Expertise Since 1987
Rated Excellent
FLEXIBLE PRICING
About Tiburon Explorer®
Scuba Diving in the Galápagos Islands
Built in 2020, the elegant & spacious 16-passenger M/V Tiburon Explorer is Galápagos Island’s premier liveaboard. It provides 9 air-conditioned staterooms located on the main deck (6 cabins) and lower deck (3 cabins), all of which have private bathrooms and stunning ocean views. All cabins, except cabin 1 main deck have twin beds that can be converted to queen beds for couples. The yacht features a partially covered sun deck with a hot tub and ample seating, a salon area with dining, a bar, and an entertainment area. WiFi with Satellite Internet connection is available onboard (see package prices in FAQs)
The Tiburon Explorer’s large dive deck includes a bathroom, a large camera table with a charging station, individual storage areas, rinse bins for cameras, and another for gear. Diving operations are conducted from two large pangas (tenders), easily boarded from the dive deck.
Aboard Tiburon Explorer, the Galápagos experience extends well beyond the incredible wildlife encounters. With attentive dive guides, a welcoming crew, comfortable accommodations and great meals between adventures, every part of the journey adds to the experience.
Here’s how one guest described their week aboard:
This was an awesome week. We saw so much life in the water and on land. The Tiburon Explorer was great and the crew was even better. From the food to the diving to the accomodations I’m not sure it could have got any better. We ate like kings and the service was some of the best out there. The diving and dive masters were great. All on hands on deck when getting ready to dive and when we came back from diving. Very detailed briefings and safety was their priority. The service while not diving was top notch. I would definitely recommend this boat to anyone and will probably be back soon to take more divers.
– Nick, March 30, 2026
Responsible Diving: Dive Green® + Green Fins + PADI Eco Center
Tiburon Explorer is part of Explorer Ventures Fleet’s long-standing Dive Green® environmental program and participates in Green Fins, the internationally recognized sustainable marine tourism initiative coordinated by The Reef-World Foundation, plus is recognized as a PADI Eco Center.
Together, these programs and recognitions reflect a commitment to responsible diving, from diver briefings and reducing reef contact to waste management, environmental education and continuous improvements through Green Fins assessments and action plans.
The goal is simple: great diving with less impact on the marine environments we travel in.
Photographer Amenities Aboard Tiburon Explorer
Tiburon Explorer gives photographers a broader look at the Galápagos, pairing the big-animal action of Darwin and Wolf with Western Isabela and its very different cast of wildlife.
Camera Facilities
- Camera table: Dedicated camera table with selves on the dive deck – 173 cm x 83 cm
- Charging: Dedicated camera charging station – 15 x 110V and 15 x 220V outlets
- Camera rinse: Separate rinse bins for camera equipment
- Air guns: Available for camera equipment
- Storage: Dedicated shelf below camera table for camera storage
- Dive access: Two large pangas provide access to dive sites
- Restrictions: Underwater flash photography and drones not allowed
What Underwater Photographers Can Shoot
Three days at Darwin and Wolf bring opportunities for schooling hammerheads, sharks, rays and other pelagic subjects. Western Isabela changes the picture completely, with mola mola, marine iguanas, penguins and flightless cormorants among the potential subjects. Included land excursions add even more opportunities for photography of blue-footed boobies, frigate birds, giant tortoises, marine iguanas, land iguanas, sea lions, and volcanic landscapes.
Best for:
Photographers seeking schooling hammerheads, large pelagics and elusive mola mola, alongside marine iguanas, Galápagos penguins, dramatic wide-angle underwater scenes and extraordinary wildlife encounters on land.
Tiburon Explorer at a Glance
Everything you need to know about Tiburon Explorer, from accommodations and onboard amenities to the dive deck and technical specifications.
Length overall: 125 ft (38 meters)
Beam: 24.6 ft (7.5 meters)
Draft: 7.1 ft (2.20 meters)
Tonnage: 360 gross tons
Main engines: 2 Engines MTU serie 60 , 475 HP each
Maximum Speed: 12 knots
Accommodations: 16 passengers in 9 air-conditioned staterooms on main and lower decks, all with private bathrooms and showers. 1 main deck stateroom has a queen bed only while eight staterooms have twin beds and can be converted to queen beds for couples. Up to 9 crew and 2 guides in the Cruise Director Cabin.
Safety Equipment: Life rafts (2), life rings/strobes, life vests/strobes, emergency position locator, flares, oxygen and first aid equipment
Air Systems: 2 electric Bauer compressors with nitrox membrane, producing 32% nitrox
Tenders: Rigid hull inflatables (2), used for passenger transport and diver pickup
Accessories: Diving Equipment
The Sun Deck features a large lounge area, bar, a partially covered sun deck and a hot tub with ample seating.
The Main Deck features six guest staterooms, 1-6, each with private bath and shower, air-conditioning, ample storage and large windows providing guests with amazing ocean views. Cabin 1 (Front) has a queen bed only (Cabin 1 is only available for people who purchased a guaranteed single occupancy supplement). Cabins 2-6 have queen or twin beds. The dining area, lounge/entertainment area, bar and large dive deck are also located on the Main Deck.
The Lower Deck comprises 3 suites, 7-9, each with private bath and shower, queen or twin beds, air-conditioning, port windows and ample storage.
