You can step on board the 105ft (32m) steel hull Galapagos Master for a dream 7 or 10 night liveaboard cruise in the fabulous islands of the Galapagos, Ecuador. This is one of the limited number of boats that operates diving safaris to both the dive sites of central Galapagos and also north, to the world-famous islands of Wolf and Darwin. Having been fully refurbished and refitted in 2015, the Galapagos Master promises a high standard of comfort to those seeking an unforgettable liveaboard experience.
MV Galapagos Master can steam at 12.5 knots from one site to the next and each diving safari will include island visits at North Seymour, Santa Cruz or Isabela Island. There is a crew of 12 on hand to cater to all the needs of the maximum 18 scuba divers, so you can expect plenty of personal service. Your accommodation will be in one of the 8 twin/double bed cabins (4 lower deck cabins, 4 upper deck cabin), all ensuite, or the Middle deck cabin with queen-size bed.
Guests hang out mostly in the air-conditioned saloon on the main deck of the liveaboard. Here you will find a full entertainment system, board games, a library of books and magazines and, of course, the bar. There is also a bar on the sun deck and plenty of relaxation space in the open air, both shaded and beneath the sun.
On the diving side, nitrox is available as well as Nautilus Lifelines, plus the dive deck is well-equipped, featuring a toilet and 2 hot water showers for rinsing off the excitement. There is also ample camera space and camera rinse tanks.
MV Galapagos Master has 1 middle deck cabin which features a queen-size bed and has 2 large picture windows. There are also 4 upper deck cabins with large windows and twin beds that can be combined to double beds. The 4 lower deck Classic cabins have portholes and twin beds side by side. The middle deck cabins and upper deck cabins are the same Premium price. Any of the 9 cabins could be used for guests.
All the cabins have:
- Air-conditioning
- Large windows on upper and middle decks, portholes on lower deck
- En-suite bathroom with toilet and hot water shower
- Hand basin, toiletries, towels and hairdryer
- Reading lights
- Bedside cabinet and mirror
- 2 and 3-flat pin 110-220V electricity, European and USA adapters available
- Bedding and luggage space
- Life jackets
- Fire warning system
No. of bathrooms / showers - 10 / 11 - hot water
Central Galapagos, Wolf & Darwin (8 Days / 7 Nights - 18 Dives)
Trip highlights: whale sharks, hammerhead sharks, shark action, dolphins, manta rays, seals/sea lions, turtles, schooling fish & big pelagics, non diving activities
Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, cage diving, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving
Dive sites and activities: Isla Lobos, Punta Carrion, Baltra North, Wolf Island, Darwin Island, Cabo Douglas, Punta Vincente Roca, Cousins Rock, plus 3 land visits at North Seymour, San Cristobal and Santa Cruz.
Day 1
A transfer from the San Cristobal airport to the Galapagos Master liveaboard moored in Baquerizo Moreno harbour will be arranged for you. There will be a boat briefing to help you on familiarizing with the cruise and the boat crew. Get to know the other guests while having lunch at 13:30 hrs, then a check dive in the afternoon to refresh your underwater skills. Back on board, dinner will be served while the boat departs for its journey that will take you to the best dive spots that Galapagos hosts.
Days 2-7
Expect to do 4 dives on most days of the tour, except on days that require a long journey between islands, when you can expect 2 or 3 dives. A full diving day starts with an early morning 1st dive at 06:30 hrs followed by breakfast (eggs, ham, cereals, toast and fresh fruits). The 2nd dive of the morning is at around 09:30 hrs. Expect to see tons of marine life everywhere you dive. Schools of pelagic fish will become a common encounter on most dives, along with manta rays, sea lions and hammerhead sharks. Dolphins and reef sharks also feature on many dives.
Lunch at 12:00 hrs will include different choices of salads and vegetables followed by a main dish of fresh fish or meat cooked in Chinese, Italian or international cuisine style. You can relax between dives and meals inside the air conditioned saloon that has a flat TV with HDMI inputs for your underwater pictures or movies. Get ready for the 3rd dive at 13:30 hrs and the 4th dive at 16:00 hrs. Whale sharks are often seen in these waters from June through November. The excitement of spotting one underwater will be the main topic during dinner at 19:00 hrs.
During your trip you will also take part in a land tour of North Seymour island and a visit to Santa Cruz island to see the giant tortoises.
Day 8
Start the day with a continental breakfast and before 09:00 hrs it is time for goodbyes to the fantastic Galapagos Master, its skilful crew and your new scuba diving friends. Upon disembarkation, there will be a visit to the Interpretation Center in San Cristobal before you will be transferred back to the airport.
