Solaris Galápagos Cruise

Galaxy Diver III

For experienced divers, Galaxy Diver III offers an honestly intensive way to explore the Galapagos Marine Reserve. On the current eight-day program, the schedule calls for 19 dives, subject to sea and operating conditions, including 12 around Darwin and Wolf and some days with four dives. For many divers, that concentration can feel like a once-in-a-lifetime trip. It is also demanding: cold water, strong currents and repeated dives mean guests may end the day genuinely tired. That is where the ship earns its place as a recovery and debrief setting. The purpose-built dive deck has gear and camera stations, separate rinse areas and freshwater showers to keep a busy schedule moving. After the final dive, the lounge, coffee station, outdoor deck and sundeck give you space to compare sightings and watch the sunset. You can also order a cocktail from the onboard bar, but bar drinks are charged separately and are not included. We have known and worked with the team behind Galaxy Diver III for many years. In our experience, they stand out for reliability, excellent service and an outstanding commitment to safety. On board, that commitment is supported by two guides for up to 16 divers, PADI protocols and drills, VHF and GMDSS communications, GPS, EPIRB, a defibrillator, oxygen and first-aid equipment, two tenders, SMBs, Nautilus Lifelines and dive alerts. Those details matter when diving far from the central islands. The eight guest cabins are spread across the lower, main and upper decks. All have air conditioning and a private bathroom with a hot shower; depending on the cabin, beds are fixed twin, fixed matrimonial or convertible twin/matrimonial. They provide a practical place to recover before the next dive day, and Starlink Wi-Fi is available on board. This is not an entry-level or mixed-interest Galapagos cruise. Minimum Open Water Diver license or equivalent, plus a total of at least 50 logged dives. Choose it if you meet that bar and want the diving to set the rhythm of the week; consider another Galapagos program if you want a relaxed pace or are traveling with a non-diving companion.

Tiburon Explorer

Tiburon Explorer heralds a new era in luxury Galápagos diving liveaboards. Designed and built purely for Galápagos cruising, Tiburon brings you the perfect balance between wonderful diving experiences and superb accommodation. Welcoming a maximum of only 16 guests, Tiburon Explorer offers you a truly intimate Galápagos diving adventure. Superb comfort: As you'd expect from a modern ship, Tiburon Explorer is a world away from older, often converted vessels that offer cramped accommodation with portholes and bunks. Here you'll enjoy beautiful staterooms with twin beds that convert to a single queen size bed, climate control, and en suite bathrooms. Wonderful picture windows let the light and stunning views come flooding in, while chic and modern decor with recessed accent lighting gives your room a real boutique hotel feel. If you'd like even more space, why not book one of three suites on board? Featuring a private lounge area and extra space, these offer you a level of comfort you simply can't find on other Galápagos diving liveaboards. Designed for diving: Tiburon Explorer features a state-of-the-art dive deck with everything you need to make the start and finish of your dives hassle free. With only 16 passengers on board at any one time there's plenty of space to get ready. A recessed stairway leads to the waterline for easy zodiac embarkation. The large camera table with charging points, separate rinsing stations for gear and cameras, personal storage lockers and a dedicated bathroom are all testament to the thought that went into her design. But as well as being a superb Galápagos diving platform, M/V Tiburon Explorer is also a luxurious home from home. Her saloon features comfortable sofas and side tables in a sociable layout. Dining is equally sociable, with a large table accommodating all guests and your dive guides. This bonds everyone over the day's dive adventures as well as making it easy to quiz your expert guides about everything you have seen. When it comes to relaxing between dives there aren't many places better than the Tiburon Explorer's sun deck. This amazing space has loungers for sun-worshippers, shaded sofas for cooler relaxing, a fantastic alfresco bar, and even a whirlpool jacuzzi. This is the perfect place to watch the equatorial stars appear as the sun sets over the horizon. Our comments: This is a fabulous luxury dive vessel. Calling it a liveaboard doesn't really do it justice compared to others. If you are after a Galápagos diving experience that marries remarkable dive sites with luxurious accommodation then this is the vessel to book. Her dive guides are among the most experienced in Galápagos, and you will dive at the iconic Wolf and Darwin sites. This package really has it all!.

