Galapagos Diving - Unique Enchantment and Thrills!

<body> <h1><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" color="#4169e1"><i><a href="galapagos_diving.shtml">Galapagos - Unique Enchantment and Thrills!</a></i></font></h1> <p><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2"><img height="98" width="134" src="photos/galapagos_SeaLion2.jpg" border="1" align="left" alt="Galapagos Diving">The Galapagos Islands, situated 600 miles west of Ecuador in the Pacific Ocean, comprise 19 main islands and several small islands. These volcanic islands are the birthplace of Charles Darwin's "Theory of Evolution." Located on the hot equator, water temperatures are cooler than you would expect, due to local upwellings, which along with the Humboldt current originating in Antarctica, bring cool, nutrient rich waters. The mixture of warm currents from Central America with this cooler water has produced an amazing variety of climates, flora and fauna. In the highlands of the larger islands are extinguished craters covered with lush, endemic cloud forests, while closer to the shore, it becomes desert-like, characterized by the towering Opuntia cactus and spiny Acacias.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2">The fauna too provides some unusual sights-sea lions sharing habitat with tropical flamingos, and cold water penguins feeding amongst brightly colored tropical fish. These conditions, and the fearlessness of the land and marine species to man, have made the Galapagos Islands a unique place for nature to express itself.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2">No wonder they are called "The Enchanted Islands". They are protected as a national park and one of the world's largest marine reserves. Now South Pacific Island travel can take you to this unique, magnificient nature preserve to dive and enjoy its many splendors!<br clear="all"> </font></p> <p><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" color="#191970"><b>Sky Dancer</b></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2"><br> <img height="88" width="150" src="photos/galapagos_skydancer.jpg" border="1" align="right" alt="Galapagos Diving on Sky Dancer">New in 2001, this 100 luxury live-aboard from Peter Hughes Diving features 8 air-conditioned staterooms with all the ammenities youd expect. Spacious lounge, nitrox, fine dining and more are included. Cruises are available for 7 or 10 days.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2">Sky Dancer's itinerary offers a total of approx. 19 dives It offers 4 land excursions, and covers 565.5 nautical miles of ocean. It has only one very long navigation (15 hours from Wolf to North Seymour). It also places Darwin & Wolf Islands closer to the end of the trip, and finishes the diving with 2 really great dive sites (North Seymour & Gordon's rocks) that our guests won't forget. The 10 day cruise adds 3 more days of diving.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2"><img height="150" width="99" src="photos/galapagos_lammerlaw.jpg" border="1" hspace="5" vspace="3" align="left" alt="Galapagos Diving on Lammer Law"></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" color="#191970"><b>Lammer Law</b></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2"><br> A spacious, schooner-rigged motor sailor trimaran, Lammer Law is fully equipped for diving as well as the naturalist passenger. The main salon is large, complete with bar, cozy sofas, tv/vcr and stereo. Completely remodeled in 2001, she is a large yacht with all the comfort you can expect of a cruise ship. The artful combination of stability, grace and speed make this trimaran yacht (the only one of its kind in the Galapagos) a perfect vessel for natural history adventure.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2">The accommodations aboard Lammer Law are spacious and comfortable. There are eight double staterooms, each can be set up to suit your needs with a double bed or twins, side by side. You won't find cramped bunk beds aboard Lammer Law and you've got plenty of space to walk around.<br> </font></p> <p><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" color="#191970"><b>Galapagos Aggressors I & II</b></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2"><br> <img height="88" width="249" src="photos/galapagos_aggressor.jpg" border="1" align="right" alt="Galapagos Diving on Aggressor">For nature lovers and the adventurous, there's no more fascinating destination than the Galapagos Islands-and no better way to explore it than from the aboard the islands' finest dive yachts, the newly renovated 14-passenger Galapagos Aggressor I and Galapagos Aggressor II.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2">The 100-foot Galapagos Aggressor I and Galapagos Aggressor II are sister ships custom built and designed particularly for cruising the Archipelago of Galapagos. Both are beautifully decorated inside with teak wood creating a rich, nautical atmosphere. In early 2000, each yacht was renovated, enlarged and all mechanical equipment was overhauled.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2"><img height="176" width="117" src="photos/galapagos_agg_cabin.jpg" border="1" align="right" alt="Galapagos Diving on Aggressor">There are seven luxurious air-conditioned staterooms, each with two berths. Four staterooms are located on the lower level and three are on the upper level. Stateroom features include: private head and shower, individual climate control, a cassette stereo system and a port window, which offers great views and plenty of natural light. Your cabin is just steps away from the main salon, dining room and dive deck. The salon, located on the main level, is an attractively furnished area designed for comfort and relaxation.