Dive Review of Peter Hughes -- Sky Dancer in
Galapagos Islands

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Peter Hughes -- Sky Dancer: "Beyond expectations", May, 2017, by Mary McCombie, CT, US ( Sr. Contributor 28 reports with 19 Helpful votes). Report 9612 has 2 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	N/A	Shore Diving	N/A
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	My expectations for this trip were high, and it's rare that one comes back with expectations exceeded. Since you doubtless already have a good idea of what diving Galapagos is like, I will report less on the diving and more on the experience. The diving mostly rocked, although the memory of Darwin, Wolf, Isabela, and Fernandina tends to displace the few dives that were a little quiet. Don't consider going unless you feel really comfortable with your buoyancy in rough conditions; you will enjoy yourself even in downcurrents, cross currents, etc. if buoyancy is comfortable. Wear good gloves because you will need to grab onto barnacles; bring a reef hook. 7mm plus hooded vest plus warm booties will save your bacon. Divers on this trip wearing 3mm froze. The water temps ranged from 64F to 75F. Bring a strong portable torch so you can sniff around not just on the one night dive but during often occluded and turbid day dives. Pack some warm shirts or jackets, plus something lightweight with long sleeves to protect you on the daytime expeditions since the sun is very powerful. The boat is compact, well-organized, and has a wonderful crew that really delivers great service. Loved the food, the flowing wine, the dance parties, and the excellent naturalist guiding from Max Castillo. Staterooms are not bad for a liveaboard, with almost enough storage and a larger than average bathroom. Shower water pressure was a tad weak but I often showered on deck after the dives in hot abundant water. Crew helps you suit up, gear down, and washes and hangs your wetsuit and other thermal coverage after every dive--which I really appreciated. They offer a warm towel after you rinse off on deck, a warm drink when you arrive after a dive, and warm smiles at all times. Be sure to be physically ready to walk wearing all your gear from the boat onto the panga, which means moving from one moving surface onto another even more storm-tossed boat, wearing 80 pounds of gear and stepping down. Squats are good prep! The land expeditions are carefully organized and fascinating. You will see the giant tortoises, penguins, the astonishing volcanic landscapes (sometimes barren, sometimes lush), and birds galore. Be sure to bring a decent pair of shoes, hat, sunblock, etc.. The esprit, organization, and good food on the boat really made this a great trip. Indeed, after 49 liveaboard trips, this was my first where everyone on board was perfectly congenial, made even easier by the excellent crew. Starting to save up for a return trip! How many hammerheads, whale sharks, mobula and eagle rays, mola molas, etc. etc. can one process? You'll need more than one trip! BTW, I booked directly with Dive Encounters, who also booked my Guayaquil hotel and the air to and from San Cristobal. I asked for business class on the flights to and from there, and had no trouble with my two checked bags (one quite heavy). However, everyone in coach had no problem either. They did a great job. And listen when they say to bring a good SMB and Dive Alert. That way, everyone in the water is fully kitted up for safety.
Websites	Peter Hughes -- Sky Dancer
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	Over 1000 dives
Where else diving	all over the world
Closest Airport	GYE	Getting There	easy to fly to Guayaquil and San Cristobal
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny, windy	Seas	choppy, surge, currents
Water Temp	64-75°F / 18-24°C	Wetsuit Thickness	7
Water Visibility	10-80 Ft/ 3-24 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	no
Enforced diving restrictions	no deeper than 110 feet, 50 minutes max on most dives
Liveaboard?	yes	Nitrox Available?	yes
What I Saw
Sharks	Lots	Mantas	Squadrons
Dolphins	1 or 2	Whale Sharks	1 or 2
Turtles	> 2	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals	N/A	Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics
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]

Report currently has 2 Helpful votes

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Dive Review of Peter Hughes -- Sky Dancer in Galapagos Islands

Peter Hughes -- Sky Dancer: "Beyond expectations", May, 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 Peter Hughes -- Sky Dancer in
Galapagos Islands