Nortada Liveaboard, Galapagos

from US$ 573 / day
8.3 Very good
17 Verified Reviews 17 Verified Reviews

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The 26m Nortada liveaboard presents a different kind of Galapagos dive liveaboard experience. With only 4 cabins on board and catering to a maximum of 12 guests, the Nortada offers divers a more intimate and personal experience. Each of the 4 cabins is air-conditioned with an en-suite bathroom, and has lockers and drawers for personal belongings. Relaxation areas include the air-conditioned lounge and dining area with entertainment system and open-air seating area and sun deck.

Diving from the Nortada means small groups using the two 3m inflatable tenders to get closer to the action and to the best dive sites. The comprehensive itinerary allows divers at least 18 dives per week, and features world famous dive sites Wolf and Darwin, plus the exciting addition of the top three dive sites in the north-west region of the archipelago. Guests can hope to see Flightless Cormorants, Galapagos Penguins, Marine Iguanas and several other endemic species, along with Manta Rays, Mola-Mola and different types of Baleen Whales. Nitrox is available for an additional cost, as is rebreather support and technical diving. For added safety all divers are provided with a Nautilus Lifeline bi-directional VHF/DSC marine radio with GPS, dive alert and DSMB.

The Nortada is available for individual bookings and full charter. Call us or reserve online today to start your amazing Galapagos dive adventure.

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Included: VAT, Drinking Water, Tea & Coffee, Full-Board Meal Plan (All meals), Snacks, Diving Package, Land Excursions, Naturalist Guide.

Required Extras: National Park Fees, Visas and Fees.

Optional Extras: Chamber Fees (35 USD), Gratuities, Airport Transfer (45 USD), Local Flights, Alcoholic Beverages, Soft drinks, Nitrox, Nitrox Course (210 USD), Rental Gear.

Book now, pay later: You can easily place your booking online. We will then hold the spaces for you and you can confirm with a payment later.

* Extra fees are shown per person.

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Boat features

Shaded diving deck
Camera Station
Audio & video entertainment
Air Conditioned saloon
Aircon Cabins
Sun Deck
Indoor Saloon
Photography Station
Separate rinse for u/w camera
Custom built for diving
Charging stations
En-Suite bathrooms

Food & Drinks

Western Food
Local Food
Vegetarian Options
Beer available

If you have any specific dietary requirements whilst on-board your cruise, you can add this to your special requests on step 2 of the booking form. We advise limiting these requests to religious beliefs or food allergies.

Diving

DIN Adaptors
Rebreather Support
Dive deck
Tenders for diving

The crew speaks English and Spanish.

Gear Rental

There is diving gear available on this boat. Please provide your rental needs on the booking form. See below for further details on inclusions and pricing. Show prices.

Drawings & Vessel Layouts

Accommodation

Twin Cabin

Boat Specifications

Year built 2008
Year renovated 2014
Length 85 feet
Deck area 3 decks
Beam 18 feet
Cruising speed 10 knots
Engines Twin CUMMINS 6CTA8.3-M 255 HP main engines
Max guests 10
Number of cabins 5
Number of bathrooms 5
Tenders 2 15 feet Nautica Inflatable boats with 25 HP four stroke outboard engines

Boat Navigation and Safety

Radar
Depth Sounder
GPS
Radio VHF/DSC/SSB
E.P.I.R.B. Distress System
Emergency Rafts
Life Vests
Fire Alarm & Fire Extinguishers
Oxygen
First Aid Kits
Satellite & mobile phones
Bilge pump alarm
Search light
Engine room CCTV
Crew trained in first aid
Emergency flares

Nortada Reviews

8.3 Very good
17 Verified Reviews

Vessel
7.6
Crew
8.1
Food
9.3
Diving
8.4
Value
8.0

8.8 Fabulous
Anita J
United States

I cannot imagine another dive experience coming close to this Galapagos experience!

Schools of hammerheads, swimming with dolphins, playing with sea lions, seeing sunfish, increasing skills as dive conditions were sometimes rough, night diving In caves entered thru lava tunnels

Recommended for: The amazing dives, the remoteness of our dive sites (no one else around), the dive masters’ knowledge of the diving conditions and the marine life.

9.2 Superb
Benjamin S
United States

Excellent!

Amazing diving around the Galapagos. Great crew, very friendly and helpful.

Recommended for: Dive Guides, Crew, Dive Sites

8.8 Fabulous
Michael W
United Kingdom

Great diving shame about lack of nitox

Whale shark and hammerheads at Darwin were amazing but other dives would have a fantastic variety from penguins and playful sea lions to the strange mola

Recommended for: great diving, Pedro the chef

8.0 Very good
Alexandra T
France

Unforgettable diving week

The highlight of the trip was of course swimming along the whale shark! The dives were all fantastics and we saw so many fishes and animals. The ambiance on the boat with the other divers and crew was very nice

Recommended for: - Our dive guide Simon Velez ; The dives ; the dedication of the crew

8.4 Very good
Melanie H
New Zealand

Wow. Just wow.

