The overall the experience was fantastic and the marine life was like no other I have previously experienced. Tons of Hammerhead sharks, Silky sharks, Galapagos sharks, Marine Iguanas, etc., etc. The area has more wildlife than can be expressed in this review and it is by far the healthiest ecosystem I have ever had the privilege of diving. The Darwin dive site by itself is worth the price of admission. Unfortunately, Whale sharks were out of season and we did not see the Mola mola or Giant Manta, but that didn’t take away anything from the experience. Diving in the Galapagos Islands is truly amazing and impossible to express in a review.
I would caution that some of the dives can be quite cold and the current is very strong at times with relatively low visibility, so new divers or even semi-experienced divers should do their research before booking. There is an expected level of ability that the dive masters will expect you to have both on deck and in the water and it can be very frustrating for the entire group if one person’s inexperience holds up the group. That said, the dive masters do their best to make sure everyone gets the best of what the Galapagos has to offer.
The Galapagos Sky and crew were great. The ship and state rooms were comfortable and clean and the staff was always courteous and professional. The ship was well maintained and the sun decks were great for lounging between dives or having drinks at night. They crew bent over backward to make sure we had everything we wanted and were comfortable at all times, including hot towels and fresh baked snacks immediately after every dive. Despite diving 3 – 4 times a day, I think I actually gained weight on the trip.
The biggest downside is that the trip is expensive. Once you get past the sticker shock, the rest of the trip quickly falls into the “once-in-a-lifetime” category. I would definitely recommend this trip and the Galapagos Sky to anyone.