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2"><img height="98" width="150" src="photos/galapagos_agg_lounge.jpg" border="1" align="left" alt="Galapagos Diving on Aggressor">The salon features a complete entertainment center with large screen TV, VCR, stereo with compact disc player, and a well stocked library. The on board bartender/waiter offers full bar service. The dining area is separate from the main salon and has three individual private table and chair combinations. Dinners are served to guests at their table. Large windows offer a great view during meals.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2">If you arrive in Baltra on Thursday, a crew member will greet you at the Baltra airport and drive you to the boat. There is a check-out dive Thursday afternoon near Baltra followed by a delicious dinner served by the onboard chef. Friday morning the Aggressor moves to the first of many excellent dive sites. Divers are awakened by the smells of coffee and a home-cooked breakfast. After a dive briefing, the hot tub is open.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2">Throughout the week, you'll encounter a spectacular array of animal and plant species, many found no where else in the world. Penguins, marine iguanas, sea lions, golden rays, mantas and turtles are just of a fraction of the marine creatures you'll see at dive sites off Seymour, Santiago, Santa Cruz, Darwin and Wolf Islands. Galapagos is best know for its pelagics such as dolphins, pilot whales and sharks-lots of sharks! These rocky islands are a magnet for silky, Galapagos, white-tip and hammerhead sharks by the hundreds. Whale sharks are also frequently encountered on Galapagos Aggressor charters. Then on land excursions, you'll discover giant tortoises, blue-footed boobies and flamingos, while an experienced naturalist helps interpret the unique eco-systems.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2">New this year: An expanded sun deck, with music, hammocks and a wet bar and BBQ, new outdoor lounge, larger hot tubs and more comfortable seating. Personal EPRIBS have been added for complete diver safety during drift dives.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular"><i><b>South Pacific Island Travel can help you discover the wonders of the Galapagos Islands. Call us today for a brochure about this dream vacation!</b></i></font></p> <center> <p> <hr noshade size="1" color="#191970"> <br> <font color="#0099cc" size="4" face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><strong>South Pacific Island Travel</strong></font><br> <font color="black" size="2" face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular">537 North 137th Street, Seattle, WA 98133<br> Toll Free: <strong>1-877-773-4846</strong> / WA: 206-367-0956 / Fax: 206-306-9288</font><br> <br> <a href="index.html" target="_top" title="travel to the south pacific"><font size="1" face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">Home</font></a><font size="1" face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"> / <a href="aboutus.shtml" target="_top" title="dive travel to Fiji, Palau, Tahiti, Indonesia, south pacific">About Us</a> / <a href="destinations.shtml" target="_top" title="dive travel to Fiji, Palau, Tahiti, Indonesia, south pacific">Destinations</a> / <a href="liveaboards.shtml" target="_top" title="liveaboards in the south pacific palau fiji thailand">Liveaboards</a> / <a href="whats_new.shtml" target="_top" title="travel to the south pacific">What's New</a> / <a href="specials.shtml" target="_top" title="south pacific island travel">Specials</a> / <a href="contactus.html" target="_top" title="south pacific island travel">Contact Us</a><br> <a href="australia.html" target="_top" title="dive travel to australia - liveaboards in australia">Australia</a> / <a href="costa_rica.html" target="_top" title="costa rica dive travel cocos live aboards">Costa Rica</a> / <a href="fiji.html" target="_top" title="fiji resorts and live aboards fiji dive travel">Fiji</a> / <a href="vanuatu.html" target="_top" title="honeymoon in vanuatu">Vanuatu</a> / <a href="galapagos.html" target="_top" title="galapagos dive travel and liveaboards">Galapagos</a> / <a href="hawaii.html" target="_top" title="vacation travel to hawaii">Hawaii</a> / <a href="maldives.html" target="_top" title="maldives dive travel">Maldives</a> / <a href="micronesia.html" target="_top" title="dive travel to micronesia">Micronesia</a> / <a href="palau.html" target="_top" title="palau dive travel micronesia palau liveaboards">Palau</a> / <a href="yap.html" target="_top" title="yap diving with mantas">Yap</a> / <a href="truk.html" target="_top" title="truk lagoon chuuk liveaboard diving">Truk Lagoon</a> / <a href="kosrae.html" target="_top" title="dive travel to kosrae">Kosrae</a> / <a href="PNG.html" target="_top" title="dive travel to papua new guinea PNG liveaboards">Papua New Guinea</a> / <a href="red_sea.html" target="_top" title="liveaboards in the red sea">Red Sea</a> / <a href="solomon_islands.html" target="_top" title="solomon islands diving liveaboards">Solomon Islands</a> / <a href="indonesia.html" target="_top" title="indonesia diving travel and liveaboards">Indonesia</a> / <a href="tahiti.html" target="_top" title="south pacific travel to tahiti, bora bora, moorea">Tahiti</a> / <a href="thailand.html" target="_top" title="dive travel to thailand">Thailand</a> / <a href="caribbean.html" target="_top" title="caribbean diving">Caribbean</a> </font><br> <br> <a href="*"><font size="1" face="Times New Roman,Georgia,Times">©2004 South Pacific Island Travel & Under Watercolours</font></a><font size="1" face="Times New Roman,Georgia,Times">. 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