The Galápagos Islands - Adventure Guide to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands - page 419

Diving is available on some organized cruises (bring your own equip-
ment). A few tour companies specialize in diving, but they tend to be
more expensive. Package dive cruises offer the benefit of visiting the
islands on land, with up to three dives per day in addition. Some mid-
range tours offer occasional diving, meaning you can pay extra - usu-
ally $75 - for a dive on any given day. Inquire ahead of time. The other
option is day-trip diving out of Puerto Ayora and, to a lesser extent,
Puerto Baquerizo Moreno on San Cristóbal Island. Obviously, dis-
tances traveled and, therefore, options available tend to be less with
day-tripping, but equipment may be supplied. There are plenty of
wonderful diving opportunities within a short distance of Santa Cruz
and the central islands.

Dive Operators

Galápagos Sub-Aqua , on Av. Charles Darwin near Peli-
can Bay on Santa Cruz Island, /fax [phone], offers full

diving services, including a week-long certification course
that costs under $800. Daily dives with Sub-Aqua cost $75
for certified divers, $115 for non-certified divers. They also
offer week-long hotel-based dive trips. In Quito, their office
is on Amazonas and Pinto 439, Office 101, 2-2565-294,

[e-mail], www.Galápagos_sub_aqua.com.
ec.
Also on Santa Cruz Island is Scuba Iguana , at Hotel
Galápagos, 5-526-497, [e-mail], www.

scubaiguana.com. The owners are recommended as being
very knowledgeable about the best marine sites to visit.
They also offer a full range of services, including day-long
snorkeling excursions from Santa Cruz and equipment
rental.
On San Cristóbal, try Chalo Tours , Malecón Charles Dar-
win and Villamil, 5-520-953, for boat tours, diving and

snorkeling excursions and gear. They also offer island tours
inland, as well as renting bicycles and surfboards. On
Isabella Island in Puerto Villamil, try Isabella Tours ,
along the main plaza,

5-529-207, for tours and informa-
tion, or La Casa de Marita ( 5-529-238, hcmarita@ga.

pro.ec).