Galapagos
Best of all worlds
All aboard
For lovers of big animal action , this might just be the world ’ s greatest dive trip . A parade of large marine animals such as Californian sealions , Galapagos sharks , ocean sunfish , hammerheads and some of the world ’ s biggest whale sharks . All this would make it holiday of a lifetime material , but factor in the unique land-based wildlife with its giant tortoises , marine iguanas and stunning bird population , and you ’ ll see why Galapagos is unique .
The liveaboard
Galapagos Aggressor III is 30 metres long and sleeps 16 guests in a eight staterooms , attended to by 10 staff . In terms of dining , you can expect American-style comfort food , barbecues and feasts . Soft drinks are complimentary , but when it comes to booze it ’ s best to bring your own .
Do not miss
It ’ s a trip of two halves : the central group of islands is defined by cooler cloudy water , but you do get to see big schools of fish , such as the classic striped salemas and razor surgeonfish . Sharks are plentiful at most sites ; you may get lucky and run into endemics such as the Galapagos swell shark , or the beautifully ugly red-lipped batfish .
Galapagos sealion encounter
The water here is cool ; a 7mm wetsuit will be your friend as you stealthily approach an algae-munching marine iguana or an ocean sunfish in the process of being cleaned .
Across the equator to the north are the islands of Wolf and Darwin , isolated and uninhabited treasures . They have slightly warmer water – typically around 25 ° C and are defined by powerful currents . The payoff is an incredible biomass of sharks and big fish . Expect to see schools of scalloped hammerheads , plus silkies , Galapagos sharks ( fittingly ) and bottlenose dolphins . From August through December , Darwin is visited by enormous whale sharks , breeding females that are thought to give birth somewhere in the vicinity . They are beautiful mamas .
Twin stateroom
Striped salemas school
Galapagos Aggressor III
Mola mola on cleaning station
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