This guide covers everything to check, pack and pay before a Galápagos liveaboard on Galapagos Master, from entry rules to the last dive. The Master the Galápagos route is for experienced divers: the operator asks for Advanced Open Water or equivalent, nitrox certification, at least 50 logged dives and experience in currents. The water can drop to 15°C or lower, and you must bring your own gloves, hood and a 20-30 metre reel. Two local charges apply on the way in, the Transit Control Card and the National Park entrance fee, so bring US dollar cash.
At a glance
| Boat | Galapagos Master, a 32 metre steel liveaboard for 16 guests in 8 cabins |
|---|---|
| Route | Master the Galápagos, 7 nights (10-night trips are no longer offered, apart from departures already scheduled) |
| Embark and disembark | Puerto Baquerizo, San Cristóbal: board 14:00 to 14:30, off by 08:30 on the last morning |
| Level required | Advanced Open Water or equivalent, nitrox card, 50 logged dives, experience in currents |
| Dives | Up to 18 scheduled dives, up to 4 a day |
| Water temperature | About 24-28°C January to May, 18-23°C June to November, 22-26°C in December, with thermoclines down to 15°C or lower |
| Currency | US dollar |
| Time zone | GMT-6, no daylight saving |
| Plugs | Camera station charging points use US-type plugs (per the operator) |
| Best months | June to November for whale shark season and peak hammerheads; January to May for warmer water, the best visibility and mantas |
Certification, logged dives and documents to bring
The operator’s wording for this route is clear, and it applies to all our Galápagos liveaboards. The mandatory requirements are a minimum of 50 logged dives, PADI Advanced Open Water or equivalent, nitrox certification and experience in currents. The operator also says diving at Wolf and Darwin involves strong currents and surge, and good buoyancy is essential. It adds that conditions are often challenging, even for experienced divers.
Treat these as entry requirements, not suggestions. If you are short on dives or do not yet hold a nitrox card, talk to us before you book so we can look at the options with you.
Paperwork to pack
- Your certification card (physical or app) showing Advanced Open Water or equivalent
- Your nitrox card
- Your logbook, paper or digital, showing at least 50 dives
- Evidence of current diving, if you have it, such as recent drift or current dives in your log
Getting there from the UK
Galápagos trips start with an international flight to mainland Ecuador, then a domestic flight from Quito or Guayaquil to the islands. Galapagos Master starts and ends in San Cristóbal, and a return transfer between San Cristóbal airport and the boat is included on embarkation and disembarkation days. The included transfer is from San Cristóbal airport, so book a domestic flight that lands at San Cristóbal unless we have agreed another plan with you.
Boarding is between 14:00 and 14:30 on day one, followed by introductions, boat and safety briefings and lunch. A shallow check dive is usually scheduled that afternoon. Because the domestic flight has to land in time for a 14:00 boarding, we suggest you plan to reach mainland Ecuador at least the day before. Long-haul delays happen, and a spare night protects the trip.
On the last morning you have breakfast on board and leave the boat by 08:30. Depending on your flight time, you may have a few hours to fill before the transfer to San Cristóbal airport, and the Interpretation Centre is a 10-minute walk from the pier.
Entry, visas and travel advice
This section is based on the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advice as read on 3 November 2026. Rules change, so check the latest FCDO advice for Ecuador before you travel.
- British passport holders can visit Ecuador without a visa for up to 90 days in any 12-month period.
- Your passport must have an expiry date at least 6 months after the date you arrive.
- Tourists can stay in the Galápagos for up to 60 days.
- For the Galápagos you need evidence of a hotel booking or invitation letter, evidence of a return flight to the mainland, and travel health insurance, which is mandatory for foreign tourists.
- You must buy a transit control card at your departure airport before checking in for your Galápagos flight, and keep a copy.
