433 replies to this topic

[landlocked]

I am interested. Please don't leave without me.

[WreckWench]

For a full discussion of whether SingleDivers.com is a club or a business or both please click here.

[WreckWench]

I am interested. Please don't leave without me.

No worries...booking will start soon so we'll have 16 spots so I'm sure you'll be there!

[domino22]

Put me on the interested group, it is one place I need to go before I die. Hopefully after the trip.

[scubafanatic]

From the sample itinerary I saw at BTS, there are 5 possible dives a day and they typically spend 1 day at Wolf Island and 2 days at Darwin. There are optional island tours during the week except at Darwin and Wolf.

I don't know of any specific cert requirements, though they do require that you have logged dives within 6 months of boarding the vessel. I'll ask the boat for more information regarding experience levels and such on Monday

Hi Kim,

...... my understanding is that night dives are not allowed in the Galapagos.......due to sharks....so I'm thinking this trip will only offer a maximum of 4 dives per day....... I'm estimating a maximum of 5 1/2 dive days.......equating to a maximum of maybe 22 dives ? ...which may be further reduced if there are lengthy translit times between Darwin / Wolf ...etc.
...can anyone actually illustrate the realistic number of dives on this trip ?

...also, can anyone pencil in the realistic trip cost of this trip...airfare ...Nitrox...tips...... mainland hotel stays for 1 or 2 days ...... fuel surcharges....overweight baggage fees ....... various tourist 'taxes' (entry/departure fees, etc.) 'park' fees...I'd like to see a overall, detailed price.

...I'm seeing this trip easily hitting $ 6000 , divided over, say, 22 dives, coming to approximately $ 300 per dive !

Thanks,

Karl

[finGrabber]

Hi Kim,

...... my understanding is that night dives are not allowed in the Galapagos.......due to sharks....so I'm thinking this trip will only offer a maximum of 4 dives per day....... I'm estimating a maximum of 5 1/2 dive days.......equating to a maximum of maybe 22 dives ? ...which may be further reduced if there are lengthy translit times between Darwin / Wolf ...etc.
...can anyone actually illustrate the realistic number of dives on this trip ?

...also, can anyone pencil in the realistic trip cost of this trip...airfare ...Nitrox...tips...... mainland hotel stays for 1 or 2 days ...... fuel surcharges....overweight baggage fees ....... various tourist 'taxes' (entry/departure fees, etc.) 'park' fees...I'd like to see a overall, detailed price.

...I'm seeing this trip easily hitting $ 6000 , divided over, say, 22 dives, coming to approximately $ 300 per dive !

Thanks,

Karl

Hey Karl,

from the boat's website, there are 5 possible dives a day...that does not mean you'll get 5 dives everyday

the transit from Wolf to Darwin is done overnight and since there probablly wouldn't be a night dive at either island, then you'd be able to get diving in at Darwin first thing in the AM

as you know, I cannot give you a "detailed" price..our members fly into these destinations from all over the world

For $300 a dive, I'd go to the Galapagos instead of 2 trips to the Caribbean, but then that's just me

[scubafanatic]

Hi Kim,

..... I'm just trying to get the 'tally' with respect to the number of dives expected to be offered, and every liveaboard I've ever done before, including Explorer boats twice, and the only way 5 dives per day are achieved is via a night dive......so are we saying this 'new' boat will be offering 5 day dives daily ?

..... can anyone tell me the total number of dives offered on this trip ?

...about the airfare estimate...I guess I was really looking for any SD.com members who've already 'done' the Galapagos to volunteer their historical airfare estimated costs...regardless of origination city...to get a feel for the $ amt.

...with respect to all the other fees mentioned........ those dollar amounts should be available for estimate now...as those are independent of air fares/routes.

...the issue becomes one of $ 6000 for 1 week of diving ...versus $ 6000 of desirable 'tech' dive gear ( nice drysuit / 'tech' computers / etc. ) versus taking advantage of the Explorer boats " do 5 trips, get the 6th trip FREE !" promotion..... as of 06/07 I'll have done 3 Explorer trips....... then maybe do their Saba itenerary for trip # 4 in '08, which puts me close to getting to do the Galapagos trip for FREE in '08 or '09.

.....as a frame of reference...... my local dive shops typically quote $ 800 weekend trips to Cozumel ( inc. airfare ) for maybe 4 - 6 dives...... and after I've added in 2 - 4 extra dives / Nitrox / DM tips / restaurants / it's not uncommon for me to really end up spending $ 1200 - $ 1300 for a weekend there....which I've now decided......especially after seeing the hurricane damage on 02/06..... it just too overpriced...so I've 'X-ed' Cozumel off my destination list....... now I'm doing the Flower Gardens for my weekend 'affordable/rational' getaways.

