Humboldt Explorer

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The 106 feet (32.3 meters) long steel vessel Humboldt Explorer belongs to the Explorer Ventures group and offers up to 20 dives and 3 land visits in the Galapagos island archipelago. She is the only liveaboard cruise offering 4 diving days instead of 3 around Wolf and Darwin, the top diving spots for sharks and pelagic fishes.

8 comfortable double cabins with private bathrooms, air condition and ocean view offer space for maximal 16 divers.

Humboldt explorer features social areas equipped with A/C, dining tables, Flatscreen TV, VCR, CD/DVD, video library and lounge area. Sun worshipers find on the top level a partially covered sundeck, equipped with ample seating space, BBQ grill and jacuzzi, the perfect space to relax before and after the dives.

Aboard the Humboldt Explorer, lunch and evening meals usually consist of salad, potatoes, rice, chicken, beef, pork and fish. Breakfast is the usual fare of eggs, pancakes, toast and fresh fruit.

BOAT SPECIFICATIONS

Length overall: 111 ft (34 meters)

Beam: 21.3 ft (6.5 meters)

Draft: 8.2 ft (2.5 meters)

Main engines: Detroit Diesel 6V92, 350 hp

Generators: 2x Perkins 73 kw

Maximum Speed: 10 knots

Full capacity: 5,300 gallons (20,000 liters)

Crew: 7 crew members plus a naturalist diving instructor and a diving instructor assistant

Safety Equipment: Life rafts (2), life rings/strobes, life vests/strobes, emergency position locator, flares, oxygen and first aid equipment

DECK PLAN

Humboldt Explorer features 8 double cabins with private bathrooms located on main and lower deck with hot water, air conditioning, oceanview, Flatscreen Television/ DVD. 6 rooms can be booked either with two twin beds or one queen bed. The rooms 3 & 4 located afore toward the front at the lower deck can be only booked with two twin beds.

Divers are guided by an experienced and locally certified dive- and naturalist guide. All divers must be experienced divers, we recommend at least 60 logged dives and have logged at least one dive within the 6 months prior to boarding the vessel. All divers must carry a DiveAlert, a surface signaling device, and an electronic beacon while diving (all available on board). Up to 20 dives are offered during a regular 7 night Galapagos dive expedition.

Diving operations are conducted from two large pangas (tenders), easily boarded from the dive deck.

DIVING INFRASTRUCTURE ON BOARD OF HUMBOLDT EXPLORER

The dive deck is equipped with individual gear bins, camera table, recharging station, air and nitrox filling stations, tank racks and a separate fresh water rinse tank for underwater camera equipment.

Equipment rental: Following rental gear is available on Humboldt Explorer: Mask/Fins/Snorkel, Booties, BCD, Regulator, Wetsuits 3-5mm, Dive computer

Air Systems: 2 electric Bauer compressors with nitrox membrane, producing 32% nitrox, bank storage

Dive tenders: 2 x Rigid hull inflatables

Tech diving and Nitrox: Nitrox 32 available on board, NO rebreather facilities

Prices are based on double occupancy, per person in US Dollars for individual bookings

8 days, 7 nights, 6 diving days 2016

8 days, 7 nights, 6 diving days 2017 

8 days, 7 nights, 6 diving days 2018

*Park fees may change without prior notice

Single room supplement 80%

Dive expeditions include: 

• airport transfers IN/OUT Galapagos

• 7 nights/8 days aboard vessel

• 3 meals daily, plus between-dive snacks

• 3-4 dives daily – total of 18-19 dives weekly

• Use of tanks, weights and belts

• All alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages

Not included: 

• Hotel accommodations

• Flights to/from Galapagos

• Last evening meal

• Rental, instruction, nitrox and retail charges

• Trip cancellation & dive accident insurance

• Premium alcoholic beverages

• National marine park Fees

• TCT tourist card

• Fuel surcharge

• Chamber Support Fee

• Crew gratuities

The dive expeditions start on monday and end on monday the next week. Itineraries may change depending on local regulations or weather and sea conditions. 

Mon Day 1:  Guest arrival in San Cristobal late morning, airport pick up by crew and transfer to Humboldt Explorer, Check out dive at Isla Lobos

Tue Day 2:  Morning 2 dives at Punta Carrion, afternoon 1 dive at N. Seymour and following land Visit

Wed Day 3:  Arrival at the northern islands. Wolf island up to 4 dives, possible night dive

Thu Day 4:  Morning 2 dives at Wolf, afternoon 2 dives at Darwin

Fri Day 5:  Darwin island up to 4 dives

Sat Day 6:  Wolf island up to 3 dives, afterwards 20 hour transit to Cousins Rock

Sun Day 7:  Depending on travel time from Wolf island 1 to 2 dives at Cousins Rocks and following travel to Santa Cruz island. Bus trip to the Santa Cruz highlands where the guests visit the giant tortoises. Visit of the town Puerto Ayora and the Darwin Research Station.

Mon Day 8:  Interpretation Center (optional and independent). Departure and transfer back to the airport

LAND EXCURSIONS

Tuesday afternoon: Walking on North Seymour with opportunity to observe Bluefooted Boobies, Frigate Birds, Sea Lions and Marine Iguanas

Sunday afternoon: Bus trip to Santa Cruz highlands where the guests may observe the giant tortoises in their natural habit. Guests may visit on their own Puerto ayora and the Darwin Research Station.

Monday: Guests may visit the beach of the town where they can see Sea lions and marine iguanas or take a walk to the interpretive center.

Airline used by Humboldt Explorer: Avianca Airlines  

Mon: Flight AV1630: Departs UIO at 10:10 AM.  Departs GYE at 11:50 AM.  Arrives SCY at 12:40 PM.  

Mon: Flight AV1631: Departs SCY at 13:20 PM.  Arrives GYE at 14:10 PM.  Arrives UIO at 17:45 PM. 

Weight limits: Check in luggage for flights to and from Quito and/or Guayaquil to the Galapagos of 50 pounds (23 kilos). An additional fee of up to US$2.00* per 2.2 pounds (1 kilo) to and from Quito will be charged for luggage over the limit and US$2.00* per 2.2 pounds (1 kilo) to and from Guayaquil. In addition, passengers are allowed a carry-on bag weighing no more than 17.6 pounds (8 kilos) and a personal item. This additional fee must be paid in cash at flight time.

Please note: Flight times, prices and the Galapagos airport of arrival are all subject to change with little or no notification, and flights often run late. We strongly encourage our guests to plan on arriving at least one and preferably two days prior to your flight to the Galapagos Islands, to ensure that your luggage is with you or to make up for any travel delays. We also recommend that guests plan on an extra night in Quito or Guayaquil upon departing Ecuador.

Accepted on board are cash (US Dollars are local currency of Ecuador), Visa or MasterCard. American Express, traveler’s checks and personal checks are not accepted on board. Credit card payments are charged with additional taxes and service fees, so we recommend to pay gratuities and onboard charges are in cash. Bills will be settled onboard on Sunday morning. ATM machines are available in Quito, Guayaquil, Puerto Ayora and San Cristobal.