HUMBOLDT EXPLORER, GALAPAGOS: Key Facts
The Vessel Layout & Amenities: The Galapagos HUMBOLDT EXPLORER comfortably accommodates 16 passengers in 8 double staterooms & 1 suite, all of which have private bathroom facilities, queen-size or side by side twin beds (with a king-size in the suite) & sliding glass doors to maximize the view of the Pacific Ocean & Galapagos Archipelagos. All cabins are on the main & upper decks. The air-conditioned salon on the main deck includes dining tables, & lounge area. An open-air salon is located on the upper deck, & sunning/viewing areas are located on the top level & forward on the upper deck. The dive deck is equipped with a bathroom, individual gear lockers, camera table with low pressure air hose, recharging station, air & nitrox filling stations, tank racks, & a separate fresh water rinse for both scuba & underwater camera equipment. Diving operations are conducted from two large pangas (tenders), easily boarded from the dive deck. The Galapagos HUMBOLDT EXPLORER is also equipped with a satellite telephone for outgoing calls worldwide.
Diving From the Vessel: The weather in the Galapagos has water temperatures ranging from the 76 - 82F (24-27C) from December through April & 65 - 72F (19-22C) May through November. Water temperatures are slightly warmer in both Darwin & Wolf. Air temperatures range from 70 - 74F (21- 23C) June through December & 77- 83F (25-28C) January through May, with nearly constant sea breezes. Currents range from 1 to 5 knots at the sites we visit, & visibility is generally between 30 & 80 feet. Most divers are comfortable with a 7mm wetsuit June - November & a minimum 5mm wetsuit December - May. Gloves & hood are recommended. Your dives will be done from the pangas with a backward roll in to the water. After your dive, your tank will be lifted back in to the panga & you will board via its stem ladders.
Safety Standards: To ensure your safety, we require the following of all our divers:
1. All divers must be certified as scuba divers by an internationally recognized accrediting organization.
2. All diving clients must be moderately experienced divers & have logged at least one dive within the 6 months prior to boarding the vessel.
3. All dives are guided dives with an instructor/naturalist leading the way.
4. All divers must log in & out of the water with a member of the diving staff.
5. All divers must have a submersible console & a computer.
6. On night dives, a cyalume lightstick or marker beacon must be worn by each diver.
7. Decompression diving is not allowed under any conditions. The maximum allowed depth is 130' (110' on Nitrox).
8. Diving activities must cease immediately, please, when the consumption of alcohol begins.
9. All divers must carry a DiveAlert, a surface signaling device, & a electronic beacon while diving (all available on board).
10. Please note that, due to a combination of staff & equipment logistics, insurance requirements & local diving regulations,
neither rebreathers nor diver propulsion vehicles (DPVs) may be used aboard Explorer Ventures vessels.
What To Bring: Packing for a liveaboard trip is much easier than packing for a land-based vacation. The climate doesn't require much more than shorts, T-shirts, & swimsuits. Soft luggage is rHUMBOLDTmmended as it takes up very little space when empty. There is a weight limit on checked-in luggage for flights to & from Quito and/or Guayaquil to the Galapagos of 44 pounds ( 20 kilos.). An additional fee of US$1.70 per 2.2 pounds (1 kilo) to & from Quito will be charged for luggage over the limit & US$1.50 per 2.2 pounds (1 kilo) to & from Guayaquil. In addition, passengers are allowed a carry-on bag weighing no more than 17.6 pounds (8 kilos). Sun screens, sunglasses, a visor, raincoat, lightweight sweater or jacket, backpack, tevas & a hat is rHUMBOLDTmmended. Please remember that the Galapagos Islands straddle the Equator & the sun can be very strong at times. In case of rough weather or if you have a tendency towards seasickness, come prepared with motion sickness medications or Trans-derm patches from your doctor. If you have favorite CD's or DVD's, feel free to bring them. All linens (including sheets, comforters, bath towels, hand towels, dive towels, & wash cloths) are provided on board. If possible, pack your regulator, dive computer, mask, aswimsuit, change of clothes, medications & toiletries in your carry-on bag. Having these few items with you will make an unexpected luggage delay far more bearable.