Tip Top IV

Tip Top IV is a friendly small yacht for travellers who want to spend their days close to the islands: snorkelling, wildlife encounters and active island excursions, then returning to a relaxed small-ship atmosphere. With only 16 guests in 10 cabins, she has the scale and unhurried rhythm of a proper small Galápagos yacht. The practical setup is comfortable: a bright lounge, open deck space, private bathrooms and air-conditioned cabins that can be made up as twins or a king-size bed. What makes her stand out for us is the itinerary range. Depending on your departure, Tip Top IV can take you north-west to Genovesa’s seabird colonies, snorkelling at Punta Vicente Roca and Fernandina’s young lava fields, where marine iguanas and flightless cormorants gather along the shore. The central and south-eastern route brings a different Galápagos: Española’s wildlife-rich Punta Suárez and Gardner Bay, Kicker Rock, Bartolomé, Rábida and South Plaza. These are not interchangeable routes; they show different sides of the archipelago. You can travel a shorter 4- or 5-night segment, choose one of the longer circuits, or combine the two main 8-day itineraries into a fuller 15-day loop. That flexibility is a real strength for travellers who want to match the cruise to their time and interests, rather than simply accept the next available sailing. On board, the focus stays on the expedition itself. A bilingual naturalist guide leads the landings and water activities, while snorkelling gear and sea kayaks make it easy to spend more time at water level. We like Tip Top IV for couples, friends and families looking for a classic small-yacht atmosphere, varied route choices and active days in the islands—not for travellers seeking a contemporary luxury design or oversized cabins.

Master

Galápagos Master prides itself as being one of the most eco-friendly Galápagos diving boats in the fleet. This sturdy, all-steel vessel is the perfect choice for getting you to some of the world’s best diving sites at the remote Wolf and Darwin islands. With only 16 guests maximum per trip and a crew of 12, she offers one of the best guest-to-crew ratios of any live aboard dive boat in the Galápagos, and her equipment is first class. Comfortable cabins Master has nine modern and well-appointed cabins, including four twins on the lower deck, and four on the upper deck. There is an additional single cabin which is available for solo travelers. Lower deck cabins may be preferable for those who suffer from motion sickness, as the ship’s movement will be less apparent in the swells that sometimes occur as you cruise the waters around the Galápagos. Lower deck cabins feature traditional portholes, while upper deck cabins have larger windows. All have en suite bathrooms with shower, and rooms are air-conditioned for your comfort. A social experience Galápagos Master’s communal areas are the heart of the ship. The main deck houses the spacious indoor lounge. Comfortable social seating makes this a great place to relax and swap stories about the day’s adventures and your Galápagos diving experience. You’ll also receive your safety and naturalist briefings here. There’s a large flat screen TV with HDMI inputs, which is perfect for watching your diving movies or taking a look at your photos. Also, on the main deck is the dining area and cocktail bar. Your chef Angel produces a great range of mouthwatering dishes, including his specialty ceviche, which is truly delicious, and can be enjoyed with a range of alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks from the bar. Another great touch is the dedicated “camera station” where you can charge and store cameras - there are several North American power sockets available here, ensuring you’ll always be ready to capture the marine life that thrives in the Galápagos. For sun worshipers, the upper deck open-air lounge is perfect. Comfortable seating and loungers are available to help you soak up the equatorial sun. If you prefer a little more privacy, Galápagos Master’s bow area offers a quieter place to relax, with room for four sun loungers. The boat is very informal and relaxed, and you’re always welcome to use any of the gangways to move around the boat, and the captain is always happy to receive visitors on the bridge. High quality dive experience The dive deck on Master is very well-equipped, with everything you need for a first class Galápagos diving experience. Everyone is allocated their own equipment set up area, with storage for personal items. Generously sized rinse tanks are centrally located for washing down your dive equipment and camera gear, and there are 2 shower heads if you want a quick post-dive rinse. When you return from a dive, you’ll find a large dry towel waiting for you at your dive station, as well as a welcoming selection of warm drinks and snacks. **Stunning diving itineraries** With a choice of seven night and ten night itineraries, a Galápagos Master diving cruise offers something for everyone. Most days include four dives: two in the morning and two in the afternoon, but on some days you will have a shore excursion in the afternoon to allow you to see even more of the stunning Galápagos Islands and some of the land-based animals. This means that even on a seven night trip, you will enjoy 18-20 dives. However, the ten night trip means an amazing 28 dives are possible - if you can, this would be our recommendation for the ultimate Galápagos diving adventure of a lifetime. Galápagos Master offers you a wide range of dive equipment for rent at a reasonable daily rate, including full sets (excluding torch and dive computer) from $45 per day. Nitrox is available. **Our comments** Galápagos Master is a great option for seasoned divers who want to experience some of the best and most wildlife-rich diving in the world - including the world-famous Galápagos dive sites of Wolf and Darwin. Captain Javier and his dive team are highly experienced and very welcoming, and we particularly like the additional thoughtful touches that Master’s operators have put in place, such as the dedicated camera charging station and the individual preparation stations. This is a very social boat, and her large and comfortable communal areas attest to this. The salon is a great place to spend the evening checking out everyone’s photos and videos on the big screen - pictures from Galápagos you’ll treasure forever!