Main Menu
Join Undercurrent on Facebook

The Private, Exclusive Guide for Serious Divers Since 1975 | |
For Divers since 1975
The Private, Exclusive Guide for Serious Divers Since 1975
"Best of the Web: scuba tips no other
source dares to publish" -- Forbes
X
 

Dive Review of NEMO in
Galapagos Islands

NEMO, Jan, 2005,

by mickey rosenberg, RI, usa (Reviewer Reviewer 6 reports). Report 1580.

No photos available at this time

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 5 stars Food 4 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity N/A
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving 5 stars
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ N/A
Beginners 1 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments My wife is an avid snorkeler, but not a diver, and hates being trapped with dive nuts, so Darwin and Wolf were definitely out. Pre trip, we were advised that there aren't many boats that do the standard Southern route (called Naturalist cruises) and also offer Scuba. That is not true: there appeared to be many. Non-the-less, the NEMO, an 82 foot cataraman, turned out to be a wonderful choice. In excellent condition, wonderful crew, and fabulous Alexsis- our guide topside was incredibly knowledgeble- and as I was the only diver, he took me to some great spots- only 3-5 dives , but they were great, and I did a few more land based dives later, so I was far from dissappointed.
Gordon Rocks- our first dive, was electifying, "walls" of Hammerheads, A large Bull shark being harassed by two sea lions (that was a surprise), many white tips and Galapagos sharks, turtles and eagle rays, and a very healthy assortment of fish. Each dive was similar, mild to strong currents, extreme temp. variations- about 70 f on the surface, dropped off into the 50's at depth. I found a 5mm 1-piece best, I took alittle 2 mm beany as I don't like hoods, and tough 3 mm gloves were critical on the one dive withmax current and surge to grab a rock here and there.
Took my reg/computer and Rx mask and 1 mm wetsuit was great (not critical this time of year)for snorkeling. Rental gear decent, was very glad I didn't take full gear, as the travel (2 days each way) arduous.
Only downside to a sailboat- tiny cabins, little real sailing, a fair amount of noisey motoring (ear plugs and I-pod God sent) the great crew and travel mates-4 Swiss Docs and spouses (I'm a Doc) more than made up for it.
In Puerto Aroya, we spent 5 days after our week at sea, we stayed at the Red Mangrove Inn, a very cool place right near The Chas Darwin Center: Artsy colorful, and they up graded us to the "minor" suite-ask for it even if you have to pay more- 360 views of the sea and surrounds. For day trip diving, I checked out the touted Scuba Iguana- they seemed very professional, but had large classes of newbies, and full boats with check out dives; so I went with Scuba Extra across from Hotel Silberstein. Good choice for me, with 3 or 4 experienced divers, and two dive masters, spoiled again!
On my last day on Island,I biked around, and came upon the Hyperbaric Chamber, so I went in talked with the Docs and got a tour. First class small facility. They treat mostly local "fisherman" who violate all the profiles, next dive masters, and only 3-5 tourists a year. They wanted me to spread the word that Fishing Bans were being violated, as the Mayor of the Galaps- afisherman-threw his polital support behind the President of the Counrty in return for lack of enforcement of the ban. Potentially devastating to the ecology.They were upset and worried. I was upset when I showed them my DAN Card and asked if it would cover a series of Chamber treatments- they said the reimbursement didn't come close to covering their expense- No! I e-mailed DAN this iinfo a few weeks ago, and so far, no response. Perhaps Undercurrent could investigate?
So go the the Galapagos soon, before all the Sharks are in Asian soup!

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 101-250 dives
Where else diving [Unspecified]Carib
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, dry Seas surge, currents
Water Temp 55-70°F / 13-21°C Wetsuit Thickness 5
Water Visibility 40-60 Ft/ 12-18 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile ?
Enforced diving restrictions [Unspecified]100 feet/60 min
Liveaboard? yes Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

Sharks Lots Mantas None
Dolphins Schools Whale Sharks None
Turtles > 2 Whales None
Corals 2 stars Tropical Fish 3 stars
Small Critters 3 stars Large Fish 5 stars
Large Pelagics 5 stars

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter N/A Boat Facilities N/A
Overall rating for UWP's N/A Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments [None]
Was this report helpful to you?
Leave a comment (Subscribers only -- 200 words max)
Subscribers can comment here
 

Subscribe Now
Subscribers can post comments, ask the reviewer questions, as well as getting immediate and complete access to ALL 161 dive reviews of Galapagos Islands and all other dive destinations. Complete access to all issues and Chapbooks is also included.

 
Featured Links from Our Sponsors
Interested in becoming a sponsor?
Reef & Rainforest, Let our experience be your guide -- Reef and Rainforest
Reef & Rainforest Dive & Adventure Travel
specializes in everything Galapagos. Let us plan your trip so see schooling hammerheads in the birthplace of evolution.

Want to assemble your own collection of Galapagos Islands reports in one place?
Use the Mini Chapbook Facility to create your personalized collection.

Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

Undercurrent Home


Get more dive info like these and other important scuba updates sent monthly to your email.
And a FREE Recent Issue of Undercurrent

Free Undercurrent Issue
Get a free
monthly email and
a sample issue!


Find in  

| Home | Online Members Area | My Account | Login | Join |
| Travel Index | Dive Resort & Liveaboard Reviews | Featured Reports | Recent Issues | Back Issues |
| Dive Gear Index | Health/Safety Index | Environment & Misc. Index | Seasonal Planner | Blogs | Free Articles | Book Picks | News |
| Special Offers | RSS | FAQ | About Us | Contact Us | Links |

Copyright © 1996-2024 Undercurrent (www.undercurrent.org)
3020 Bridgeway, Ste 102, Sausalito, Ca 94965
All rights reserved.

Page computed and displayed in 0.14 seconds