82 replies to this topic

[WreckWench]

IMPORTANT TRIP UPDATE:

Hey gang...I think we have enough critical mass...so start saving your pennies, nickels and dimes and start telling all your diving friends so we can fill the trip out! Dec 1-8 looks the dates... with a few days before and after for sightseeing and day tours.

[Buzo Guero]

SCHWEET!!! I'm all in. />

[WreckWench]

ONE LAST REQUEST...

We've been trying to find any NEGATIVE things about doing our trip in early Dec and other than the water is warmer and the whalesharks* are more likely to be in Sept (we saw them in Oct when we went the first time) we can't find anything bad about this date. Can you???

I'd hate to book this date only to have people tell us that it sucked! />/>

So let us know if you can find anything negative about the early Dec timeframe as I'll be making a hard decision in the next couple of days! />/>


*A note about the whalesharks...
This diving is about being overweighted so you can sink to the bottom quickly and wedge yourself into the rocks so you can sit back and enjoy the show of schooling hammerheads, mantas, spotted eagle rays etc. Also people are often wearing more neoprene then they are used to and so are very overweighted. If you do see a whaleshark you all then try to swim after it. Since most people are overweighted and are not used to it they tend to start sinking like a rock and because they are swimming fast to catch up the whaleshark they can end up in 130+ feet of water VERY RAPIDLY and using up their air EVEN MORE RAPIDLY. This is a bad situation and one that happens quite frequently and can have very dire results. So truthfully having a bit warmer water so you need less neoprene and focusing on the amazing show of schooling hammerheads, rays and more...is truly worth the price of admission and if you want whalesharks...do our bi-annual whaleshark trip to Holbox where they are GUARANTEED and no neoprene needed! />/>

[Diver Ed]

Trying to do a bit of looking.....From what I am finding, Jan to June is the wetter season. It looks like there is a lot of sun, with some heavy showers mixed in, mostly in the afternoons. That is also the time for the warmer water. Whale shark season seems to be June to Nov, with better sightings earlier in the season. There are also pleanty of Hammerhead sightings during that time. Jan to May offers the best chance for Mantas and the best Hammerhead action. Another sight is saying Dec to May for Mantas and other rays. Personally, I am not that concerned with the whalesharks there. As Kamala said, Holbox is a very good destination for them. I am more interested in the other action. If I were picking a time frame, I would probably look toward the end of January through the beginning of March. That would get me more into what looks to be the peak time for Mantas and Hammerheads. That said, if the trip is the first week of Dec, I expect that I will be there. Ed

ONE LAST REQUEST...

We've been trying to find any NEGATIVE things about doing our trip in early Dec and other than the water is warmer and the whalesharks* are more likely to be in Sept (we saw them in Oct when we went the first time) we can't find anything bad about this date. Can you???

I'd hate to book this date only to have people tell us there it sucked! />

So let us know if you can find anything negative about the early Dec timeframe as I'll be making a hard decision in the next couple of days! />


*A note about the whalesharks...
This diving is about be overweighted so you can sink to the bottom quickly and wedge yourself into the rocks so you can sit back and enjoy the show of schooling hammerheads, mantas, spotted eagle rays etc. Also people are often wearing more neoprene then they are used to and so are very overweighted. If you do see a whaleshark you all then try to swim after it. Since most people are overweighted and are not used to it they tend to start sinking like a rock and because they are swimming fast to catch up the whaleshark they can end up in 130+ feet of water VERY RAPIDLY and using up their air EVEN MORE RAPIDLY. This is a bad situation and one that happens quite frequently and can have very dire results. So truthfully having a bit warmer water so you need less neoprene and focusing on the amazing show of schooling hammerheads, rays and more...is truly worth the price of admission and if you want whalesharks...do our bi-annual whaleshark trip to Holbox where they are GUARANTEED and no neoprene needed! />

[WreckWench]

Thanks Ed...anyone else? My research shows that June to Sept is colder but warmer in Dec to Mar... and I'm most interested in Darwin and Wolfe as they are PRIME TIME ISLANDS. The rest are ok but more of 'been there done that' sort of thing vs the main attraction!

[sharkalover]

I am in too!!!! Really want to see as many Mantas and Hammerheads as possible but my dates are flexible with enough notice!!!

Hope you are well, Kamala! Miss you.

[Buzo Guero]

I'm not too worried about the whaleshark aspect of this trip. Been in the water with them, already. I'm more interested in the other macro-fauna. Warmer is better, too. I'll leave it at that, as I have no prior experience that I could offer as negative regarding the Galapagos.
/>

[WreckWench]

Awesome! I'll be finalizing the date and getting this posted accordingly. We will offer some VERY sweet early sign up perks in order to pay the $6k in deposits to hold the boat until Dec 2014.

[MelB]

I want to go too! Hold a spot for me! I know two other people who want to go too. How many boats can we book?

[WreckWench]

WOW!!! Looks like I'll be able to book the critical mass and then some!

and






p.s. Hey MR and Mel...great to see you both again virtually...it will be EVEN BETTER if we get to go diving together again!

[WreckWench]

LOCK IN DEC 1-8, 2014 FOR THE GALAPAGOS!!! WE'LL BE DIVING THE MOST AMAZING PLACE IN THE WORLD TO DIVE.... SAVE THE DATES!!!

[WreckWench]

I want to go too! Hold a spot for me! I know two other people who want to go too. How many boats can we book? />

I just asked if the date before or after us is available??? Not sure we could pull off back to back trips but WOW!!! That would be beyond amazing! kamala

[MNJoe]

LOCK IN DEC 1-8, 2014 FOR THE GALAPAGOS!!! WE'LL BE DIVING THE MOST AMAZING PLACE IN THE WORLD TO DIVE.... SAVE THE DATES!!!

So how many days before the boat and after the boat will we need? What operator are you looking at? I know you would only use an operator that goes to Wolf and Darwin. I had assumed that it was one of the Aggressor boats, but they usually go Thursday, and Dec 1st is a Monday. Yes, I already have my 2014 calendar. Oh and time off ok'd by supervisor.

MNJoe

[WreckWench]

We will use Explorer Ventures...better price point and EXCELLENT reputation plus they us!

We will arrive at least a day early for baggage issues and stay a day later for flights issues (some will be able to fly the same day but many will need to overnight and catch very early am flights the next day).

Since my goal is to help cover the deposits I will be opening this trip up before the end of the year. I will have several options for minimum pkg + extra days needed for safe travel and then a couple of options for a bit of sightseeing and enjoying the area + side tours also available. And while you won't sign up for the add-ons yet...you'll have an idea of what to expect.

[WreckWench]

Did we get YOUR name on the notify me when this trip is open for booking list???

THOSE WANTING TO BE ON THE NOTIFY LIST WHEN THIS TRIP OPENS UP:

1. Kamala aka WreckWench
2. Keith aka MNJoe
3. Tim aka Buzo Guero
4. Melissa aka MelB
5. MR aka SharkaLover
6. Scot aka Handyman
7. Ed aka Diver Ed & Sister
8. Dan aka Rookie and Seastar
9. Jim aka Twin Screws
10. Larry aka Orcaman
11. Carla aka rkymtwy
12. Steve aka soonerdiver