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Diving Galapagos is the trade – Safety the motto
Two words: FABULOUS and UNPREDICTABLE
Fabulous because it is marine life.
Unpredictable because its oceanic conditions
EXPERIENCE FOR GALÁPAGOS DIVING
Beginners: Newly certified divers or divers with few dives logged (6 to 15 dives).
Intermediate: 15 to 99 dives logged with experience in cold water and with drift and wall diving.
Advanced: 100 dives or more logged with experience in cold water and with drift and wall diving.
Detailed description of dive experience is always necessary to confirm a dive program, because a diver with 10 dives in cold water and currents may feel a lot more comfortable than a diver with 40 logged dives in warm water and little current - also a newly certified diver may feel more comfortable than a diver with 50 logged dives but who has not been diving for 6 years
DIVING
In Galapagos there are great dive sites for beginners, intermediate and experienced divers, although the best dive sites are usually the most difficult ones, with significant to strong currents near vertical walls. Most of the diving is drift diving, so the dive masters skills play an important role. Beginners can start at the easier places and proceed to the more difficult, ones always guided by the dive masters or instructors. In all the dives, the dive masters will be actually diving in the water with the customers. Another important aspect of the Dive masters skills is that, although there is decompression chamber on the islands, the dive masters duty is to guarantee that, to a reasonable extent, everybody is on the safe side
INSURANCE AND SAFETY
There is no insurance included in the programs and we highly recommend all divers to have their DAN (Divers Alert Network) insurance before going to the Galápagos. For more information, we recommend you to go to
https://www.diversalertnetwork.org/myaccount/new/step1a.asp
We also recommend bringing dive alert whistle and scuba tube
THE SEASONS
In Galapagos there are 2 seasons: the warm and sunny from December to May and the cold and cloudy from June to November. June and November are transitional months. On the warm season, there is almost no wind (so the sea is usually very calm) and the visibility tends to be better. In the cold season, there is more wind, sometimes the sea tends to be choppy and the visibility lower but there is more marine life.
WATER TEMPERATURE
Although being very close to the Equator, water temperatures range from 16 to 24 degrees Celsius (61 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit).
VISIBILITY
In general, visibility ranges from five to 25 meters (16 to 82 feet), but most of the time it is restricted to between 12 and 18m. A large submarine current (Equatorial Undercurrent) coming from the West Pacific hits the largest island of the archipelago (Isabela Island) and is deflected upward reaching the surface, bringing up the cold and nutrient rich water; this can change the water temperature by as much as 6 degrees Celsius, and change the visibility in a matter of one or two days
THE DIVES
Each dive is one tank. There aluminium tanks with 3000 psi /207 bar are used - all tanks have the international connection system - if passengers want to use their own regulator with DIN system they have to bring their own adapter. The bottom time depends on each passenger’s air consumption. All dives are in-between 15 and 25 meters because this is where you encounter most of the marine life in the Galápagos. Maximum depth for our dives is 30 meters.
EQUIPMENT
The daily diving trip rates always include complete dive gear. Diver can decide whether they want to use our equipment or bring their own.
The live aboard cruises do not include personal gear - only tanks and weight belts with weights. However, with advance reservation, we can offer equipment rental at convenient prices onboard all dive cruises.
ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP
Surtrek Tour Operator recognizes the interconnectedness and fragility of island life and the marine environment. That is why we strictly follow the Park's guidelines for sustainable diving in the Galapagos Marine Reserve.
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