Park regulations.
Cruise includes
- Return transfer between San Cristobal airport and the vessel on embarkation and disembarkation days
- Full board accommodation (based on double occupancy)
- Tea, coffee, fruit juice & soft drinks*
- Up to 4 dives daily
- Single 11L (AL80) cylinder with air fills
- Weights, weight belt and SMB
- Land excursions
Cruise does not include
- Flights
- Fuel Surcharge
- Equipment rental
- Nitrox
- Alcoholic drinks
- Crew and dive guide gratuities
- On board merchandise
Would you like to start a experience with us?
Please feel free to contact us, our Travel Experts will be happy to send you a free quote according to your needs and budget!