There are two local charges you pay yourself. The Galápagos National Park entrance fee is US$200 for international visitors over 12, according to both the operator and the Galápagos Government Council (checked 3 November 2026; confirm before travel). The operator says it is paid in cash when you land in the islands. The INGALA Transit Control Card must be bought before you check in for your Galápagos flight. The operator says it is paid in cash at Quito or Guayaquil airport, while the FCDO links to an online purchase portal, so we confirm the current process and amount with you before you travel. Ecuadorian departure taxes are also extra if they are not already in your flight ticket.
In its update of 1 November 2026, the FCDO reports that heavy rain has caused flooding on Santa Cruz Island, and that the Galápagos government declared an emergency on 31 October 2026. It reports road closures, power outages and disruption to travel to Baltra Airport, and advises travellers to avoid flooded areas and confirm travel arrangements with airlines or tour operators. Check the latest FCDO advice before you travel, and talk to us if you have questions about your trip.
Health and insurance
We do not give medical advice. Here is what to check, and who to ask.
- Vaccinations and travel health: see your GP or a travel clinic, and read NHS Fit for Travel for Ecuador.
- Fitness to dive: speak to a doctor, ideally one with diving medicine experience, well before you travel.
- Seasickness: this route has long open-ocean crossings. If you are prone to motion sickness, ask a doctor or pharmacist what is right for you before you go.
Insurance matters here. The FCDO says travel health insurance is mandatory for foreign tourists in the Galápagos. Divers Alert Network (DAN) notes that very few travel protection plans cover scuba diving incidents, that most policies offering dive cover exclude dives deeper than 30 metres, and that chamber treatment is not typically covered by medical or travel insurance.
Before you buy or renew a policy, check:
- that scuba diving is covered at all, and to what depth
- that hyperbaric (recompression) chamber treatment is covered
- that medical evacuation from a remote island, by sea or air, is covered
- any conditions, such as diving with a guide or holding a certain certification
- that it meets the Galápagos travel health insurance requirement
We do not recommend specific policies. Read the statement of benefits carefully and ask the insurer if anything is unclear.
Money on board
Ecuador uses the US dollar. The FCDO notes that cards are generally accepted in cities but not elsewhere in the country. The operator says the park entrance fee and the transit control card are paid in cash, so bring US dollar cash for both unless we confirm another way to pay.
What is included and what is not, per the operator:
- Included: return transfer between San Cristóbal airport and the boat, full board, tea, coffee, fruit juice and soft drinks, up to 4 dives a day, a single cylinder with air fills, weights, weight belt and SMB, and land excursions.
- Not included: flights, fuel surcharge, equipment rental, nitrox, alcoholic drinks, crew and dive guide gratuities and merchandise.
- Extras on the boat’s price list include a Wi-Fi data package and sparkling wine.
The operator lists a fuel surcharge as not included on this route. We confirm whether it applies to your departure, and the current amount, before you travel. Crew and dive guide gratuities are not included. We will share the operator’s current guidance on tipping and how to pay on board before you go.
One fee worth knowing: the operator currently charges 450 USD if you lose a Nautilus Lifeline (checked 3 November 2026; confirm before travel). Diet sodas are not available in the Galápagos, as they are not produced in recyclable bottles.
What to pack
Dive kit
The operator says water can drop to 15°C or lower and recommends a 5mm or 7mm wetsuit with extra thermal layers underneath. Gloves, a hood or hooded vest and a 20-30 metre reel are not available to rent on Galapagos Master, so you must bring them.
- 5mm or 7mm wetsuit, sized for extra layers
- Thermal layers: a skin-suit, neoprene vest or long-sleeve neoprene top, and neoprene shorts or long-johns
- Gloves (advised for warmth and for holding on to rocks in current)
- Hood or hooded vest
- 20-30 metre reel or spool for DSMB deployment
- Your own dive computer (the rental set does not include one)
- Mask, fins and booties if you prefer your own
Rental and nitrox
A full rental set covers BCD, regulators, wetsuit, mask, booties and fins, but not a computer. Rental is an extra cost, as is nitrox. The standard cylinder is an 80 cu ft aluminium cylinder with air fills. SMBs with a 5-metre line and Nautilus Lifelines are available to use free of charge. Tell us early if you want rental, so we can pass on your sizes.
