Wales Tourism and Visit Planning

Cruising Galapagos aboard Trimarine's Lammer Law

Author: Bill Harrigan
The Galapagos Islands are on every diver's lifetime list of dive destinations. Nowhere else will you find so many exotic creatures in one place: red-lipped batfish, marine iguanas, hammerhead sharks, whale sharks, dolphins, sea lions, cow rays, jeweled morays, frogfish. The old yarn about every dive being an adventure is really true in these islands.

Live-aboards are not just the preferred way to see the Galapagos, they are the only way to go. And Trimarine's luxurious Lammer Law is right at the top of the list. This 93-foot steel trimaran accommodates 16 divers in eight double cabins, each with en suite bath and air conditioning. Lammer Law also carries seven crew members and two naturalist dive guides.

Seven- and nine-night itineraries are available. Some trips go as far north as Wolf and Darwin islands; other stay within the main island chain to the south. Three dives are planned on most days, along with one shore excursion. Nitrox is offered aboard and a recompression chamber is available in the Galapagos. All diving is from two custom-designed rigid hull inflatables, which conveniently dock between the hulls for loading and unloading.

Who knows what you'll encounter when you dive in the Galapagos? On a single dive you could see Galapagos sea lions, hammerheads, green turtles, fine-spotted morays, longnose hawkfish, spotted eagle rays and a couple thousand barracuda. Viz varies from site to site, and temps have similar variability, so layers are the best bet, from Polartecs® to 7 mm suits with hoods and gloves.

The land excursions are as fascinating as the diving, so plan on going ashore at every opportunity. You'll see lots more animals, and scenery as if on another planet. Bring twice as much film as you think you'll need.

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