Galaxy Diver II, Galapagos

The Ritz Carlton of Liveaboard Dive Boats!

One of the top liveaboards I have been on. The boat was sparkling clean and very modern looking. The cabins were spacious, bed very comfortable and the bathrooms were spacious and modern. The crew was fun and friendly. The bar had some nice wines for purchase and made delicious cocktails. The food was amazing. Equadorian cuisine presented and plated beautifully....gourmet dining! The dives were well organized and the crew worked hard to make sure divers got in and out of the pangas safely. Hughly recommend the Galaxy II!

Recommended for

The food was delicious and beautifully presented.. The boat was spacious and sparkling clean!. The crew was friendly and helpful..

28 May, 2026

Galaxy Diver II — A Trip of a Lifetime in the Galápagos

There are trips you take, and then there are trips that change you. Our week aboard Galaxy Diver II (3rd–10th June 2025) falls firmly, irrevocably, into the second category. My wife and I have dived in many corners of the world, but nothing — nothing — prepared us for what we experienced in the Galápagos, and nothing could have made it as extraordinary as the vessel, the crew, and the sheer human warmth we encountered at every turn aboard this remarkable boat. Let me try to do it justice. Galaxy Diver II is a serious liveaboard built for serious divers, and from the moment you step aboard you feel that intention in every detail. The vessel is well-maintained, thoughtfully laid out, and manages that rare balance of being both functional and genuinely comfortable. The dive deck is spacious and organised — gear is stowed sensibly, camera tables are positioned where you actually need them, and the flow from kitting up to giant-stride entry is smooth and logical. After multiple dives a day, you come to deeply appreciate a well-designed dive deck. This one earns its keep. The cabins are snug without feeling cramped, the beds are genuinely comfortable (a non-trivial achievement on a liveaboard), and the air conditioning works — again, not something to be taken for granted at sea. The common areas — the salon, the sun deck, the outdoor seating — give you space to spread out, decompress (metaphorically, after the decompression you've already done), compare notes on what you saw, and simply stare out at one of the most extraordinary ocean landscapes on the planet. Meals were sensational throughout: fresh, varied, generously portioned, and served with care. When you're burning energy across four dives a day in tricky currents, good food matters more than you might expect — and Galaxy Diver II delivered on every occasion. If a liveaboard runs like clockwork, there is always someone behind the clock. For us, that person was Tao, our Trip Director, and we cannot speak highly enough of him. Tao's communication was exceptional from start to finish — clear, timely, and always delivered with a warmth that made you feel informed rather than managed. Whether it was briefing us on the day's dive sites, navigating the inevitable uncertainties of Galápagos conditions, or simply keeping everyone on the same page about timings and logistics, he handled it all with an effortless confidence that instilled complete trust. You knew, with Tao at the helm of the operation, that everything was in hand. But what elevated Tao beyond mere competence was his genuine passion — for the islands, for the marine life, for the whole extraordinary privilege of being in this place. That passion is contagious. It sets the tone for the entire trip. He was personable and approachable, and when things were challenging — and the conditions this week were, at times, genuinely challenging — his calm, supportive presence made all the difference. He didn't minimise difficulties; he contextualised them, encouraged us through them, and made sure no one felt left behind. We left feeling genuinely grateful for him. To dive the Galápagos with great guides is a privilege. To dive it with Juan and William is something else entirely. These two are, quite simply, extraordinary. Between them they carry a profound, intuitive knowledge of these waters — the currents, the topography, the behaviour of the animals, the precise rock where the hammerhead tends to hover at 22 metres on a Friday morning. Their ability to find the animals we had dreamed of seeing — schooling hammerheads, Galapagos Penguins, Galápagos sharks, marine iguanas feeding underwater, sea lions playing aerial games around us — was, on multiple occasions, genuinely jaw-dropping. They don't just take you diving. They curate an experience. And they do it with such joy. Juan and William are funny, warm, full of character, and completely in love with their work — and that love shows. The pre-dive briefings were a highlight

Recommended for

Crew. Diving Experience. Food.

10 Jun, 2026

Luxury boat, all the main sites & excellent crew

Amazing boat - absolute luxury in all ways (which you’d expect for the price!!). Boat crew - food and inside crew, boat boys, organisation & hospitality is all exceptional. Cabins are spacious and clean. The attention to detail with small touches, menu, food and service is brilliant. In some ways, the diving etc seems to be second priority. However, you go to all the main sites, get lots of dives at the key places, daily briefs, excellent systems with timings, gear, getting to dive sites etc. 8 divers to each guide. 18 dives in total. 6 dives each (roughly) at both Wolf and Darwin. Experienced guides - but they do expect you to be very competent and confident in conditions and during dives. They absolutely do all they can to try and find everything - although they can’t obviously control the water temps and conditions! We were really lucky and saw all the big stuff and had some utterly incredible dives, despite it being an El Niño year. There is so much food - weirdly, I actually found it was often far too much for me (I struggled to eat a 5 course lunch then dive in the afternoon!). There is always a choice for meals and they are mostly served to you in a pre-set portion size so when it was too much, I felt awful but had to turn away some courses or not eat everything off every plate! The captain was brilliant and was often also down on dive deck helping at gear up / after dives! Be aware that in some seasons / conditions, the sea can be rough and the boat isn’t the best shape or design for crossing rough seas - its rocks a lot and some nights were bumpy. Be prepared with sea sickness meds if you might need it. Furniture in the cabins isn’t all secured to the floor so if it’s really rough, beds / bedside tables can even slide across the rooms, which wasn’t ideal! The briefs and information were always interesting too. The extra opportunities, like getting to watch from the bridge when we crossed the equator, short rib ride to see some of the wildlife along sea cliffs and coast and also the land trip on the final day to see the giant tortoises! NB: you do the final dive off the trip early morning of the last full day - done and out the water by 8.30am. You disembark at 8am the next day so you are fine to book flights to leave the day of disembarkation. You’re at the airport by 9am latest so aim for 11am ish flights. Staying on Santa Cruz Island is a bit of a trip (bus, ferry & taxi) to closest town / hotel! I’d recommend if you’re going to do that, stay at least 2 nights as it’s a bit of a trip - but well worth the visit if you do!

Recommended for

Dive locations and sites. Exceptional service from boat crew. Excellent organisation and how everything is managed.

11 Aug, 2026