Dive Review of SCUBA IGUANA/ROYAL PALM in
Galapagos Islands

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SCUBA IGUANA/ROYAL PALM, Feb, 2009, by Michael Kazacos, NY, USA ( 1 report with 1 Helpful vote). Report 4651 has 1 Helpful vote.
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
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	As I said this was our second trip to Galapagos in two years with the same dive company SCUBA IGUANA and stayed in the highlands again at the Royal Palm Resort. The 20 minute taxi ride into center of town cost $ 7.00. We went to Floreana which was outstanding and also to Seymour. We wanted to go to Gordon Rocks where we know there are schools of hammerheads but they just go there on Sundays. Every day is a different Island so check with Scuba Iguana when booking. We saw tons of sharks, close within 5 feet and lots of sea lions who wanted to play and show off. I was wondering if going to Galapgos would be as magical the second time around and I can say that it DEFINITELY was!! We also visited the Darwin Research Center and played with the giant tortoises. The marine iguanas at Tortuga Bay were incredible. Also the Blue Footed Boobis and Frigate Birds and Pelicans and Sea Lions in town nightly at 6 PM begging the Fisherman for scraps while cleaning their fish. We have been to Australia a couple times, Canary Islands, Turks and Caicos, Bahamas, Bermuda, Caymans, Honduras, and of course the Keys but there is absolutely NOTHING like the Galapagos Islands. We stayed in Santa Cruz and took day trips with Scuba Iguana and Paulo Tobar who is an awesome divemaster. I liked the fact that maximum was 8 divers with 2 divemasters. I don't think I will ever get tired of the Galapgos Islands. The amount of marine life on every dive is mind boggling. You don't know what to look at first. If you are more fond of coral then you better go elsewhere as this is mostly lava rock from the volcanos. The local people are very friendly and many of the taxi drivers are divers....for lobster. The one thing that is hard to get used to is when you are in very warm water and then get a current of ice cold water...it even looks different so you can see it coming. We even saw penguins. Next trip will be Floreana again and definitely want to check out Gordon Rocks. So many islands, always something new. Make it a must place to dive before you dry out your wet suit permanently. At age 65, I took up diving 3 years ago, traveled extensively and have 40 dives.
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	26-50 dives
Where else diving	Second time in Galapagos in two years and is definitely our favorite and we have been all over the world. Paulo and Scuba Iguana are awesome. Best Dive Company we have ever used!
Closest Airport		Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny	Seas	calm, no currents
Water Temp	70-80°F / 21-27°C	Wetsuit Thickness	3
Water Visibility	20-40 Ft/ 6-12 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	no
Enforced diving restrictions	Safety Test in water before dive for neutral buoncy, removal of mask and regulator. max time 60 min. max 8 divers with 2 dive masters.
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	N/A
What I Saw
Sharks	Lots	Mantas	1 or 2
Dolphins	1 or 2	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	> 2	Whales	None
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		Shore Facilities
UW Photo Comments	[None]Took a few hundred photos and divemaster Paulo also took several and provided a disk for $20.00.

Report currently has 1 Helpful vote

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Dive Review of SCUBA IGUANA/ROYAL PALM in Galapagos Islands

SCUBA IGUANA/ROYAL PALM, Feb, 2009,

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 SCUBA IGUANA/ROYAL PALM in
Galapagos Islands