I did 19 dives in five days! It was fantastic. I saw mola molas up close, if I reached my arm out I would’ve touched it! There were hammerhead sharks everywhere. At Landslide, there were schools of them being cleaned by angel fish! I also saw marine iguanas feeding, horxbille turtles being cleaned and feeding, hornshark baby sleeping, white tip sharks up close, silky sharks and Galapagos sharks up close, huge parrot fish, manta rays right in front of me, schools of golden cow rays, did I mention the mantas being powerful and beautiful and maybe a metre from me as they aren’t scared of divers? Oh right and I swam with dolphins and saw them on our safety stop, I played with sea lions, they copy you! Mola molas were plentiful and a new favourite. They again came so close and there were so many! That’s not to mention the barracudas and the soldier fish, the shrimps and the lobsters.... every moment caused me to do an underwater jiggle of excitement. Note, it does get cold and there are currents. At times, we just planted ourselves to rocks and watched the blue. I was in a 5ml and I was fine but there were others on the boat in 7mls and were cold. A lot of the current dives were negative entry so confidence with that is ideal as we did loose a couple of divers on the descent on our first negative entry dive. Note, due to the tides and the nutrient rich water, the vis isn’t as high as I’d have expected but due to fishing laws etc they don’t scare and come so close. Eye contact with hammerheads and molas says it all right? The guide also took a go pro and gave me his footage. I’m fond of living the dive for the moment and not through a camera so it’s nice to have that. I thought that I may see a hammerhead or two, I had no idea that in five days, I would see so much. It’s a completely different vibe to coral reefs so you can’t really compare the two. The Galapagos is expensive, too much for my liking but this trip was good value and they give you your five a day! Be sure to tip the crew members individually as they share all the tips out. They appreciated the thank you letters we attempted to write in Spanish and the individual tips. I don’t want to go home.

Recommended for: Every dive site had its own vibe and marine life. Look into the blue and keep breathing, there’s so much to see! The crew were super friendly despite not speaking English and were great!

8.0 Very good
Eveline J
Netherlands

Impressive diving in Galapagos on a nice small boat

Wolf and Darwin are very impressive, both under and above the water, but the other dive spots are equally impressive. The itinerary allows to see a great diversity of the underwater life in Galapagos. It is a pity that the first and last day of the week do NOT include any dives. The first day mentions a dive, but this is only jumping in the water in the harbour to check weights. We were back in the harbour on the day before the end of the trip. They promise at least 20 dives, but this means: exactly 20 dives. The dive instructor was not very attentive. He did not check if divers could follow and never checked if we were ok. In two dives, the group fell apart (low visibility in these areas). If you are not totally comfortable in the water, that could be a disadvantage. However, this was a freelancer, so this may vary from instructor to instructor. Despite these points of improvement, the boat and the crew and the itinerary are a big advantage of Nortada and we would definately recommend this boat.

Recommended for: dives, small group, itinerary

8.0 Very good
miguel L
Argentina

Great trip, excellent guide

It was an excellent trip. It´s the best to be only 8 divers. Great guide, excellent crew, very good food. Unfortunately Nitrox was not avaiable. I would suggest to improuve the first test dive, and dive in some spot outside the Puerto Ayora bay. Overall it was great

Recommended for: Big fish, dive spots, few divers

8.8 Fabulous
John G
United States

Good value for the money

Albino Mola mola, several manta rays, swimming with sea lions.

Recommended for: Small group size, food and staff flexibility

8.4 Very good
Markus J
Finland

Very good experience

Hundreds of Hammerheads at Wolf, Mola-Mola's, a Killer whale, Mantas, Marina Iguanas, Penguins, Dolphins, School of Silky sharks under our boat at Darwin, Sealions, Golden Rays, Pirate Cave at Wolf.

Recommended for: Huge variety of underwater life, very good food, good diveguides

8.8 Fabulous
Ulrike W
Austria

it was a great trip

Moonfish, many hammer sharks, marine iguanas

Recommended for: the crew, dive spots, many big fish to see

8.0 Very good
ALEKSANDRA R
Russia

Outstanding diving

It was breath-take-away diving! So many big marine creatures under water and on so close distance! I saw almost everything that i was dreaming of)))!!! It seems that there are no analouges in the world to this diving spot! Yes, the water can be quite cold sometimes (mostly 20-24°C, but in one place only 16°, so prepare at least 7mm costume), visibility is not perfect sometimes, really strong current, and some plans in schedule can be changed because of the weather and waves, but you for sure forget about all these little things when you see what is under water))) So diving is amazing, really. Hummer head sharkds just above your head, a lot of other sharks, includind whale shark, astonishing plays of sia lions in front of cameras, dolphins, manta rays, eagle rays, turtules, iguanas, pinguins - unforgettable impressions))) The only pity - there were no land excurcions on the way (some ships do that, but not this one), but panga ride is possible so you can see a lot of birds and wonderful landscapes! If to speak about Nortada particulary - cozy nice boat, only 8 divers, so not crowded, 2 guides (usually one is swimming in front of group, the second is swimming in the end). Team of Nortada is very nice and friendly, helps a lot in every step, very clean on board, good food (gracias chef Pedro). Rented equipment (Cressi TM) was a bit used but funcioned without any problems. About guides - both are very experienced, especially the main one, he loves a lot his profession and ocean, can see who is more or less experienced diver, will help a lot (if it is needed) during preparation for diving and during diving itself. But. Its the only but. In my opinion it is not professional and correct the way of behaivour with single women on board. Probably it is LA temperament)) but anyway while you are at work all relations should be only about work, no personal stuff. After trip - whatever, but not during. Clients are guests, clients are not the way of solving personal problems. Anyway i should say thank you to all nortada team! Diving was outstanding!

Recommended for: Hummerhead sharks, sea lions, birds