M/V Tiburon Explorer (Explorer Ventures)
Three of us ladies took a trip of a lifetime in December. The Tiburon was very luxurious, and was a great spot to observe the mountains and sea around the island.
When we arrived, before we could even get unpacked, orcas were swimming around the yacht! We hopped in tenders to see them even closer. What a way together pumped for the trip.
Next day we got to experience our first day of diving nearby. The water was warmer than I expected and very clear. We saw clusters of white tip sharks resting here and there, along with the Pacific fauna we are not used to. Our trip included Drwin arch and Wolf Island, so we had two nights of 200 mile voyages. We were in the lower rooms, and the waves were large enough that we watched bioluminescent plankton " flow" by the windows. It was awe inspiring. The hammerheads at Wolf Island showed up like clockwork and we were there to witness. Divers were nestled in rocks as the sharks amassed beside us slowly against the current. Every now and then one would swim right over us, so we got good chances for photos. The dives were varied, ranging from sharks to corals of every color. Water visibility was good, and we wore 5mm wetsuits. The underwater landscape and creatures were more beautiful than I expected.
The Tiburon liveaboard was all one could ask for. A friendly, attentive crew, great food in beautiful surroundings, top notch dive tanks and dive deck. Spacious and modern rooms with comfy mattresses and linens. The captain stopped mid-trip coming back from the northern islands and bought fresh tuna from a fisherman, the chef used it to make sashimi and sushi for an "equator crossing party".
I has been a difficult year for Ecuador, yet our crew gave us their all in attention and detail.
PS: I must mention there nice little boutique we stayed in Puerto Arroyo, before the trip La Isla. I was convenient, lovely and very comfortable. It is family owned and new. The best ceviche I have ever eaten.
