Nortada Galápagos Diving Cruise
Diving at Darwin & Wolf
A Galápagos Cruise on board the Nortada
24 Reviews
100% CO2 carbon footprint offset
Single travellers can share cabin
Triple cabins
English guide
- Only 8 guests, the most exclusive dive boat
- Locally owned and operated
- More dives than any other cruise
- The best dive itineraries in Galápagos
Nortada is the perfect dive boat for those who want to make the most of their underwater time in Galápagos. With only 8 guests per trip, a diving cruise on Nortada will give you more time with the wonderful marine life of the archipelago. Her owner is also the operator - a local fisherman with intimate knowledge of the waters around the Galápagos and a deep understanding of what his guests are looking for in their diving cruise.
Accommodation With only four double cabins, Nortada is the most intimate diving experience in the Galápagos. All accommodation is on the lower deck, which minimizes the effects of the swell for a comfortable sleep as you motor between amazing dive sites.
Cabins are comfortable, with air conditioning, private heads and storage lockers. The public areas are bright and airy, and with only 8 guests sitting down to eat together there is a feeling of space and relaxation. There is a sundeck for relaxing and soaking up the equatorial rays.
Diving Of course, the diving is what this cruise is all about. Nortada is fully equipped to make sure you have an unforgettable time diving in the Galápagos. The scuba diving platform has ample benches, outside showers, camera tables and re-breather rinsing facilities. A complete toolkit and a selection of solid lead weights and trim soft pouches are available for all divers.
20 Nitrox compatible aluminum 80 cu ft / 12 liter cylinders are filled by one of the twin Nuvair LP/HP Compressors. Two Nuvair nitrox analyzers are available on board. For technical and re-breather diving, redundant oxygen clean Haskell Sport Boosters, one Tri Hunter 3000 Gas mixing stick for Trimix blending, several nitrox compatible 40 cu ft / 6 liter aluminum stage cylinders and several 19 cu ft / 2 liter steel re-breather cylinders with various valves and one Analytical Industries Trimix Analyzer are available upon request.
Our comments This is one of the best diving experiences you can have. The available itineraries will take you to the best dive sites in the world, and the team on board the Nortada are devoted to getting you underwater more often than other cruises that can be much more expensive. For divers, this is our pick of the lot.
Pictures and Deckplans of Nortada
Cabins categories on board the Nortada
The sailing routes of Nortada
Amenities on board the Nortada
All meals
Snorkel gear (free of charge)
100% CO2 carbon footprint offset
Air conditioning & private bathroom
Single travellers can share cabin
Water, Coffee, Tea & fresh juices
German guide possible
Triple cabins
Wetsuits
English guide
Sustainability on board the Nortada
At Galapatours we love and respect the pristine ecosystems and fascinating wildlife of the Galápagos Islands, and we insist that our cruise partners do too. To protect the archipelago all our cruise vessels must have sophisticated water filtration systems, modern efficient engines, and strict maintenance schedules to minimize pollution.
The Galápagos National Park authority also defines exact cruising routes that dictate which ships can visit highlights at specific times, as well as limiting passenger numbers. These measures ensure that animals and habitats are not disturbed by too many visitors.
But at Galapatours we like to go even further. We voluntarily offset all the CO2 emissions of every cruise we sell - at no cost to you. And you can also play your part by traveling responsibly and following our Eco Guidelines during your stay. Click here to find out more about these guidelines, our commitment to sustainable tourism, and the Galápagos National Park rules.
Technical details of Nortada
Category
First Class Ship
Type
Small Yacht
Length
25.9 m
Cruising speed
10 noeuds
Beam
5.48 m
Draft
1.52 m
Capacity
8
Food & Drinks on board the Nortada
The food on our Galapágos Cruises is among the very best you will find in South America. Most of the on-board chefs are internationally trained and have prior experience working in the best hotels and restaurants in Ecuador and indeed around the world.
You can expect a first-class selection of food, including a good variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, locally sourced poultry and fish/seafood, rice and pasta dishes. Most boats will always include some typical Ecuadorian dishes on the menu during your cruise. If you have specific dietary requirements then these can usually be accommodated by the chef providing you have given advance notice. Please make sure you tell us about any allergies or dietary requirements you have at the time you book with us. If you leave it until you arrive at the dockside, then it may well be impossible to accommodate your needs.
Most boats serve a range of options at meal times in a relaxed buffet-style. At the first class and luxury end of the market, some boats have more formal dining where you will be served at your seat. However the atmosphere is always relaxed on board our cruises, and never stuffy or formal.
Reviews of Nortada
Gerlinde H.
