MY Galapagos Aqua

MY Galapagos Aqua is a mono-hulled steel motor vessel of 83 ft (25m) in length, operating year round Galapagos liveaboard tours. Scuba diving charters are normally for 7 nights duration, starting every Tuesday and include diving around some of Galapagos' best sites including Wolf and Darwin. You can also join a shorter naturalist cruise on this liveaboard, a great way to make your Galapagos experience complete.

The Galapagos Aqua is a custom-built diving boat, remodelled in 2019, with space for up to a maximum of 16 guests on board. Guests are accommodated in 8 twin share en-suite cabins located on various decks throughout the boat. Less luxurious than some of the other Galapagos Islands liveaboards, Aqua still promises comfort and friendly service with the local crew of 9 happy to assist you in English or Spanish.

All dives are done from a tender after gearing up on the dive deck. Features of interest include nitrox and a deck with a camera rinse tank and table, plus showers and toilet. Diver safety is important, as evidenced by the compulsory use of personal GPS device, storm whistle, safety sausage and diving beacon. After scuba diving, you can relax in the air-conditioned saloon with a beer or a cup of coffee, check your images on the onboard computer, or enjoy some music or movies on the entertainment system.

Naturalist cruises involve snorkeling, kayaking and trekking around the unique habitats of the Galapagos islands. English-speaking guides and on-board educational materials will entertain and inform you about all the creatures and ecosystems you will experience.

For those who want to experience the best of the Galapagos Islands but have a limited cruise budget, MY Galapagos Aqua is the clear choice.

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Notes: Galapagos is a popular destination with limited liveaboard spaces. We recommend you book well in advance to avoid disappointment.

Dive experience: A minimum of 50 logged dives with advanced diver certification is required.

Cruise price per person includes: Cabin accommodation with air-conditioning, breakfast, lunch, dinner (except on final evening), snacks, drinking water, hot drinks, (naturalist guides include all tours listed, naturalist guide and snorkelling gear, excluding wetsuit), land tour to Darwin center, transfer from airport and within the islands, scuba dives (as detailed in the trips above), English-speaking dive masters (4-5 divers per DM), scuba safety equipment (personal marine rescue GPS, storm whistle, diving beacon, surface marker tube), tanks, weights and weight belt, all taxes.

Cruise price per person excludes (mandatory, unless customer provides own): Dive equipment (full set US$ 250 per week - naturalist cruise price excludes wetsuit rental), Galapagos entrance fee (US$ 200), hyperbaric chamber fee (US$ 35 diving cruises only). Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival (cash only).

Optional extras: Soft drinks, alcoholic drinks, nitrox fills for enriched air certified divers (US$ 150 per week), torch (US$ 8 per dive), diving computer (US$ 80 per week), 15 liter/100cu ft. tanks (US$ 75 per week, to be arranged to advance), dive insurance, snorkelling equipment. Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival. Note: prices of items purchased onboard are subject to change.

How to get there: The M/Y Galapagos Aqua liveaboard boards at 11:00 hrs from Baltra island. Guests fly into Ecuador and take a connecting flight, through Guayaquil or Quito, to Baltra in the Galapagos islands. The charter flight for Galapagos Aqua guests is Avianca AV1632 which arrives at Baltras 10:50 hrs.
Upon arrival you will be transferred to the boat by the operator. If you are not taking this flight you must be at Baltra airport at 10:15 for pick-up. Both Guayaquil and Quito have daily flights, although Guayaquil is recommended with cheaper prices and better-timed connections.
You will need to overnight in Guayaquil or Quito before flying on to the Galapagos. To ensure easy flight connections, a 2 night stop-over is recommended. If overnighting on arrival you will stay in Santa Cruz or San Cristobal. Baltra has no accommodation.
The last dive of the trip will be at around 14:00 hrs on the second last day of the trip, after which the boat will return to port. Disembarkation is at 10 am on the final day. On the return flight to the Ecuador mainland you will probably need to overnight in Guayaquil or Quito since most international flights depart too early to make the connection. The recommended flight is Avianca 1683 departing at 10:03 hrs (Baltra) which arrives in Guayaquil (and then Quito) in the afternoon. Please wait at least 18 hours before flying after diving.
We will place your domestic flight requirements with the liveaboard operator who is responsible for booking the flights. We request your patience with this process since there are often waiting lists and slow confirmations of availability. You must inform us whether you are flying into Guayaquil or Quito before domestic flights can be considered. If you wish to extend your stay in Galapagos Islands to enjoy land tours please decide that early in the booking process to ensure flight availability
For more details, including airlines, see our Galapagos travel information section.

Non-diver rate: None.

Single supplement (if you do not want to share accommodation): This is optional - single travelers may choose to share a cabin or pay a supplement of 50% of the published price.

Dive clubs and group discounts: See whole boat charter policy below.

Whole boat charter rate (per night): Pay for 15 guests and 1 additional person can join the cruise in a Standard cabin free of charge (total 16 guests).

Add-on package: Galapagos is a once-in-a-lifetime destination and the above water creatures and environments are just as impressive as below. You can extend your time in this nature-lovers paradise by adding a 3, 4 or 7 night wildlife cruise. These liveaboards visit some of Galapagos'' finest locations with naturalist guides, literature and presentations. Don't just leave after a week of diving, get the full picture of these incredible islands.

There are 8 cabins with private en-suite bathrooms and either twin bunk beds or a lower double bed and single upper bed: 1 on the main deck, 4 on the upper deck, and 3 on the lower deck. The lower deck cabins are at a lower price and have portholes and central air-conditioning while all the other cabins have windows and individual air-conditioning.

All the cabins have: No. of bathrooms / showers - 9 / 10 (hot water)

The liveaboard's crew of 9 comprise: Nitrox - 2 motorized dinghies - Dive platform and kit up area with 2 hot water showers and personal dive gear lockers - Camera table and separate rinse tank - Air-conditioned saloon with TV, video player, music system, computer - Movie library, games, books, magazines - Dining area with self-service bar and water dispenser - Sundeck and shaded area with sun chairs

Meals are served menu-style using the freshest ingredients available. You can expect a range of Ecuadorian and international cuisine. The last night's meal will take place at a restaurant on shore.

• Ecuadorian and international main meal dishes.
• Menu dining in the air-conditioned saloon on main deck.
• Pre-breakfast, breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks are provided.
• Coffee, tea, juice and drinking water are all provided free of charge.
• Free snacks include chocolate, fried plantain, cheese, popcorn, cookies, tuna mousse.
• Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages available for purchase.
• The catering service begins with lunch on the first day of the cruise.
• All dietary requirements are catered for - please send advanced notice.

Sample meals:
Fish soup, rice, cabbage salad with carrots, chicken a la passion fruit, apple dessert;
Tuna salad, spaghetti with shrimp, cucumber salad, corn cake;
Avocado salad, boiled potatoes with cheese sauce, roast beef, vegetables, chocolate cake.