CHARTER INFORMATION FACT SHEET Version 1.0 – March 2013
1. ABOUT NORTADA: Built in France by Naval Builder Guy Couach in 1986, Nortada was introduced to the Galapagos by Quasar Nautica. The 18 meter / 60 foot fiberglass yacht served as a naturalist cruise boat and dive live-aboard for nearly 15 years. The 10 passenger vessel accommodated her guests in 5 double cabins and was very popular for small, high end private groups. In 2010, Nortada was bought by Rolf Wittmer Turismo Galåpagos, a 100% Ecuadorian family company founded in 1982 by Captain Rolf Wittmer, pioneer of tourism in the Galapagos Islands since 1967. Rolf Wittmer Turismo is well-known as a professional and responsible tour operator. The company is highly committed to satisfying the needs and expectations of several long term wholesalers in the naturalist market. Wittmer owns and operates naturalist yachts Tip Top II, Tip Top III and Tip Top IV in the Galapagos. Sister company Tip Top Travel Lufthansa City Center is a travel agency in Ecuador mainland offering air travel services and tailor-made special interest tours. In early 2012 the Board of Directors of Rolf Wittmer decided to rebuild Nortada as a private charter dive live-aboard for small groups of up to 8 guests. This new live-aboard concept targets groups with specialized diving needs, maximizes the value of live-aboard dive departures and offers unprecedented privacy, even for small groups. Nortada will regularly offer 10 night itineraries to Wolf and Darwin along with short 5 night departures for beginner and budget groups. Some of the specialized products Nortada will offer to her clients include full rebreather and technical diving support, photo – video oriented departures, citizen science programs maintained in partnership by leading research institutions and private celebrity expeditions. In order to handle the specialized dive market, Rolf Wittmer has partnered with Jorge A. Mahauad, one of the leading and most qualified diving industry professionals in the region. Mahauad is a PADI Course Director and owner of the Galapagos Tip Top Dive & Training Facility, a PADI 5 Star National Geographic Instructor Development Dive Resort in the Galapagos Islands. His company is most likely the premier dive and training facility in Ecuador. Tip Top Diving specializes in dive training and courses ranging from Open Water to Instructor. Mahauad is best known for pioneering in the field of rebreather and technical diving in the country through his specialized firm Galapagos Rebreathers and is now a promoter of the new live-aboard concept behind Nortada. Dry dock rebuilding for Nortada started in late 2012 and is still in progress. In the meantime, the required permits, paperwork and itinerary are being processed through the Galapagos National Park and other authorities. Delivery date is September 2013. Nortada will be operating familiarization and press departures in late 2013 and bookings for 2014 are now open.
2. TECHNICAL INFORMATION
Country of origin: Boat location: Flag: Boat Name: Decks: No. of passengers: No. of cabins: En-suite: Length: Draft: Beam: Cruise Speed: Hull: Power: Courses: Air Conditioned: Rebreathers: Nitrox: Trimix: Technical Diving: Price Range:
France Galapagos Isl. Ecuador Nortada 3 8 4 4 25.9 m / 84.5 ft 1.52 m / 5 ft 5.48 m / 18 ft 12 knots Fiberglass 100 / 220 volt All Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Mid Range
Main Mechanic Features: Twin CUMMINS 6CTA8.3-M 255 HP main engines. Twin 40 KW John Deere/Onan (M) electric generators. Water Separator, Marine Sanitation Device sewage treatment system, Reverse Osmosis desalination system. Safety and Communications equipment on board: 24 mile range Furuno Navnet Radar/Chart Plotter, FurunoFCV620 Eco sounder, GPS, Furuno NX300 Navtex, Furuno HFMF/DSC Radio, VHF/DSC Icom radios, ACR Epirb, ACR Sart, ACR VHF bi directional rescue radio, Ritchie Magnetic Compass, hydraulic helm, barometer, clock, thermometer, helm indicator, searchlight, horn, fire & smoke detector system. (2) DSB inflatable life rafts for 16 passengers each, (16) life jackets, 17 feet Nautica Inflatable boat with 50 HP four stroke outboard engine for 10 divers. All safety equipment complies with International Coast Guard regulations.
Areas and accommodation: Upper deck: Emergency helm, sun deck
Main Deck: Bridge, Galley, Air Conditioned Dining Room and Lounge. Dive platform with ample benches, outside showers, camera tables and rebreather rinsing facilities.
Lower Deck: (4) fully air conditioned cabins with two single lower berths. Each cabin has: private bathroom, lockers and drawers.
Crew: Captain, Mechanic, Cook, Two sailors and one naturalist guide dive master all in separate accommodation.
4. DIVE EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES: Gas Filling: Twin Nuvair HP compressors, one electric one Diesel; Nitrox / Trimix LP system features compressor, membrane and Helium intake. Redundant Oxygen Clean Haskell Sport Boosters. Portable Tri Hunter 3000 Gas mixing stick. Cylinders: 30 aluminum 80 cu ft / 12 liter cylinders, 15 for air and 15 for Nitrox; 15 aluminum 100 cu ft / 15 liter cylinders. All cylinders fitted with XS Scuba PRO DIN Insert valves. 10 nitrox compatible 40 cu ft / 6 liter aluminum bailout cylinders rigged as stage / sidemount. 20 steel 19 cu ft / 2 liter rebreather cylinders fitted with various valves. Gas Analysis: 02 Nuvair Nitrox analyzers. 01 Analytical Industries Trimix Analyzer. Diver safety: 10 Nautilus Lifeline bi-directional VHf/DSC marine radio with GPS; 10 Dive Alerts; 10 Reef hooks; 10 emergency strobes; 10 DSMB’s. Miscellaneous: Complete toolkit and a selection of solid lead weights and trim soft pouches.
