Ecuador part 3: Galapagos Diving & Fratenising: Photos 21 to 38

The day leading up to the eventual boarding onto Mistral II was slowed down by the anticipation of being on a liveaboard for the next 10 days, heading to locations that others only dream of diving in. Based on last minute instructions by a guide that turned up at the hostel to inform us that he would be taking us back to Baltra airport, we were bundled into a bus together with a bunch of forthright, rude 1950's era Austrian tourists and could not be glader to be rid of their company.

Stepping onto Mistral II (run by Quasar Expeditions) it was clear that we were going to have a good time, at least above the waterline. Mistral II is a nice 12 passenger yacht well laid out for diving activities. Our diving and travel companions for the next 10 days arrived in 2 batches. The biggest group were the dice-playing, chain smoking Russians led by Ilias and the next group was a hodge podge consisting of Jerome - the soft-spoken French aeroplane crash investigator, Alex - a Sheriff from Rio, Brazil, Andrew - the entreprenuer from UK and Jack aka John, also a Brit, - another RTW tripper and

Full Text Entry: Ecuador part 3: Galapagos Diving & Fratenising

Looking at your pictures make me feel like going back... very good souvenirs indeed ! Hope you had some good time in Peru and that you could reach UK despite of the fog in London. Wish you the best for 2007 and the continuation of you trip !

My dears, THANK YOU for keeping us posted with your many outstanding national geographic shots! Don't forget to be IN the photos too :)... BIG HUG! -Jane

Guys, Looks like a fantastic trip and some of Richies best pictures to date. Assume you are now leaving the UK to warmer climes?

Great to hear from you, guys! Wasn't that a freaking great trip? I think we are all very lucky people to have had the oportunity to be there! Among the 5 billion humans or so on this planet, we were the ones to have bought the right tickets and won the Galapagos Jackpot! I am already planning to go back there in Oct / Nov 2008. There is only one negative thing about Galapagos... It is very expensive and highly addictive! Now I don't really feel like diving anywhere around here. Richie, I had some of your pictures enlarged and hung them up in my bedroom and computer room. I even lied and told some friends I had taken them myself! F - A - N - T - A - S - T - I - C !!! As Jerome put it: NatGeo material! This week I am mailing the CDs with the pictures to ANDREW, as I promised him. Jack said he would send me his pictures once he had sorted them out. He mentioned he had one of me with a whale shark... I can't wait to see how it came out. by the way, Jorge's e-mail address is lorenar8@ayora.ecud.net.ec take care keep in touch ALEX BRAGA

Holy s*$%! Great underwater Galaps photos!

guys your Galapagos blog has just come up on the front page of travelblog - only 4 months late! so i thought i would take a look. your photos are amazing and bring back fond memories for me. enjoy the rest of your honeymoon

You just lived like 10 of my dreams :) Im new to diving (my dive count is a wonderful 20!) and the galapagos is the destination I have to do before I die :):) Love the photos. So beautiful!!!!

I have really enjoyed your blog,and especially the photos. What camera did you take the underwater shots with? Is it an SLR? Have you got underwater casing for it? Thank you.

Was on a liveaboard in the Galapagos in Feb 2008...but your pick with the dolphins...wow...that's a dream! Did nearly 230 dives, saw only 3 times dolphins while diving...once in Darwin...but so close and so many...wow!

Hi, richy uses the D100 and yes there is an underwater housing. where are you based?

Correction, Richy uses a D200

D200 in a subal housing....

Hi, great blog!!! Im from Spain and Im going with my grilfriend, english, to San Cristobal in 2 weeks time. We are backpackers and we would like to ask you about the hostel in San Cristobal. This San Francisco Hostel, how was it? I hav trided to find info on internet but they do not have any web. How are the rooms? do they do double bedrooms? Thanks for time, Raul.

Raul, the place was good, a 15min walk from station up the hill and did do double rooms when we were there yes. Have fun!

Looking at your pictures make me feel like going back... very good souvenirs indeed ! Hope you had some good time in Peru and that you could reach UK despite of the fog in London. Wish you the best for 2007 and the continuation of you trip !

My dears, THANK YOU for keeping us posted with your many outstanding national geographic shots! Don't forget to be IN the photos too :)... BIG HUG! -Jane

Guys, Looks like a fantastic trip and some of Richies best pictures to date. Assume you are now leaving the UK to warmer climes?

Great to hear from you, guys! Wasn't that a freaking great trip? I think we are all very lucky people to have had the oportunity to be there! Among the 5 billion humans or so on this planet, we were the ones to have bought the right tickets and won the Galapagos Jackpot! I am already planning to go back there in Oct / Nov 2008. There is only one negative thing about Galapagos... It is very expensive and highly addictive! Now I don't really feel like diving anywhere around here. Richie, I had some of your pictures enlarged and hung them up in my bedroom and computer room. I even lied and told some friends I had taken them myself! F - A - N - T - A - S - T - I - C !!! As Jerome put it: NatGeo material! This week I am mailing the CDs with the pictures to ANDREW, as I promised him. Jack said he would send me his pictures once he had sorted them out. He mentioned he had one of me with a whale shark... I can't wait to see how it came out. by the way, Jorge's e-mail address is lorenar8@ayora.ecud.net.ec take care keep in touch ALEX BRAGA

Holy s*$%! Great underwater Galaps photos!

guys your Galapagos blog has just come up on the front page of travelblog - only 4 months late! so i thought i would take a look. your photos are amazing and bring back fond memories for me. enjoy the rest of your honeymoon

You just lived like 10 of my dreams :) Im new to diving (my dive count is a wonderful 20!) and the galapagos is the destination I have to do before I die :):) Love the photos. So beautiful!!!!

I have really enjoyed your blog,and especially the photos. What camera did you take the underwater shots with? Is it an SLR? Have you got underwater casing for it? Thank you.

Was on a liveaboard in the Galapagos in Feb 2008...but your pick with the dolphins...wow...that's a dream! Did nearly 230 dives, saw only 3 times dolphins while diving...once in Darwin...but so close and so many...wow!

Hi, richy uses the D100 and yes there is an underwater housing. where are you based?

Correction, Richy uses a D200

D200 in a subal housing....

Hi, great blog!!! Im from Spain and Im going with my grilfriend, english, to San Cristobal in 2 weeks time. We are backpackers and we would like to ask you about the hostel in San Cristobal. This San Francisco Hostel, how was it? I hav trided to find info on internet but they do not have any web. How are the rooms? do they do double bedrooms? Thanks for time, Raul.

Raul, the place was good, a 15min walk from station up the hill and did do double rooms when we were there yes. Have fun!