Equipment List: The vessel provides tanks, weights, & weight belts for your use. If you prefer to rent the rest of your equipment from us, we have all of the equipment that you will need. Please indicate on your application form what equipment you will require. Otherwise, the following items are the diver's responsibility: * Certification Card, * Diving Log Book, * Mask, * Snorkel, * Fins, * Booties, * Buoyancy Control Device (required), * Regulator w/alternate air source, * Submersible pressure & depth gauges (required), * Dive light, * Dive computer, * Wet suit - 5 mm to 7 mm, * Hooded 5 mm vest, * Repair kit w/ spare parts
Diver Accident Insurance + Travel Cancellation Insurance: Due to the more adventuresome nature of this trip & the very remote nature of the destination, all divers are required to have dive accident insurance when diving from the Galapagos HUMBOLDT EXPLORER, & to note the policy number on their application form. Insurance options & information about packages can be secured by calling your U.S. DIVE TRAVEL agent at 952-953-4124. We do sell these insurance policies, but we can show you best how to shop the options.
Arrival in Ecuador: Passports are required for all arriving foreign nationals. If in doubt about visas, contact the Ecuadorian Consulate for specific requirements from your country. We rHUMBOLDTmmend that your arrive in either Guayaquil or Quito, on mainland Ecuador, at least one & preferably two days prior to your flight to the Galapagos Islands, to insure luggage is with you or to make up for any travel delays. Transfers within the Galapagos are included in your package, & you will be met at the airport by our tour operator. If you miss any of your flights & are not able to make it to Ecuador or the Galapagos on schedule, please contact Galasam, our Ecuadorian partner, at +011.593.9703.1382 & notify them of your updated arrival time should you have that information, & where you may be reached in the meantime. The Galapagos HUMBOLDT EXPLORER will leave port on Monday around 1:00pm.
Meals: Aboard the new Galapagos HUMBOLDT EXPLORER, evening meals usually consist of lots of fresh vegetables, rice, pasta, chicken, beef, turkey, pork & fish. Breakfast is a fare of eggs, bacon, pancakes, French toast, muffins, danish & lots of fresh fruit. Lunches vary from soup & sandwiches, burgers, pasta, assorted salad & quiche. Baked breads, cookies & other snacks are offered between dives. If you have any dietary restrictions or requests, please indicate so on your application form. Please note that specific brands of drinks, dressings & foods are often unavailable in the islands, & that it can be very difficult for us to find low-fat or soy products, fresh fruit, fish, & other items common elsewhere. While we will do our best to accommodate your requests, please be realistic & consider bringing some of your own foods if the lack thereof may constitute a health risk or seriously compromise your enjoyment of your holiday.
Currency: The U.S. dollar is the official currency of Ecuador; therefore, it is not necessary to exchange currency after arrival. Most major credit cards are accepted widely when shopping ashore.
Departure: The Galapagos HUMBOLDT EXPLORER arrives at its final destination port on Sunday afternoon & passengers spend Sunday night & have Monday breakfast on board. Transportation is organized & included for transfer to the airport. There is a departure tax, payable in cash, upon leaving on a flight from either Quito & Guayaquill.
On Board Charges: Though all meals, beverages, transportation between islands, & much more has been taken care of with your trip payment, there are additional items which you may charge to your on board bill. These include retail items (shirts, scuba accessories, etc.), incoming & outgoing telephone calls, photographic & scuba instruction, rentals, premium alcoholic beverages, & crew gratuities, a temporary fuel surcharge, & aNational Marine Park fee. The bill may be paid at the end of the trip using cash, Visa, or MasterCard. Travelers checks are not accepted on board, & we are unable to cash credit card charges.
Communications: Outgoing calls may be made from the Galapagos HUMBOLDT EXPLORER via satellite phone. Please be aware that a charge is assessed for both incoming & outgoing calls.
Crew Gratuities: Crew tips are not included in your package. The crew works hard, 7 days a week & up to 12 weeks at a stretch, providing the best possible service for our guests. The industry standard for crew gratuities on dive trips (if of course you are happy with the service which you have received) is between 10% & 15% of the package price per passenger. Your generosity will be greatly appreciated.