Clothes and personal items
- Light layers for the day and something warm and windproof for evenings and crossings
- Sun hat, sunglasses and sun cream
- Walking shoes or sandals with grip for the land visits
- A reusable water bottle
- Any personal medication, in your hand luggage
- US dollar cash in small notes
Camera kit and charging
There is an indoor camera set-up station with multiple charging points, and the operator lists US round pin plugs. Bring a suitable adaptor and a multi-socket extension for batteries. Extra storage drawers at the back of the boat are there for photographers’ kit.
Documents
- Passport valid for at least 6 months after arrival
- Certification card, nitrox card and logbook
- Insurance documents, including your diving cover
- Return flight details to the mainland
- Your booking confirmation and our pre-departure notes
- US dollar cash for the transit control card and park entrance fee
A day on board Galapagos Master
Galapagos Master is known locally as Deep Blue. She was fully refitted inside in 2015 and most recently refurbished in early 2025. A crew of 12 looks after 16 guests.
A typical day
The operator’s typical diving day runs: full breakfast and dive briefings, the first dives, then lunch, relaxation and more briefings before the afternoon dives, with up to 4 dives a day. On days 2 and 7, dives 3 and 4 are replaced by an island visit.
- Day 1: board from 14:00, briefings, lunch and usually a shallow check dive in a sheltered bay near San Cristóbal, to a maximum of 9 metres.
- Day 2: two dives, then a guided land tour of North Seymour (non-diving activity), and overnight cruising to Wolf and Darwin.
- Days 3 to 6: diving at sites on the route such as Wolf, Darwin, Roca Redonda, Punta Vicente Roca (Isabela) and Cape Douglas (Fernandina).
- Day 7: two dives, then a land tour of the Santa Cruz Highlands and Puerto Ayora town (non-diving activity).
- Day 8: breakfast and off the boat by 08:30.
The order of sites is set by the Galápagos National Park authorities and may vary from week to week, and the itinerary is at the Captain’s discretion.
Cruising time
This route involves long periods of cruising, especially to and from Wolf and Darwin, and the longer crossings are overnight. As a guide from the operator: San Cristóbal to Baltra or Santa Cruz takes 6-7 hours, Baltra or Santa Cruz to Darwin 18-20 hours, Wolf to Fernandina 15 hours, and Fernandina to Punta Vicente Roca about 2.5 hours.
Cabins
All eight cabins are air-conditioned with a private en-suite bathroom and hot water. Classic Twin and Classic Twin/Double cabins are on the lower deck and no longer have windows or portholes. Premium Twin/Double cabins are on the upper deck, with views and ample storage.
Spaces to relax
There is an indoor lounge with a screen for films and photos, an indoor dining area with a bar, a shaded upper deck with cushioned loungers and a top sun deck.
Wi-Fi and safety
Wi-Fi is sold as a data package for the trip. Safety kit on board includes GPS, VHF radios, satellite communication, two life rafts, emergency oxygen and an AED. The boat holds an official licence to run diving in the Galápagos from the Ecuadorian government and the National Institute of the Galapagos.
Diving conditions to prepare for
The Galápagos sit where three main ocean currents meet. The operator says these currents bring nutrients and the marine life the islands are known for, and strong currents are a feature of the diving. At Wolf Island most reefs and walls have medium to strong currents, and gloves are advised. At Darwin, medium to strong currents are expected, and Darwin’s Arch is a drift along the wall at an average depth of about 9 metres. Roca Redonda has typically strong, changeable currents and some down currents. Punta Vicente Roca is known as The Ice Box because of its cold thermoclines.
| Months | Water (operator average) | Season notes |
|---|---|---|
| January to May | 24-28°C | Warm season, best visibility, season for manta rays |
| June to November | 18-23°C | Whale shark season, hammerhead peaks |
| December | 22-26°C | Transition, good all-round diving |
Thermoclines can bring much colder water at any time of year, so pack for the cold end whatever month you go.
What is often seen at the sites
- Darwin and Wolf: schooling hammerheads, Galápagos sharks, silky sharks, eagle rays and, in season, whale sharks.
