Galapagos Master

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.

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

Dive experience: A minimum of 50 logged dives is recommended with previous experience of strong currents and a dive certification beyond entry level. A diver with less experience will be able to join a trip but may have to sit out some dives if the divemasters consider sites to be beyond the ability of the diver.

Cruise price per person includes: Cabin accommodation with air-conditioning, breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, drinking water, soft drinks, hot drinks, local brands of alcohol, land tours, transfers to the boat from local airport/hotels on days of arrival and departure, dives (as detailed in the trips above), experienced English-speaking divemaster(s) (4-5 divers per DM), Nautilus Lifelines, tanks, weights and weightbelts, all taxes.

Cruise price per person excludes (mandatory, unless customer provides own): Scuba equipment (US$ 225 per week), dive computer (US$ 60 per week), dive insurance, Galapagos entrance fee US$ 200 payable in cash at San Cristobal Airport. Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival (cash only).

Optional extras: Alcoholic drinks, nitrox fills for enriched air certified divers - 7 nights - US$ 150, torch (US$ 12 per day),15 liter tank (US$ 12 per day). 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 Galapagos Master liveaboard departs from San Cristobal. Embarkation is ideally at 1 pm. Airport and local hotel transfers are provided. Guests fly into Ecuador and take a connecting flight, through Guayaquil or Quito, to San Cristobal in the Galapagos islands. 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 to the islands, a 2 night stop-over is recommended.
The last dive of the trip will be at around 11.00 am the day before disembarkation. Check out is at 8:30 am. There will be an opportunity to visit the Interpretation Center in San Cristobal before being transferred to the airport. Please wait at least 18 hours before flying after diving. You will probably need to overnight in Guayaquil or Quito since most international flights depart too early to make the connection possible. The flight from Galapagos arrives in Guayaquil (and then Quito) in the afternoon.
We will place your domestic flight requirements with the liveaboard operator who are 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 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: 10% discount.

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 80% of the published price for their own cabin.

Dive clubs and group discounts: Pay for 7 guests and 1 extra person can join the cruise free of charge in the lowest priced cabin (8+ guests).

Whole boat charter rate (per night): Pay for 14 guests and 2 extra persons can join free of charge in the lowest priced cabin. With a full charter you may also make use of a Middle deck double bed cabin.

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 non-diving liveaboard. Ecoventura conducts nature tours around some of the finest locations in the Galapagos with naturalist guides, literature and presentations. Don't just leave after a week of diving! Get the full picture of the incredible Galapagos islands.

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.

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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.

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[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].

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: No. of bathrooms / showers - 10 / 11 - hot water

The crew of 12 comprise: 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.

Customer reviews:

"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 ...