Galapagos Aggressor III, Galapagos

Galapagos Exceeded Expectations

Drift diving, cave diving and side trips. Sharks! Sharks! Sharks! Galapagos, Reef, Hammerheads, Tiger and WHALE! Manta Rays, Pilot Whales, Dolphins, Eagle, Marbled and common Rays, Sea Lions, Fur Seals, Turtles, Eels and SO MUCH MORE. We are advanced/technical divers but this was our first trip to Galapagos. Liveaboard accommodations were the obvious choice to reach Darwin, Wolf and other remote locations. We chose the Aggressor III due to reviews and availability. The LiveAboard staff were easily reachable via phone and email during trip planning and offered guidance regarding hotels in Ecuador and flights to and from Galapagos and Ecuador. They were also able to prepare for and accommodate onboard equipment requests such as DIN tanks, air selection and tank size during the planning phase of our trip. FYI GEAR/EXPERIENCE LEVEL TIP: To stay SAFE and ensure all guests have an enjoyable dive experience on the Galapagos Aggressor I agree with most reviews here: Divers should have 100+ dives and experience in currents/drift diving. This should NOT be an inexperienced diver's early destination. Buoyancy control is a must. We struggled deciding on type of diving suits to bring but ultimately decided to forego drysuits and took our 7mil and 3 mil wetsuits. Water temperatures were generally warm (27C/81F) but inside the currents the temperature could be as low as 23C/73F. If you run hot a 3 mil would likely suffice but a 7mil was more than adequate and even kept my wife warm (who is a bit of a freeze baby.) Galapagos is a remote and protected marine reserve - wildlife does not scatter at the first sight of human presence. The birds, fish, turtles, seals and sharks were generally oblivious to our presence (you could actually swim INTO and WITH schools of fish AND SHARKS!) which was simply amazing. Galapagos had the entire western coast of the archipelago closed to vessels due to H1N1 concerns (still not sure whether there was actually an outbreak) so we missed the opportunity to visit sites known for Marine Iguanas and Mola Mola. Although this forced the captain and crew to alter their normal 7 day travel route they planned alternative dive sites to fill the gap that were fantastic on their own merit. On a couple of occasions during dive intervals Lenin (our dive guide) would spot an opportunity to explore the ocean surface to experience snorkeling with dolphins and pilot whales or ride the skiff into the middle of a feeding frenzy with boobies above and tuna below the waterline. We loved these impromptu adventures and the entire crew's enthusiastic approach to exploring and fully experience the islands. The food was fresh and plentiful during our stay with plenty to eat and yet very little waste by the chef and his staff. The menu throughout the week consisted of Ecuadorian/Galapagos dishes - fresh but not exceptionally seasoned. Winter (our Steward) was timely and courteous - greeting us for all meals, snacks between dives and beverages after our last dive each day. The entire ship, guest cabins and all restrooms were cleaned or refreshed by the staff throughout the day every day. The dive deck was kept organized with the help of our crew and had secured cabinets for charging and storing dive equipment. There was ample space for hanging rinsed gear on the dive deck and fresh warm towels were available after every dive. The positive attitude and welcoming demeanor of the staff and crew were more than enough to compensate for any deficiencies onboard - although I struggle to think of any! If you're well trained and considering a bucket list trip of a lifetime the folks at LiveAboard and the Aggressor III are capable and waiting for you!

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