Extended bonus coverage from the Nov/Dec 2001 issue, pages 74-75. The new 100 ft. Sky Dancer, Galapagos Islands. For divers seeking the ultimate adventure, the Sky Dancer may be just the ticket. This brand new Peter Hughes vessel cruises the Galapagos Islands in search of sea lions, penguins, schooling hammerheads, turtles, stingrays, manta rays and of course the elusive whale shark. LOCATION: The Galapagos Islands are located about 580 miles west of Ecuador, South America. Regarded as a naturalist's wonderland, these remote islands provide a habitat for extremely unusual wildlife. The area was made famous by Charles Darwin during his studies more than 120 years ago. And the Galapagos became the inspiration for his classic book, Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection. BIODIVERSITY: The range of biodiversity is spectacular. Volcanic in origin, this area possesses a variety of rare ecosystems of flora and fauna with coexisting aquatic and terrestrial wildlife. ISLAND GROUP: There are 13 primary islands with 5 smaller islands and numerous islets and rock formations, all part of the Ecuadorian National Park system. So rare is this ecosystem that it has been declared a World Heritage Site. Hosting over 400 endemic species of wildlife throughout the island chain, the Galapagos sit at the crossroads of Equatorial Counter Current and the colder Humboldt current of South America, thus providing an area rich in nutrients and food for large numbers of marine life. GETTING THERE: Divers from North America generally fly by modern jet to either Quito or Guayaquil, Ecuador, most any day of the week, from several US gateway cities (such as Miami or New York). After a comfortable overnight stay, divers fly to the Galapagos Islands where they board the Sky Dancer. SKY DANCER: Launched this year, Sky Dancer is one of the newest live-aboard dive boats in the Peter Hughes fleet. This vessel was designed to bring a new and exciting dimension to the already global network of Dancer vessels. It possesses the same high quality standards of design, workmanship and service that customers find on the other Dancer live-aboards. LIVE-ABOAD SPECS: Length: 100 feetBeam: 24 feetRegistry: EcuadorType: Mono HullConstruction: SteelPassengers: 16 maxCrew: 8Cabins: 8 stateroomsFuel: 8,000 gallonsFreshwater: 6,000 gallonsWater maker: 1,500 gallons per dayCruising Speed: 12 knotsRange: 2,400 milesTenders: Two chase boatsNavigation Aids: VHF, GMDSS, Color Radar, Echo Sounder, GPS, EPIRBAir Compressors: TwoElectricity: Both 110 & 220 voltsAir-Conditioning: Yes AMENITIES:Departure Point: San Cristobal, EcuadorBoarding Time: 4:00 p.m.Length of Cruise: Either 7 nights or 10 nightsDiving Days: Either 5-1/2 or 8-1/2 days of divingDiving: Up to 4 dives per dayDining: All meals & beverages includedTransfers: Airport transfers on Santa Cruz IslandActivities: Land excursions on some daysGeneral: All Dancer fleet amenities included PHOTO LAB: The Sky Dancer has a fully equipped photo lab with E-6 color film processing for rich color slides. On most days, processing is done the same day that you shoot it. Processing film while on board offers the advantage of making any necessary adjustments in shooting style or strobe lighting. The vessel also has on board editing and sound dubbing equipment for custom video production. ITINERARY: Sky Dancer's itinerary offers a total of approximately 19 dives. It offers four land excursions, and covers 565 nautical miles of ocean. It has only one very long navigation (15 hours from Wolf to North Seymour). It also places Darwin & Wolf Islands closer to the end of the trip, and finishes the diving with two really great dive sites (North Seymour & Gordon's Rocks) that our guests won't forget. It also allows flexibility, in case of any delays during the trip. It allows an extra day nearby the airport at the beginning of the trip in the event of delayed luggage or passengers. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Click on the home page below.