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Dive Review of SKY DANCER in
Galapagos Islands

SKY DANCER, Jun, 2009,

by TOM, NJ, USA (Reviewer Reviewer 5 reports). Report 4969.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 4 stars Food 3 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity 5 stars
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 5 stars
Beginners 1 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments THIS IS "THE" PLACE FOR LARGE PELAGIC ACTION!! 18 SEPARATE ENCOUNTERS WITH WHALE SHARK, MOST IN THE 50 FOOT+ RANGE...LITERALLY "EYEBALL-TO-EYEBALL!!" ON ONE DIVE OFF DARWIN ISLAND, (THE ONLY SITE WHERE WHALE SHARKS WERE SIGHTED), IN A SPAN OF ABOUT 30 MINUTES, IN "THE BLUE" AT 30 FOOT OF WATER, WE HAD MULTIPLE WHALE SHARK ENCOUNTERS... SCHOOLS OF HAMMERHEADS SURROUNDED US AND AS THEY SWAM OFF, A GIANT SCHOOL OF 100'S OF SILKY SHARK PARADED BEFORE US. IN THEIR MIDST, A POD OF DOLPHIN SWAM IN AND CHIRPED AWAY AT US, ALMOST AS IF THEY WERE CONCERNED FOR OUR SAFETY! BEFORE SURFACING, WE CAME UPON A PACIFIC GREEN TURTLE HAVING ITS SHELL CLEANED BY A SCHOOL OF STEEL POMPANO, SOMETHING I'VE ONLY SEEN ONCE BEFORE AT COCOS ISLAND.

THROW IN SCHOOLS OF JACK AND BARRACUDA, SEA LIONS AND EVEN SNORKELING WITH PENGUINS!! WE ALSO SPOTTED ON THE SURFACE A KILLER WHALE HUNTING SEA LION OFF GORDON ROCK!

ALTHOUGH THE NUMBER OF DIVES (17, NO NIGHT DIVING ALLOWED) IS LOW FOR A LIVEABOARD, THE QUALITY MAKES UP FOR THE QUANTITY, AND THE LAND TOURS THAT LIMIT THE NUMBER OF DIVES WERE WELL WORTH THE TRADE-OFF.

SKY DANCER IS A WELL LAID OUT VESSEL. DIVING PANGAS (ZODIACS) DON'T HAVE DIVE LADDERS...TRY TO BE IN REASONABLE SHAPE OR FACE EMBARRASSMENT BEING UNCEREMONIOUSLY DRAGGED BACK INTO THEM POST DIVE! CREW WERE FANTASTIC, FOOD WAS A BIT BLAND AND REPETITIVE, BUT PLENTIFUL.

IF YOU'RE DEBATING BETWEEN COCOS AND GALAPGOS, HAVING BEEN TO BOTH WITHIN A 7 MONTH SPAN, I WOULD OPT FOR GALAPAGOS, HANDS DOWN!

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 501-1000 dives
Where else diving WORLDWIDE
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, dry Seas choppy, surge, currents
Water Temp 72-76°F / 22-24°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 50-100 Ft/ 15-30 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions NONE...MOST DIVING AT 75-60 FEET
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

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

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

Subject Matter 5 stars Boat Facilities 5 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 5 stars Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments SEPARATE RINSE TANK PROVIDED. AMPLE TABLE WORKING SPACE, COMPRESSED AIR AND RECHARGING STATIONS
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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.

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