Danubio Azul Liveaboard, Galapagos Islands

Diving onboard Danubio Azul

Danubio Azul was designed specifically for scuba diving, with a shaded preparation area, dedicated dive deck and two motorised pangas used to reach the sites. This allows guests to enter the water close to the site while the liveaboard remains safely positioned offshore. Air fills are provided from two compressors, with nitrox available at an additional cost, and the vessel also carries larger tanks and full rental equipment. Two guides are available onboard, with guest group sizes kep to 8 as a maximum , while emergency oxygen, first-aid equipment and marine communication systems are carried onboard.

The itinerary starts with Carrion Point and Cape Marshall before heading north to the celebrated sites of Darwin and Wolf. Multiple dives around El Arenal, Darwin’s Arch, Punta Shark Bay and El Derrumbe offer the possibility of schooling hammerheads, Galapagos sharks, silky sharks, rays and turtles, plus whale sharks during the season. The journey then continues through the colder western waters around Vicente Roca Point and Cape Douglas, where marine iguanas, penguins and mola mola bring an entirely different character to the diving, before finishing among the busy reefs and cleaning stations of the central islands.

Due to park regulations, the liveaboard cannot mix snorkeling and diving activities in a single itinerary, so while non-divers are welcome onboard, they will not be able to snorkel or follow the dive boats.

Diving in the Galapagos Islands

The Galapagos Islands are located at the meeting point of several major ocean currents, creating nutrient-rich waters that support an extraordinary mixture of tropical, temperate and endemic marine life. Few destinations offer such variety within a single itinerary - divers may find themselves surrounded by schooling hammerheads one day and watching marine iguanas graze underwater the next.

Darwin and Wolf are the archipelago’s best-known liveaboard destinations, attracting divers with exposed reefs, strong currents and the possibility of remarkable encounters with hammerheads. Further west, Isabela and Fernandina are shaped by cooler upwellings and volcanic scenery, while the central islands add pinnacles, walls, reef fish, sea lions and smaller subjects.

ZuBlu’s dive travel experts will help you book the ideal trip onboard Danubio Azul Liveaboard, including your preferred cabin type, itinerary, diving, equipment rental, transfers and any special requests. Share your travel dates, group size, diving experience and budget, and we’ll recommend the best options for your trip.

We’ll also help with practical travel planning, including flight routes, arrival timings, embarkation details and transfers, making sure your itinerary works as smoothly as possible from start to finish.

Once you’ve finalised your plans, your travel expert will put a complimentary hold on your preferred cabin and send a final quote that includes accommodation, meals, diving, transfers, rental equipment, port fees or other extras. This quote will also show any costs paid in advance or onboard - there are no hidden fees - as well as a payment schedule and cancellation terms and conditions.

Your booking is confirmed once the required deposit, or full payment when necessary, has been received.

After confirmation, your dedicated guest concierge will take over and assist with flight routes, transfers, any personal information required by the liveaboard, and questions about your reservation. They are there to make the entire process as straightforward as possible.

Ready to start planning your trip? Talk to a travel expert now.

Looking for more information about liveaboards in the Galapagos Islands? Read more in our guide here.

Getting there

Danubio Azul’s diving trips operate from Tuesday to Tuesday, beginning and ending at Baltra Island. International travellers fly into Quito or Guayaquil on mainland Ecuador before taking a domestic flight to Seymour Galapagos Ecological Airport (GPS).

On arrival in Baltra, guests are met at the airport for the transfer to the liveaboard. The bus ticket is not included in the published package, and flights between mainland Ecuador and the Galapagos must also be purchased separately.

The cruise ends with an early visit to North Seymour, followed by breakfast and disembarkation at approximately 09:00. An overnight stay in Quito or Guayaquil before flying to the Galapagos is recommended, although on departure guests can normal catch onward international flights out of Ecuador.

Other activities

The itinerary includes a visit to the Fausto Llerena Breeding Centre on Santa Cruz, where guests can learn more about the archipelago’s giant tortoises and conservation work.

An early-morning landing on North Seymour also offers the chance to walk among frigatebirds, blue-footed boobies and other unique Galapagos wildlife before returning to Baltra. Kayaks are carried onboard and can be used in suitable locations, while sheltered sites such as Carrion Point and Vicente Roca Point can also offer opportunities for snorkelling.

Good to know

• WiFi - Complimentary Starlink WiFi is included on the published diving itinerary.
• Mobile coverage - Reception is limited and often unavailable around the remote islands.
• Electricity - The vessel operates on 110V, 60Hz power.
• Plug type - US-standard 2-prong flat plugs
• Payments on the liveaboard - Confirm whether onboard extras can be settled by card or require cash.
• Currency - Ecuador uses the US dollar.
• Time zone - Galapagos Time, UTC−6.
• Departure schedule - Standard eight-day itineraries run from Tuesday to Tuesday.
• Nitrox - Available for an additional charge to suitably certified divers.
• Rental equipment - Full equipment reserved can be reserved in advance for an additional charge.
• Tanks - Standard 12-litre air tanks are included, with larger tanks available at extra cost.
• National park fee - The Galapagos National Park entrance fee is paid separately.
• Transit control card - The Galapagos transit or migration card is also an additional cost.
• Insurance - Suitable travel and diving insurance should be arranged before departure.
• Experience level - These itineraries are best suited to divers comfortable with currents, cooler water and rough surface conditions.