Karl

[WreckWench]

Karl these questions and others have been requested from the boat and when I have all the info I will post the trip details and open it for booking.

Currently wa are going with the info on the boat's website and basically we wanted you to know this date is coming up in 2008 so you all could start planning.

[chinacat46]

Hi Kim,

..... I'm just trying to get the 'tally' with respect to the number of dives expected to be offered, and every liveaboard I've ever done before, including Explorer boats twice, and the only way 5 dives per day are achieved is via a night dive......so are we saying this 'new' boat will be offering 5 day dives daily ?

..... can anyone tell me the total number of dives offered on this trip ?

...about the airfare estimate...I guess I was really looking for any SD.com members who've already 'done' the Galapagos to volunteer their historical airfare estimated costs...regardless of origination city...to get a feel for the $ amt.

...with respect to all the other fees mentioned........ those dollar amounts should be available for estimate now...as those are independent of air fares/routes.

...the issue becomes one of $ 6000 for 1 week of diving ...versus $ 6000 of desirable 'tech' dive gear ( nice drysuit / 'tech' computers / etc. ) versus taking advantage of the Explorer boats " do 5 trips, get the 6th trip FREE !" promotion..... as of 06/07 I'll have done 3 Explorer trips....... then maybe do their Saba itenerary for trip # 4 in '08, which puts me close to getting to do the Galapagos trip for FREE in '08 or '09.

.....as a frame of reference...... my local dive shops typically quote $ 800 weekend trips to Cozumel ( inc. airfare ) for maybe 4 - 6 dives...... and after I've added in 2 - 4 extra dives / Nitrox / DM tips / restaurants / it's not uncommon for me to really end up spending $ 1200 - $ 1300 for a weekend there....which I've now decided......especially after seeing the hurricane damage on 02/06..... it just too overpriced...so I've 'X-ed' Cozumel off my destination list....... now I'm doing the Flower Gardens for my weekend 'affordable/rational' getaways.

Karl

Hey I'm going on the boat in June of this year so I'll be able to answer some of the questions after I go. I've already paid nearly $5k for international and domestic air as well as 3 nights(2 before, 1 after) at the Quito Rio Amazonas and for the liveaboard($3395 more next year) and all transfers. If you check the Explorer Ventures website you will find that the Galapagos boat is exempt from the go 5 times get the 6th free. It might count as one of the 5 but you can't go on the Galapagos boat as the freebie!!! If you have been on liveaboards before then you know they don't include tips,departure taxes, marine park fees, fuel surcharges,vaseline, or trip insurance. Departure taxes are $25 but can change, marine park fees are $100, fuel surcharge is $85 and can change. Hopefully this helps. I said earlier it would cost $5k and that is on the low end. I expect once all is said and done it will be more like $5,500 but in 2008 the boat will also cost $300 more so figure that in as well. I'm also traveling from CO so the flights will be different. I believe I'm flying on Continental Denver-Houston-Quito. Then some domestic airline from Quito to Galapagos. Any way your guess of $6k is probably damn close for 2008.

Edited by chinacat46, 11 April 2007 - 07:33 AM.

[Latitude Adjustment]

It is an expensive trip and on the plane home as the adrenalin wears off you'll ask yourself; "Now what, how am I going to top that?"
I did it as a two week trip, 11 days on the Aggressor plus travel. Total after all fees, tips, cash, parking garage and boarding the dog came up to almost 7k and it was worth every penny!

Edited by Latitude Adjustment, 11 April 2007 - 08:14 AM.

[netmage]

Oh sure... plan the best SD trip of the year while I'm away *slumming* in FL.

Who says we can't have fun in Florida at the same time....

Week long happy hour - coming up!

[annasea]

Oh sure... plan the best SD trip of the year while I'm away *slumming* in FL.

Who says we can't have fun in Florida at the same time....

Week long happy hour - coming up!

Happy hour, shmappy hour... I dare ya to come diving with me.

[Big O]

If Im NOT on this trip Ill be jumping out in front of a speeding bus! Ill mark the dates!

Dave

[justscuba]

If Im NOT on this trip Ill be jumping out in front of a speeding bus! Ill mark the dates!

Dave

Hey Dave If you don't make it can I have your scuba gear???????/ Can I Can I LOL

I need it for this trip

[WreckWench]

If Im NOT on this trip Ill be jumping out in front of a speeding bus! Ill mark the dates!

Dave

Hey Dave If you don't make it can I have your scuba gear???????/ Can I Can I LOL

I need it for this trip

Oh wait...me first me first....I want dibs on this stuff...I happen to know its pretty good!