Packages Include: * 7 nights/8 days aboard the Galapagos HUMBOLDT EXPLORER, * 3 meals daily, plus between-dive snacks, * Alcoholic & non-alcoholic beverages, * 3-5 dives a day (days vary), * Use of tanks, weights & belts, * Port & immigration fees
Packages Do Not Include: * Airport transfers, * Hotel accommodations, * Flights to/from Galapagos, * Rental, instruction, nitrox & retail charges, * Crew gratuities, * Trip cancellation insurance, * Departure taxes - $25 US pp, * Premium alcoholic beverages, * National Marine Park fees - $100 US pp, cash only, * TCT Tourist card - ($10 pp, cash only) paid at the Galapagos airport along with the National Park fee, * Temporary fuel surcharge - if applicable.
Diving From the Vessel: The weather in the Galapagos has water temperatures ranging from the 76 - 82F (24-27C) from December through April & 65 - 72F (19-22C) May through November. Water temperatures are slightly warmer in both Darwin & Wolf. Air temperatures range from 70 - 74F (21- 23C) June through December & 77- 83F (25-28C) January through May, with nearly constant sea breezes. Currents range from 1 to 5 knots at the sites we visit, & visibility is generally between 30 & 80 feet. Most divers are comfortable with a 7mm wetsuit June - November & a minimum 5mm wetsuit December - May. Gloves & hood are recommended. Your dives will be done from the pangas with a backward roll in to the water. After your dive, your tank will be lifted back in to the panga & you will board via its stem ladders.
Safety Standards: To ensure your safety, we require the following of all our divers:
1. All divers must be certified as scuba divers by an internationally recognized accrediting organization.
2. All diving clients must be moderately experienced divers & have logged at least one dive within the 6 months prior to boarding the vessel.
3. All dives are guided dives with an instructor/naturalist leading the way.
4. All divers must log in & out of the water with a member of the diving staff.
5. All divers must have a submersible console & a computer.
6. On night dives, a cyalume lightstick or marker beacon must be worn by each diver.
7. Decompression diving is not allowed under any conditions. The maximum allowed depth is 130' (110' on Nitrox).
8. Diving activities must cease immediately, please, when the consumption of alcohol begins.
9. All divers must carry a DiveAlert, a surface signaling device, & a electronic beacon while diving (all available on board).
10. Please note that, due to a combination of staff & equipment logistics, insurance requirements & local diving regulations,
neither rebreathers nor diver propulsion vehicles (DPVs) may be used aboard Explorer Ventures vessels.
What To Bring: Packing for a liveaboard trip is much easier than packing for a land-based vacation. The climate doesn't require much more than shorts, T-shirts, & swimsuits. Soft luggage is rHUMBOLDTmmended as it takes up very little space when empty. There is a weight limit on checked-in luggage for flights to & from Quito and/or Guayaquil to the Galapagos of 44 pounds ( 20 kilos.). An additional fee of US$1.70 per 2.2 pounds (1 kilo) to & from Quito will be charged for luggage over the limit & US$1.50 per 2.2 pounds (1 kilo) to & from Guayaquil. In addition, passengers are allowed a carry-on bag weighing no more than 17.6 pounds (8 kilos). Sun screens, sunglasses, a visor, raincoat, lightweight sweater or jacket, backpack, tevas & a hat is rHUMBOLDTmmended. Please remember that the Galapagos Islands straddle the Equator & the sun can be very strong at times. In case of rough weather or if you have a tendency towards seasickness, come prepared with motion sickness medications or Trans-derm patches from your doctor. If you have favorite CD's or DVD's, feel free to bring them. All linens (including sheets, comforters, bath towels, hand towels, dive towels, & wash cloths) are provided on board. If possible, pack your regulator, dive computer, mask, aswimsuit, change of clothes, medications & toiletries in your carry-on bag. Having these few items with you will make an unexpected luggage delay far more bearable.
Equipment List: The vessel provides tanks, weights, & weight belts for your use. If you prefer to rent the rest of your equipment from us, we have all of the equipment that you will need. Please indicate on your application form what equipment you will require. Otherwise, the following items are the diver's responsibility: * Certification Card, * Diving Log Book, * Mask, * Snorkel, * Fins, * Booties, * Buoyancy Control Device (required), * Regulator w/alternate air source, * Submersible pressure & depth gauges (required), * Dive light, * Dive computer, * Wet suit - 5 mm to 7 mm, * Hooded 5 mm vest, * Repair kit w/ spare parts
Diver Accident Insurance + Travel Cancellation Insurance: Due to the more adventuresome nature of this trip & the very remote nature of the destination, all divers are required to have dive accident insurance when diving from the Galapagos HUMBOLDT EXPLORER, & to note the policy number on their application form. Insurance options & information about packages can be secured by calling your U.S. DIVE TRAVEL agent at 952-953-4124. We do sell these insurance policies, but we can show you best how to shop the options.