5/5
Phänomenale Tauchgänge! ich bin heute zurück von der Nortada und möchte Ihnen eine Rückmeldung geben. Die Reise war ein traumhaftes Erlebnis. Ich kann die Nortada nur empfehlen, gerade auch für Alleinreisende, da die Gruppe klein ist und man gut Anschluss findet. Zu erwähnen ist, dass andere Boote wohl etwas weniger schwanken auf hoher See (insb. nahe Darwin, wo es oft mehr Wellengang hat). Bei uns hatten 4 von 9 Gästen mit Seekrankheit zu kämpfen. Ab dem 4. Tag ca. hatten wir kein Frischwasser mehr, da ein Filter defekt war und nicht repariert werden konnte. Die Crew konnte organisieren, dass unser Wassertank von einem anderen Boot gefüllt wurde. Insgesamt war die Crew sehr angenehm, sehr hilfsbereit und sie hatten immer ein offenes Ohr. Der Koch hat auch Einschränkungen der Passagiere wie veganes Essen oder laktosefrei gut umgesetzt, indem am zweiten Reisetag noch Sojamilch und Tofu-Produkte beschafft wurde und er so z.B. vegane Pancakes gemacht hat. Es gab viel frischen Saft, was für eine Reise in dieser Region gut passt. Die Tauchguides Jimmy und Iphraim haben unsere Gruppe verantwortungsvoll geleitet und uns zur richtigen Zeit an die richtigen Stellen geführt. So konnten wir einen Walhai (untypisch für diese Saison), Mola Mola, etliche Hammerhaie, Galapagos-Haie, Seelöwen, Pinguine, riesige Manta-Rochen und vieles mehr sehen. Besonders positiv aufgefallen ist mir, dass die Guides auch während der Pausen gerne Fragen zur Unterwasserwelt oder den Galapagos-Inseln beantwortet haben. Sie waren nie müde mit uns zu tauchen und so kamen wir auf insgesamt 20 Tauchgänge. Für andere Passagiere wäre Nitrox wünschenswert gewesen, da die Tauchgänge nicht allzu tief sind und sich so Nitrox gut eignen würde, um Müdigkeit etc. zu reduzieren. Ggf. ist es möglich, Nitrox auf der Nortada verfügbar zu machen. An Bord kann nur bar bezahlt werden, was ein paar Passagiere überrascht hat, weil sie bei Padi-Travel die Information erhielten, dass Kreditkarten akzeptiert wurden. Ich war froh, dass Sie bereits die Leihgebühr für das Material berechnet hatten. Der Preis für die Woche ist hoch, aber es ist ein einmaliges Erlebnis für jeden, der gerne tauchen geht. Vielen Dank für die unkomplizierte Organisation und Klärung der Fragen mit der Gesellschaft. Mit besten Grüßen Gerlinde H.
annette D
5/5
One of my best all has been very great! Galápagos are still the best destination for diving in the world for me (third time here)! Recommended for: small group (8 guests on board ), very nice & comfortable liveaboard, huge hug to all the crew! Feedback from: https://goo.gl/4PrG8o
Jake
5/5
Couldn't have been better! Our trip couldn’t have been better. The crew was genuinely nice and the dive team was brilliant. Seems like they always knew which sites we were better on… we saw so many many marine life! That being said, we missed on THE big one… but everybody else was there from sea lions to turtles and of course, uncountable sharks, including Galapagos and hammerheads. Plus, we greatly enjoy our stay on the boat, as well as the land excursion! The Nortada is a smaller liveaboard and it was great to feel like an extended family sharing a passion leading to great moments. Loved it and would recommend 100%! That’s a once in a lifetime voyage! Feedback from: https://goo.gl/fX5NB9
Thomas W.
5/5
Recommendable! I can’t say enough about the Nortada! We didn’t experience any of the ill effects of El Nino that others have described. We were rather impressed with the amount of wildlife we saw, but then again, who wouldn’t be impressed with the Galapagos? Everything about the Nortada is pleasantly cozy. There aren’t a lot of other divers on board, and usually they are all quite experienced. The food is great and overall, everything is fairly social with the crew helping things along. I can’t wait to recommend the Nortada to all of my diving friends! Feedback from: https://goo.gl/s7Uo68
Kerry M.
5/5
Loved every minute What a fantastic trip! We spent 7 nights on the Nortada and loved every minute. The diving is out of this world. Admittedly, it is expensive, but it is a once in a lifetime kind of trip. We thought it was more than worth the money! The boat is in great condition and the staff were friendly and helpful throughout our stay. We can’t recommend this trip enough! Feedback from: https://goo.gl/s7Uo68
Damon W.
5/5
Wonderful week on board the Nortada Hi there! I just want to discuss the quality of the Nortada here. I was lucky to be one of only 6 guests on board so the crew outnumbered the guests quite significantly. Even though El Nino had reared its ugly head, we saw so much including countless mantas, schooling hammerheads, Galapagos sharks and various stingrays. We even saw a humpback whale in the water!! While diving in the Galapagos was magic, the dive masters really made the experience wonderful. The briefings were always detailed, and when divers were separated by the heavy current, the pangas were always available to come and get them. The food was great too, even for the vegetarians on board, and the crew was up for anything. They tried to fulfill every request. I had a wonderful week on board the Nortada! Feedback from: https://goo.gl/s7Uo68
