Tiburon Explorer

The brand new M/V Tiburon Explorer comfortably accommodates 16 passengers in 9 air-conditioned rooms, all of which have private bathroom facilities. Cabins are on the main and lower decks. All cabins have twin beds (except cabin 1 & 2 – Queen beds only) and can be converted to queen beds for couples. All cabins have dressers, a closet and windows to maximize the view of the Pacific Ocean and Galapagos Archipelago, especially those situated on the main deck.

The air-conditioned salon on the main deck includes dining tables, TV, CD/DVD, video library and lounge area. Sunning/viewing areas, ample seating and a hot tub are located on the top level.

The dive deck is equipped with individual gear bins, camera table, recharging station, air and nitrox filling stations, tank racks, 80CF aluminium tanks and a separate fresh water rinse tank for underwater camera equipment. Diving operations are conducted from two large pangas (tenders), easily boarded from the dive deck. The Tiburon Explorer is also equipped with a satellite telephone for outgoing calls worldwide.

Sample itinerary – Departure from Baltra

Please note that these itineraries are examples only, and will change depending on local regulation, weather and logistics at the Captain’s discretion. At this time, each week in the itinerary includes the same islands. The order of the islands, however, is dictated by the National Parks Foundation and may change.

Days aboard the Tiburon Explorer generally involve a 6:30am dive followed by breakfast, a dive at 10:30am, lunch at 12:00pm, and afternoon dives at 2:00 pm and 4:30pm (On days with long transits between islands, the number of dives will be reduced to 2-3 dives – see itinerary). Dinner is served at approximately 7:00 pm. Under current National Parks guidelines, night dives and land visits are strictly regulated. The Tiburon Explorer must follow the schedule of islands and land tours as noted below.

Saturday: Baltra
Guests fly to the Galapagos Islands from Mainland Ecuador, arriving in the late morning. Airport meeting and transfer to the boat. Lunch, safety briefings and equipment organization. After dinner the vessel will depart to the next scheduled destination.

Sunday: Baltra North (2 Dives)
Equipment check, 7:00 and 10:00 dives. Sightings include rays and schools of fish. Afternoon North Seymour land visit. Walk the path around North Seymour Island to see the large colonies of Blue Footed Boobies and Frigate Birds. Sighting of Sea Lions and Marine Iguanas are also common. Depart for Wolf Island. (long transit).

Monday: Wolf Island (4 Dives)
6:30, 10:30, 2:00 and 4:30 dives. Possible night dive instead of 4 th day dive. Sightings often include hammerheads, whale sharks (in season), eagle rays, sea lions, Galapagos sharks and silky sharks.

Tuesday: Darwin Island (4 Dives)
6:30, 10:30, 2:00 and 4:30 dives Sightings often include hammerheads, whale sharks (in season) eagle rays, Galapagos and silky sharks. Transit to Wolf Island.

Wednesday: Wolf Island (3-4 Dives)
6:30, 10:30, 2:00 and 4:30 dives. Sightings often include hammerheads, whale sharks (in season), eagle rays, Galapagos sharks and silky sharks. Transit to Cabo Douglas (12 hours)

Thursday: Cabo Douglas & Punta Vincente Roca (3 Dives)
Sightings include marine iguanas in Cabo Douglas (2 dives) and mola mola, turtles and macro life in Punta Vincente Roca (1 Dive). Transit to Cousins Rock (10 hours)

Friday: Cousins Rock (2 Dives)
6:30 and 9:30 dives. This is a great macro diving with an excellent chance of seeing sea horses, sea lions and eagle rays. Lunch will be served while transiting to Santa Cruz (3 hours). Travel by bus to the Santa Cruz Highlands to visit the giant tortoises in their natural habitat. Transfer to the town of Puerto Ayora. Dinner on your own in Puerto Ayora. Return to the Tiburon Explorer at 8:30pm.

Saturday: Baltra
Depart the vessel by 9 am. Transfer to the airport.

Due to the necessity of readying the vessel for our next cruise, we must strictly enforce the 9am departure.