Arrival in Ecuador: Passports are required for all arriving foreign nationals. If in doubt about visas, contact the Ecuadorian Consulate for specific requirements from your country. We rHUMBOLDTmmend that your arrive in either Guayaquil or Quito, on mainland Ecuador, at least one & preferably two days prior to your flight to the Galapagos Islands, to insure luggage is with you or to make up for any travel delays. Transfers within the Galapagos are included in your package, & you will be met at the airport by our tour operator. If you miss any of your flights & are not able to make it to Ecuador or the Galapagos on schedule, please contact Galasam, our Ecuadorian partner, at +011.593.9703.1382 & notify them of your updated arrival time should you have that information, & where you may be reached in the meantime. The Galapagos HUMBOLDT EXPLORER will leave port on Monday around 1:00pm.
Meals: Aboard the new Galapagos HUMBOLDT EXPLORER, evening meals usually consist of lots of fresh vegetables, rice, pasta, chicken, beef, turkey, pork & fish. Breakfast is a fare of eggs, bacon, pancakes, French toast, muffins, danish & lots of fresh fruit. Lunches vary from soup & sandwiches, burgers, pasta, assorted salad & quiche. Baked breads, cookies & other snacks are offered between dives. If you have any dietary restrictions or requests, please indicate so on your application form. Please note that specific brands of drinks, dressings & foods are often unavailable in the islands, & that it can be very difficult for us to find low-fat or soy products, fresh fruit, fish, & other items common elsewhere. While we will do our best to accommodate your requests, please be realistic & consider bringing some of your own foods if the lack thereof may constitute a health risk or seriously compromise your enjoyment of your holiday.
Currency: The U.S. dollar is the official currency of Ecuador; therefore, it is not necessary to exchange currency after arrival. Most major credit cards are accepted widely when shopping ashore.
Departure: The Galapagos HUMBOLDT EXPLORER arrives at its final destination port on Sunday afternoon & passengers spend Sunday night & have Monday breakfast on board. Transportation is organized & included for transfer to the airport. There is a departure tax, payable in cash, upon leaving on a flight from either Quito & Guayaquill.
On Board Charges: Though all meals, beverages, transportation between islands, & much more has been taken care of with your trip payment, there are additional items which you may charge to your on board bill. These include retail items (shirts, scuba accessories, etc.), incoming & outgoing telephone calls, photographic & scuba instruction, rentals, premium alcoholic beverages, & crew gratuities, a temporary fuel surcharge, & aNational Marine Park fee. The bill may be paid at the end of the trip using cash, Visa, or MasterCard. Travelers checks are not accepted on board, & we are unable to cash credit card charges.
Communications: Outgoing calls may be made from the Galapagos HUMBOLDT EXPLORER via satellite phone. Please be aware that a charge is assessed for both incoming & outgoing calls.
Crew Gratuities: Crew tips are not included in your package. The crew works hard, 7 days a week & up to 12 weeks at a stretch, providing the best possible service for our guests. The industry standard for crew gratuities on dive trips (if of course you are happy with the service which you have received) is between 10% & 15% of the package price per passenger. Your generosity will be greatly appreciated.
Packages Include: * 7 nights/8 days aboard the Galapagos HUMBOLDT EXPLORER, * 3 meals daily, plus between-dive snacks, * Alcoholic & non-alcoholic beverages, * 3-5 dives a day (days vary), * Use of tanks, weights & belts, * Port & immigration fees
Packages Do Not Include: * Airport transfers, * Hotel accommodations, * Flights to/from Galapagos, * Rental, instruction, nitrox & retail charges, * Crew gratuities, * Trip cancellation insurance, * Departure taxes - $25 US pp, * Premium alcoholic beverages, * National Marine Park fees - $100 US pp, cash only, * TCT Tourist card - ($10 pp, cash only) paid at the Galapagos airport along with the National Park fee, * Temporary fuel surcharge - if applicable.
Fact sheet provided courtesy Explorer Ventures (USA) Ltd.
All Humboldt Explorer photos © Copyright Explorer Ventures (USA) Ltd.
All Humboldt Explorer photos © Copyright Explorer Ventures (USA) Ltd.