Built in France by Naval Builder Guy Couach, Nortada is a completely rebuilt and refit private live-aboard charter boat for small groups of up to 8 divers. Nortada was bought by Rolf Wittmer Turismo in 2008 and went throtugh a full refurbishment in Guayaquil, Ecuador until December 2014.
The boat will start operations as a scuba diving live-aboard vessel for private charters in the Galapagos Islands in February 2015. Nortada is operated by Rolf Wittmer Turismo, a local company with over 30 years of experience in the naturalist land excursion and cruise business. The dive operations are run by Jorge A. Mahauad, General Manager of Galapagos Tip Top Dive & Training Facility.
Nortada offers four lower deck, fully air conditioned cabins with two single lower berths, private heads, lockers and drawers. The boat also features an extended occupancy option of up to 12 people. The additional guests can be accommodated in the four full size upper berths available in every one of the four cabins. Public areas consist of a main deck with bridge, galley, air conditioned dining room and lounge.
The scuba diving platform has ample benches, outside showers, camera tables and rebreather rinsing facilities. In the upper deck a sun deck is next to the fly bridge. Two 15 foot inflatable tenders with 25HP outboard engines takes fully equipped divers to and from the dive site. All divers are provided with a Nautilus Lifeline bi-directional VHF/DSC marine radio with GPS, dive alert and DSMB.
A complete toolkit and a selection of solid lead weights and trim soft pouches are available for all divers. 20 Nitrox compatible aluminum 80 cu ft / 12 liter cylinders are filled by one of the twin Nuvair LP/HP Compressors. Two Nuvair nitrox analyzers are available on board.
For technical and rebreather diving, redundant oxygen clean Haskell Sport Boosters, one Tri Hunter 3000 Gas mixing stick for Trimix blending, several nitrox compatible 40 cu ft / 6 liter aluminum stage cylinders and several 19 cu ft / 2 liter steel rebreather cylinders with various valves and one Analytical Industries Trimix Analyzer are available upon request. Crew consists of one Captain, one Mechanic, one Cook, two Sailors and one Naturalist Guide.
ITINERARIES
STANDARD 8 DAY / NIGHT WOLF AND DARWIN ITINERARY
Friday:
(AM) Arrival to Galapagos
(PM) Check Dive – Punta Carrión
Saturday:
(AM) Cape Marshall / Mantarray City
(PM) Roca Redonda
Sunday:
(All Day) Wolf
Monday:
(All Day) Darwin
Tuesday:
(All Day) Wolf
Wednesday:
(AM) Bartolome / Cousing Rock
(PM) Bartolome – land visit
Thursday:
(AM) Pinzon Island
(PM) Darwin Station – land visit
Friday:
(AM) Seymour or Plazas land visit and flight out
SPECIAL 15 DAY / 14 NIGHT WOLF AND DARWIN EXTENDED ITINERARY
Friday:
(AM) Arrival to Galapagos
(PM) Check Dive – Punta Carrión
Saturday:
(AM) Cape Marshall / Mantarray City
(PM) Roca Redonda
Sunday:
(All Day) Wolf
Monday:
(All Day) Darwin
Tuesday:
(All Day) Wolf
Wednesday:
(All Day) Punta Vicente Roca
Thursday:
(All Day) Cape Douglas
Friday:
(AM) Refuel and Town visit
