Dive Review of Aggressor Fleet in
Galapagos Islands

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Aggressor Fleet: "Wonderful, but expensive and less diving than prior years.", Oct, 2017, by Randall S Preissig, TX, US ( Top Contributor 38 reports with 15 Helpful votes). Report 9927 has 3 Helpful votes.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity
Dive Operation		Shore Diving	N/A
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	This was my 4th and 5th trip on the Galapagos Aggressor, dating back to 1998. I will report on both trips. Galapagos is on most every experienced diver's bucket list, and for good reasons--schools of hammers, mobula, eagle rays, jacks and more; the world's largest whale sharks; diving marine iguanas; mola molas; and MUCH more. But seeing whale sharks, molas and others can be seasonal, dependent on El Nino or La Nina, or just plain hit and miss. On both my week trips the current was often reversed from its usual direction and nutrients clouded the water considerably. This may be due to a developing El Nino which has a very bad effect on Galapagos diving. Our groups only sighted 5 whale sharks total in 2 weeks. Hammers were scarce and poorly seen due to the cloudy water(compared to usual). And the water was even colder than usual, with several dives in the 50's (!!!) and the warmest in the low 70's. Anyone with less than a 7mm semidry with a 3-5mm hooded vest was cold. I rarely miss a dive, but missed 3 of 20 of the first trip as my 7mm just wasn't enough to warm me for 4 dives a day. I made all 20 of the second trip after renting a 3mm XXL jumpsuit to go over my 7mm semidry. And speaking of 20 dives per week(one a check out dive)--this is just too few for a $5,000++ per week liveaboard! I wasn't clear if this was a new park regulation--I think not--and it was less than the 22-24 I had on my prior 3 trips. Another change was the crew. Now all Ecuadorians, only one was fluent in English and did all the communication with the English speaking guests. This was only a minor inconvenience. Important: the "cold water season" is June through January, with October and November the coldest. You will see the most pelagics in the coldest water--but this can mean diving in 50 and 60 degree water every dive. You will see the most whale sharks in Oct. and Nov., but the water is not only frigid but the water and weather are rough. Feb. through April are "warmer" water, but the big stuff is MUCH less seen!! Consequently, fewer divers go these months, even though you may see a few mantas then. And if there is an El Nino, don't go! I did in 1998 and wondered for 15 years why everyone thought Galapagos was so great. This is absolutely world class diving, and the Aggressor fleet is the standard of the live aboard industry. If you're ready for "the big stuff", this is where you'll see it. Stay away if you are a beginner(less than 100 dives, little experience in strong current), physically limited, or "can't keep warm". And many combine the travel with a visit to Machu Picchu.
Websites	Aggressor Fleet
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	Over 1000 dives
Where else diving	Red Sea, Raja Amphat, Lembeh, Komodo, Alor, Thailand, Sipadan, PNG, BVI, Bahamas, Tahiti, Palau, Chuuk, Ponape, Guam, Australia, Hawaii, Myamar, Fiji, Cocos, Galapagos, Socorro, 3 Caymans, Bonaire, Cozumel, Belize, Etc.
Closest Airport	Baltra, Galapagos	Getting There	You must fly through Ecuador, often requiring long layovers or overnights both ways. Expensive
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny, rainy	Seas	choppy, surge, currents
Water Temp	57-72°F / 14-22°C	Wetsuit Thickness	7
Water Visibility	20-50 Ft/ 6-15 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	no
Enforced diving restrictions	Unfortunately, Aggressor has converted its Galapagos diving to "group diving" with all 16 divers and two guides together. This significantly limits your chances of seeing hammerheads and other animals up close, if at all. FOR ADVANCED DIVERS, THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT LIMITATION!
Liveaboard?	yes	Nitrox Available?	yes
What I Saw
Sharks	Lots	Mantas	1 or 2
Dolphins	Schools	Whale Sharks	> 2
Turtles	> 2	Whales	1 or 2
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter		Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's	N/A	Shore Facilities	N/A
UW Photo Comments	Crowded table with little oversight to prevent "splash" from air hoses, etc. Good care of cameras by the crew while loading/unloading.

Report currently has 3 Helpful votes

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Dive Review of Aggressor Fleet in Galapagos Islands

Aggressor Fleet: "Wonderful, but expensive and less diving than prior years.", Oct, 2017,

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

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

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

Dive Review of Aggressor Fleet in
Galapagos Islands