Destinations
Tiburon Explorer Dive Resort Review
Step aboard Tiburon Explorer
Ecuador / Galapagos / 2026 boat guide
Darwin, Wolf and the western Galápagos.
See available dates & prices →
Compare the cabin, itinerary and full trip cost before booking.
The Tiburon Explorer is a modern 38-metre (125 ft) yacht offering diving cruises in the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. Launched in 2020, this spacious liveaboard combines open social areas with a dedicated dive deck. Its western itinerary makes it worth comparing if you want more than the northern shark sites alone.
Find your cabin
| Cabin choice | Layout | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Main deck | Six cabins, with large windows; twin/queen arrangements depend on the room. | Request a numbered cabin and written bed confirmation. |
| Lower deck | Three cabins with private bathrooms and twin/queen options. | Check stairs and window position. |
| Private occupancy | The operator offers guaranteed single occupancy at an 80% supplement. | Cabin 1 is described as queen-only on the vessel page; cabin 2 differs between published documents. Confirm both before booking. |
Found a cabin you like? Ask for its number, bed layout and deck location, and check how many stairs you’ll use. If you’re travelling solo, make sure the sharing arrangement works for you before you book.
Unwind between dives
The Tiburon Explorer offers plenty of lounging space, both inside and out. The top deck features a spacious sundeck area and a hot tub, with views over the Galapagos Islands and the ocean. The main indoor area contains the living room, entertainment facilities, a bar and dining space. Air-conditioning and wide windows make this a comfortable place to unwind between dives.
Diving and itinerary
The spacious dive deck has individual stations, storage, a camera table and separate rinse facilities. Diving uses two pangas rather than direct entries from the yacht. Nitrox is available to certified divers at extra cost. The usual 8-day/7-night western route includes Darwin and Wolf; selected 10-night trips have different schedules. Confirm the exact time allocated to northern sites and the western islands on your departure. Wildlife and dive counts depend on conditions.
Is this trip right for you?
Explorer Ventures requires at least 60 logged dives and a dive within the six months before travel; more than 100 dives are strongly recommended. Confirm certification, dive insurance, computer and surface-signalling requirements with the operator before paying. See the operator FAQ and mandatory rules.
Discuss cold-water comfort, currents, tender entries, rental sizes and any non-diver activities before booking. For seasonal planning, use our Galapagos diving guide. No yacht can guarantee a particular animal encounter.
Watch: Tiburon Explorer: diving the Galapagos
Preview: illustrative boat photograph from this page’s gallery, not a frame from the film.
Explorer Ventures operator film featuring Tiburon Explorer and Galapagos diving. Filming date not supplied. Selected September 28, 2026.
Plan your trip: 2026 prices and extras
Cost comparison: use the shared 7-night budget and extras breakdown to compare Nitrox, taxes and compulsory fees on the same basis. Figures are planning references, not a live quote.
Published July 2026–June 2027 reference: USD 7,395 per person sharing for 7 nights; USD 9,995 for 10 nights.
For a 7-night trip, the published USD 150 fuel surcharge plus USD 200 park entry and USD 20 transit card bring these known components to USD 7,765 per person. This is a partial subtotal, not a full holiday quote: chamber support, flights, hotels, insurance, rentals, Nitrox and tips remain separate. Nitrox is listed at USD 150 for a week; fuel and Nitrox are each USD 220 for 10 nights.
The package includes accommodation, scheduled diving, meals except the last evening ashore, air fills, tanks, weights, selected drinks and specified transfers. Confirm any revised surcharge and payment method in the final invoice.
All reference fares are subject to reconfirmation. Check the currency, per-person basis, cabin, taxes, deposit and cancellation conditions on the actual quote.
Flights, transfers and time aboard
Plan the journey with our Galapagos travel guide and check seasonal conditions in the Galapagos diving guide. Confirm the arrival and departure airports for your exact itinerary before buying flights, especially on longer cruises.
Fly to Baltra (GPS) via mainland Ecuador. The published package includes airport–vessel transfers for same-day arrivals and departures. Allow a mainland overnight before your island flight and have the operator approve your flight schedule. The last evening meal ashore is excluded from the standard package.
