Make A Difference  E-mail

When you dive with us, you are already participating in the health of the Galapagos.  A portion of every dollar we receive is put directly into the preservation and protection of the Galapagos Marine Reserve.  We work with local hotels that practice environmentally friendly policies.  Costs for our dive trips are spread out so that any number of local residents (never foreign corporations) benefit, down to and including the catering for the daily lunches we serve on-board.

We aren't big fans of impersonal donations nor of carbon credit offsets (though we are waiting on a new model that will directly benefit the local community, not merely provide corporations with guilt free methods of additional pollution) nor of foundations that have high overhead.  We want to keep it very local and feel very strongly the preservation and protection of the Galapagos deserves at least that!

The following is good to consider whether you travel with us, someone else or on your own.  

Canine Unit

One thing we have been involved with is assisting the National Police with their local canine unit.  These dogs are trained to sniff out, not just drugs, but shark fins, sea cucumbers and sea horses.  They have been very helpful in stopping the trafficking of these illegal substances.

FEED A DOG: You can donate through us or get in touch with the local head of the Galapagos Canine Unit, Cristian Maldonado ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).  I'm sure he would be more than happy to drop by your hotel to pick up a donation.  Feeding these well-trained dogs is not cheap and contributions are always appreciated.  We feel  REALLY strongly about the continued practice of shark finning anywhere in the world, but especially in this, one of the few places in the world where you can dive with lots of sharks, no chumming necessary.  We want it to stay that way for generations to come and this is one simple way we can help. Donations of medicines and supplies are also very welcome. 

Bring Your Old...

We encourage all incoming divers to consider contributing to both the well-being of the Galapagos Marine Reserve and to the local communities in two ways: 1) Make a per day voluntary contribution to benefit local needs.  2) Consider bringing spare equipment (mask, snorkel, wetsuits, old cameras, old laptops, clothing, etc.) to leave behind.  This will go directly to local use.

Also, while there's little market in the US for used equipment, there's a big market here.  The Ecuador government imposed a 300% import tax on luxury items early in 2009 which means dive gear in the local market is both very limited and very expensive.  So, if you're ready to upgrade and have gear in very good shape, please consider bringing it in to dive with and selling it before you leave to locals in need.

On all of our trips, if you are willing to bring equipment to us from the US (that we buy and have shipped to you), it can mean a discount, so please do ask about this offer.

Divers Against Shark Finning and Touching Animals

Please join these Facebook groups so the way we all feel might become one huge voice that will be heard:

Boycott and Blame Shark Killers

The DATA Project:  Divers Against Touching Animals

For more details on each group, please read this open plea.

We will continue to update this section of our site with local needs, wish lists, and outlets that go directly towards the protection of the Galapagos and the benefit of the local residents.