5. ITINERARY*: 10 night departures Friday – Arrive in Baltra. Transfer to the yacht and Check Dive at Punta Carrion Saturday – 4 dives at Santiago Island (Cousins / Bartholomew Point) Sunday – 4 dives at Marchena Island (Espejo Point / Mejia Pint / Cape Chalmers) Monday – 4 dives at Wolf Island Tuesday – 4 dives at Darwin Island Wednesday – 4 dives at Darwin Island Thursday – 4 dives at Wolf Island Friday – 4 dives at Isabela Island (Cape Douglas / Vicente Roca Point) Saturday – 2 dives at Isabela Island (Cape Marshall) 1 dive at Santiago Island (Albany Islet) Sunday - Transfer to the highlands of Santa Cruz Island, visit the tortoise reserve, Charles Darwin Research Station, transfer and overnight in a Hotel in Puerto Ayora. Monday - Breakfast and transfer to Baltra Airport 5 night departures Sunday – Arrive in Baltra. Transfer to the Yacht and check dive Monday – 4 dives at Pinzon area (Dumb Islet / Nameless Rock / Onan Islet) Tuesday – 4 dives at 4 Isabela Island (4 Hermanos / La Viuda Rock / Tortuga Islet) Wednesday – 4 dives at Floreana Island (Enderby Islet / Caldwell Islet / Champion Islet) Thursday – Transfer to the highlands of Santa Cruz Island, visit the tortoise reserve, Charles Darwin Research Station, transfer and overnight in a Hotel in Puerto Ayora. Friday - Baltra / Transfer to the Airport 14 night departures Friday – Arrive in Baltra. Transfer to the yacht and Check Dive at Punta Carrion Saturday – 4 dives at Santiago Island (Cousins / Bartholomew Point) Sunday – 4 dives at Marchena Island (Espejo Point / Mejia Pint / Cape Chalmers) Monday – 4 dives at Wolf Island Tuesday – 4 dives at Darwin Island Wednesday – 4 dives at Darwin Island Thursday – 4 dives at Wolf Island Friday – 4 dives at Isabela Island (Cape Douglas / Vicente Roca Point) Saturday – 2 dives at Isabela Island (Cape Marshall) 2 dives at Santiago Island (Albany Islet) Sunday – 4 dives at Santa Cruz Island (Don Ferdi Rock / Daphne Islet / South Guy Fawkes Islet) Monday – 4 dives at Pinzon area (Dumb Islet / Nameless Rock / Onan Islet) Tuesday – 4 dives at 4 Isabela Island (4 Hermanos / La Viuda Rock / Tortuga Islet) Wednesday – 4 dives at Floreana Island (Enderby Islet / Caldwell Islet / Champion Islet) Thursday – Transfer to the highlands of Santa Cruz Island, visit the tortoise reserve, Charles Darwin Research Station, transfer and overnight in a Hotel in Puerto Ayora. Friday - Baltra / Transfer to the Airport Note: The suggested itinerary is subjected to change pending finalization of Galapagos National Park Review
6. RATES: CHARTER ONLY Gross Charter Rate Wholesaler Commission % Wholesaler Commission Net Charter Rate
5 night USD 25,000 20% USD 5,000 USD 20,000
10 night USD 52,000 20% USD 10,400 USD 41,600
14 night USD 68,400 20% USD 13,680 USD 54,720
Rates include: Fully staffed dive live-aboard cruise, transfers in Baltra and Santa Cruz Island, English speaking naturalist dive master, tanks, weights, air or nitrox fills. All meals, non-alcoholic beverages and beer and wine included. Four dives a day, night dives in selected sites. Rates do not include: Air travel, Galapagos National Park entrance fees and taxes, tips and gratuities, personal expenses. Air ticketing to Galapagos will be arranged by Tip-Top Travel Lufthansa City Center 7. ADDITIONAL SERVICES UPON REQUEST: Transfers, hotels, tour extensions and naturalist cruises provided by Tip-Top Travel Lufthansa City Center. Dive training, specialized gases, rebreather and technical diving provided by Tip Top Dive & Training Facility. 8. ADDITIONAL REFERENCES: Rolf Wittmer Turismo Galápagos Tip Top Travel Lufthansa City Center Galapagos Tip Top Dive & Training Facility Galapagos RebreathersTM
http://www.rwittmer.com http://www.tiptoptravel.ec http://www.tiptopdiving.com http://www.galapagosrebreathers.com
9. CONTACT INFORMATION
Quito:
Puerto Ayora:
Tip Top Travel Lufthansa City Center Mariscal Foch E 7-81 y Diego de Almagro Phone: +593 22 526 938
Rolf Wittmer Turismo Galápagos Moisés Brito S/N y Los Colonos Esq. Phone: +593 52 526 502
www. galapagosnortada.com dive@galapagosnortada.com