Nortada Galapagos dive cruises

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Galapagos Sky - Galapagos Master - Galapagos Aggressor 3 - Humboldt Explorer - Astrea

The 25.9 meter/79 feet long and 5.4 meter/ 16,5 feet wide (Beam) Nortada  is a fiberglass vessel and was built 1986 by the naval builder Guy Couach in France.  2014 the yacht was renovated and adapted to serve as a dive liveaboard. The ship was relaunched in Galapagos from the diving school and Tiptoptravel of Rolf Wittmer Turismo in 2015. Nortada offers dive safaris to the best dive sites of the Galapagos Islands, including Wolf and Darwin.

The dive expeditions with Nortada begin and end in in Baltra. Nortada differs from the other liveaboard operators in Galapagos focusing on smaller dive groups and thereby more personalized service. Especially when encountering hammerhead sharks in the cleaning stations fewer bubbles make quite a difference; the animals come closer.

On Nortada the guests will enjoy international, menu based cuisine with 3 plates (soup, main and desert) with hot beverages (tea, coffee) and juices. Vegetarians are taken into account.

BOAT FEATURES

On the upper deck there is the sun deck with sun loungers and a seating area. The air-conditioned dining area and lounge, as well as the dive platform are located on the main (mid) deck. There are 110 and 220 volt charging stations in the lounge. The crew consists of the captain, 1 mechanic, 1 Cook, 2 sailors / deckhands and 1 Naturalist Guide.

The 4 spacious cabins are all located in the lower deck and equipped with 3 single beds. 2 beds are  parallel at the same height, and a bunk is placed above one bed and can accommodate an additional person or serve as a shelf for your stuff.

All cabins include bathroom, air conditioning, wardrobes and porthole. Rear cabins are a bit more noisy because of its proximity to the engine.

2 dive guides usually lead 4 divers each in a Tender (zodiac). During each dive expeditions 18 to 20 dives are conducted, 12 of them in Wolf and Darwin. Nortada is open for rebreather divers. Nautilus Lifelines, SMB’s, whistles and current hooks are available.

DIVE OPERATION NORTADA

The dive platform is equipped with benches, camera table and showers. Rebreather can be flushed

Tanks: 12 and 15 liters (extra charge) aluminum tanks with DIN and INT valves. 4 and 6 liter aluminum bottles for Pony Stage and Sidemount diving available. Steel rebreather bottles with different valves.

Equipment rental: Nortada provides rental equipment kit priced at USD 275 (as of 2016/2017) including BCD, regulator, wetsuit, mask / snorkel / fins and dive computer

Nitrox / Trimix: Twin Nuvair HP compressor with Nitrox membrane and helium intake. Nortada offers 2017 Nitrox 32 for an extra charge of USD 150 per person per trip.

Security: Nautilus Lifelines (VHF / DSC radio with GPS), Surface marker buoys, whistles and current hooks are available.

Nitrox has to be paid on board, only cash is accepted

PRICES PER PERSON IN US DOLLARS (Euro prices available on request)

2016

Low Season January to June USD 4,263

High season from June to December 4,938 USD Nitrox included

2017

Low Season January to June USD 4,595

High season from June to December USD 5,595 Nitrox USD 150

Charter prices on request

Included: Transfer Baltra - Puerto Ayura, accommodation in twin cabin with air condition, 3 to 4 dives daily with air / bottle / lead, 3 meals a day and snacks, water / tea / coffee / juice, dive guide and Tender Transport to / from the diving spots

Not included: international flight and domestic flights to / from Galapagos, Transfer Baltra - Puerto Ayora per person (if not on the departure of the boat), Nitrox optional and with an additional cost of USD 150 (2017), diving equipment rental, alcoholic beverages on board, Galapagos National Park fee USD 100, TCT Ingala USD 20, USD 35 Decompression chamber fee, crew tip

(detailed description of the journey is available on request)

Day 1 Friday Baltra area: AM: Arrival in Baltra and transfer to the dock. PM: Check dive Punta Carrion

Day 2 Saturday East Isabela area: AM: Cape Marshall / city of Mantas (diving, snorkeling) PM: Roca Redonda (diving, snorkeling)

Day 3 Sunday Island Wolf: AM: Shark Bay / Landslide (diving) PM: La Ventana Islet / La Banana (Diving)

Day 4 Monday Island Darwin: AM: Darwin's Arch / El Arenal (diving) PM: Darwin's Arch / El Arenal (Diving)

Day 5 Tuesday Island Wolf: AM Shark Bay / Landslide (diving) PM: Lan Islet Ventana / La Banana (Diving)

Day 6 Wednesday Bartolome area: AM: Bartolome Point (diving) / cousin rock (diving, snorkeling, boat ride) PM: Bartolome or Sullivan (land visit, snorkeling, boat ride)

Day 7 Thursday Santa Cruz area: AM: Island Pinzon - Dumb Islet (diving) PM: Fausto Llerena Breeding Center and Darwin Research (land visit)

Day 8 Friday Baltra area: AM: North Seymour or South Plazas (land visit) PM: Departure

SHORE EXCURSIONS

Nortada offers 2 to 3 Shore Excursions:

Day 6 Bartolome viewpoint at 100 meters / 330 feet altitude

Day 7 Visit of Fausto Llerena Breeding Center (giant tortoises and land iguanas) and Charles Darwin Research Station.

Day 8 Visit of South Plaza (sea lions colony, land iguanas and birds) or North Seymour (sea lions, marine iguanas, blue-footed boobies, frigate birds)

Tame Airlines. We recommend to book the flights from Quito or Guayacil to / from Baltra with us, the following timetable applies (subject to changes without prior notice)

Friday: Flight 193. EQ departure UIO at 09:00 AM. Departure GYE at 10:30 AM. Arrival GPS at 11:30 AM. Friday: Flight 192. EQ departure GPS at 12:30 PM. Arrival GYE at 15:10 PM. Arrival UIO at 17:00 PM