- Cabo Marshall: manta, mobula and cownose rays are often seen in the warm season, with hammerheads and schooling barracuda and salema.
- Punta Vicente Roca and Cape Douglas: a chance of mola mola, plus marine iguanas, sea lions, fur seals and Galápagos penguins.
- Cousin’s Rock: seahorses, frogfish and nudibranchs on a wall that rises to 3 metres, with rays and hammerheads also seen.
Sightings are never guaranteed. Wildlife moves with the water, and every week is different.
Responsible diving
The Galápagos are an Ecuadorian province and National Park, and a UNESCO World Heritage site and Biosphere Reserve. In 2026, Ecuador’s authorities set new general visit rules and codes of conduct for the Galápagos National Park and Marine Reserve. They include:
- Visits to protected areas must be made with an accredited Galápagos naturalist guide.
- Visitors must keep a minimum distance from wildlife.
- Filming with drones and similar equipment needs prior authorisation.
Land visits are not permitted at Wolf or Darwin. The operator says good buoyancy is essential, and gloves are advised at sites with current.
Your pre-trip checklist
4 weeks before
- Check your passport has at least 6 months left after arrival
- Confirm your insurance covers diving depth, chamber treatment and evacuation
- Book a GP or travel clinic appointment and check NHS Fit for Travel
- Check your logbook shows 50 or more dives and find your nitrox card
- Buy or borrow gloves, a hood or hooded vest, a 20-30 metre reel and thermal layers
- Send us your rental sizes if needed
1 week before
- Check the latest FCDO advice for Ecuador
- Get US dollar cash for the transit control card and park entrance fee
- Service your regulators and check your computer battery
- Confirm your domestic flight lands at San Cristóbal
Day before
- Be on mainland Ecuador
- Pack documents, cash and medication in your hand luggage
- Arrive early at the airport to buy the transit control card before check-in
On board
- Join the briefings and do the check dive
- Set up your camera and charging on the camera station
- Keep your Nautilus Lifeline and DSMB on every dive
- Layer up for the cold sites
Galápagos liveaboard pre-trip questions
When is the best time to dive the Galápagos?
It depends what you want. The operator lists June to November as whale shark season and the peak for hammerheads, with cooler water. January to May is the warm season with the best visibility and mantas. Sightings are never guaranteed.
Do I need a 7mm wetsuit?
The operator recommends a 5mm or 7mm wetsuit with extra thermal layers, because water can drop to 15°C or lower.
Do I need Advanced Open Water for the Galápagos?
Yes. The operator requires Advanced Open Water or equivalent, nitrox certification, at least 50 logged dives and experience in currents.
How much time is spent cruising?
Quite a lot. The longest legs, such as Baltra or Santa Cruz to Darwin at 18-20 hours, are mostly overnight. Shorter hops are 2.5 to 7 hours.
What fees do I pay locally?
The National Park entrance fee, US$200 for international visitors over 12 (checked 3 November 2026; confirm before travel), which the operator says is paid in cash on arrival, and the INGALA Transit Control Card, bought before you check in for your Galápagos flight. Departure tax may also apply if it is not in your ticket. We confirm the current amounts and how to pay before you travel.
Can I rent gloves, a hood or a reel?
No. These are not available to rent on Galapagos Master, so bring your own.
Are there land visits?
Yes, two non-diving activities: a guided walk on North Seymour on day 2 and the Santa Cruz Highlands and Puerto Ayora on day 7. Land visits are not allowed at Wolf or Darwin.
What about seasickness?
The crossings are long and in open ocean. We cannot give medical advice, so ask a doctor or pharmacist before you travel.
Book your Galápagos liveaboard
The Galápagos ask a lot of divers: cold water, strong current and long crossings. Arrive prepared and they give a lot back. Browse our Galápagos liveaboards, or Galápagos liveaboard departures for Galapagos Master. For seasons elsewhere, see our compare dive destinations month by month.
Planning more than one trip? Read the Maldives pre-trip guide.
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