Central Galapagos, Wolf & Darwin (11 Days / 10 Nights - 27 Dives)
Trip highlights: whale sharks, hammerhead sharks, shark action, dolphins, manta rays, seals/sea lions, turtles, schooling fish & big pelagics, non diving activities
Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, cage diving, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving
Dive sites and activities: Isla Lobos, Punta Carrion, Wolf Island, Darwin Island, Cape Douglas, Punta Vincente Roca, Roca Redonda, Cabo Marshall, Cousins Rock, plus 3 land visits at North Seymour, San Cristobal and Santa Cruz
Day 1
A transfer from the San Cristobal airport to the Galapagos Master liveaboard moored in Baquerizo Moreno harbour will be arranged for you. There will be a boat briefing to help you on familiarizing with the cruise and the boat crew. Get to know the other guests while having lunch at 13:30 hrs, then a check dive in the afternoon to refresh your underwater skills. Back on board, dinner will be served while the boat departs for its journey that will take you to the best dive spots that Galapagos hosts.
Days 2-10
Expect to do 4 dives on most days of the tour, except on days that require a long journey between islands, when you can expect 2 or 3 dives. A full diving day starts with an early morning 1st dive at 06:30 hrs followed by breakfast (eggs, ham, cereals, toast and fresh fruits). The 2nd dive of the morning is at around 09:30 hrs. Expect to see tons of marine life everywhere you dive. Schools of pelagic fish will become a common encounter on most dives, along with manta rays, sea lions and hammerhead sharks. Dolphins and reef sharks also feature on many dives.
Lunch at 12:00 hrs will include different choices of salads and vegetables followed by a main dish of fresh fish or meat cooked in Chinese, Italian or international cuisine style. You can relax between dives and meals inside the air conditioned saloon that has a flat TV with HDMI inputs for your underwater pictures or movies. Get ready for the 3rd dive at 13:30 hrs and the 4th dive at 16:00 hrs. Whale sharks are often seen in these waters from June through November. The excitement of spotting one underwater will be the main topic during dinner at 19:00 hrs.
During your trip you will also take part in a land tour of North Seymour island and a visit to Santa Cruz island to see the giant tortoises.
Day 11
Start the day with a continental breakfast and before 09:00 hrs it is time for goodbyes to the fantastic Galapagos Master, its skilful crew and your new scuba diving friends. Upon disembarkation, there will be a visit to the Interpretation Center in San Cristobal before you will be transferred back to the airport.
[Information is best estimate in ideal circumstances and subject to changes beyond our control. The itinerary is a guide only and may be adapted to best suit the weather, tides, currents, availability and other prevailing events. Price is for the cruise, not for an exact number of dives].
The crew of 12 comprise:
- 2 Divemasters
- Captain
- 2 Cooks
- Engineer
- Masseuse
- Maid
- 2 Deck Hands
2 Motorized dive dinghies - Dive platform and kit up area with 2 hot water showers - Camera table and separate rinse tank - 48m² Main deck air-conditioned saloon and dining area with bar, TV, DVD, music system, movie library, fish ID books, games - 56m² Sundeck and shaded area with sunbeds and chairs - Water dispenser
Guests dine well on board Galapagos Master with each full day of the liveaboard safari consisting of pre-breakfast, followed by a cooked breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus afternoon snacks. Various snacks are available free of charge and throughout the day. There is an emphasis on fresh seafood although each meal includes meat dishes, vegetable plates and rice, potatoes or pasta.
- A wide selection of local Ecuadorian fare with Chinese, Italian and international meals and the occasional BBQ.
- Air-conditioned dining area with buffet meals and waitress service.
- Pre-breakfast, breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks are provided.
- Snacks include candy bars, ice cream, cookies, fruit, bread and toast.
- Coffee, tea, drinking water and soft drinks, are all provided free of charge.
- Beer, spirits and wine are available for purchase on board.
- All dietary requirements can be catered for - please send advanced notice.
- Cruise dining service begins with lunch at boarding.
Cuisine specialties: Ceviche; Carne Asada with chimichurri sauce.

"Crew and guides were terrific, but the rental gear was at BEST, marginally average and not at all tailored to the sizes, preferences and needs that were communicated by Dive The World to the boat. Nearly all passengers were renting all or some gear and NONE of us had anything arranged prior to our arrival. It was chaotic and took the guides 2 trips back to storage to get more gear for sizes and operable gear. I was given 2 BCDs with holes in them and a high pressure hose with a "bubble". The wetsuit and booties I was ultimately stuck with were both too small. All of the gear was heavily used. The first dive was MISSED on day 1 because no one had gear ready, so that really sucked to be penalized a dive because the boat/crew communication was terrible.
The boat was NOT a 5-star luxury vessel as it is reported to be. The cabins are not soundproofed at all or balanced for vibrations, hand soap was available in the cabins. The food however, was terrific and plentiful but none of our preferences or food needs were effectively communicated at all. Overall the trip was overpriced for the quality of gear and moderate austerity of the boat. The dives themselves were terrific and unique in the world." - Amber Riley, United States, 6 January 2025 ...
"I spent a week on the Galapagos Master, and the experience was fantastic. The crew was very helpful and enjoyable. The equipment on the boat was very well kept." - Sadie Redinger, USA, 18 October 2021 ...