Which Galapagos boat fits your priorities?
Compare cabins, diver requirements and matched trip costs in our Galapagos liveaboard comparison. For the wider choice of itineraries, see our Galapagos liveaboard planning guide.
| Your priority | Boat to compare | Useful distinction |
|---|---|---|
| Nitrox in the published package | Galapagos Sky | Deluxe twins or upper-deck Master cabins. |
| Choice of cabin category | Galapagos Master | Classic cabins have no windows; Premium cabins have views. |
| Lower published Explorer reference fare | Humboldt Explorer | Eight cabins; compare total extras with Tiburon. |
These are practical differences, not a quality ranking. Start with your dates and dive experience, then compare cabins and total cost. Browse our Galapagos liveaboard guide.
Before you book: frequently asked questions
Which cabin should I book?
Six cabins, with large windows; twin/queen arrangements depend on the room. Request a numbered cabin and written bed confirmation.
Are current departures confirmed?
The linked operator or partner publishes this boat’s programme. Availability is date-specific and can change; follow the departure link for an actual quote.
Is the headline fare the whole holiday cost?
No. Compare the budget section with your invoice and include flights, hotels, insurance, mandatory charges and your chosen extras.
Can a beginner join the diving?
Explorer Ventures requires at least 60 logged dives and a dive within the six months before travel; more than 100 dives are strongly recommended. Confirm certification, dive insurance, computer and surface-signalling requirements with the operator before paying. See the operator FAQ and mandatory rules.
Will we definitely see hammerheads or whale sharks?
No. Wildlife, visibility and currents vary. Choose a suitable season and itinerary, and treat sightings as possibilities rather than promises.
Make your next Galapagos trip easier to plan
Compare your chosen departure, confirm the cabin and get a complete written quote.
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Sources and editorial check
Checked September 28, 2026: Tiburon layout and specifications, Explorer pricing and booking terms, Explorer onboard charges, Tiburon diving requirements and FAQ. Photographs belong to their credited sources; their selection date is not their capture date. Original useful descriptions have been retained and corrected where current sources differ.
Have you dived aboard Tiburon Explorer?
Help another diver choose with confidence. Share your travel date, cabin, diving conditions, crew experience and what you would have liked to know before booking. Honest highlights and limitations are both useful.
About this guide
Research checked 28 September 2026. This guide draws on published sources, rather than a new firsthand inspection. Photo credits remain beside the images; capture dates have not been verified. Original reader reviews, where present, retain their dates.
Where is this dive resort located?
Learn more about scuba diving in this area.
Galapagos
Plan Galapagos diving in 2026: Darwin and Wolf liveaboards, island day trips, seasons, diver experience and essential travel preparation.
- If you have been staying at this dive resort in Galapagos, please share your review and let us know what you thought. Please post your comments in the review section below, by doing so you will help fellow divers to plan their next diving trip
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Going to the Galapagos for diving, we made the right choice! There were three liveaboard that my son and I were considering. If you haven’t chosen the Tiburon Explorer, you are missing out. WOW! What a great time and a wonderful experience. The crew was exceptional, fun, super helpful going diving and especially coming back, especially Juan Carlos. Hot chocolate was offered each time we came back from a dive, hot showers, warm towels, help taking off your wetsuits and gear. The Captian met you at the top of the stairs with a “Welcome back” and undid your velcro neck piece and pulled down the sipper on your wetsuit. There was nothing they didn’t do for you, even though at times you were thinking, “you know, I can do this myself”. So much fun.
The entire crew knew how to make the trip a fantastic time for all. The food was amazing also, along with the service, including taking care of your suites. The accommodations were perfect, comfortable beds, private showers The two dive instructors were top notch, Naty and Jorge were informative, knowlegable, fun to be around, you couldn’t ask for more. 18 dives were offered, the dive briefing were educational and also had some history of the Galapagos thrown in.
Being the first time for us to be on a liveaboard, I wonder if we will ever be satisfied with a different one.