Into the Wild Galápagos
Freediving Family Expedition (11 Spots Total)
What Are Freediving Family Expeditions?
Our expeditions are a chance to explore some of the most incredible underwater destinations on the planet alongside a community of adventurous, ocean-loving humans who are just as obsessed with freediving as you are. Think breathtaking dive sites, inquisitive marine life, local food, spontaneous adventures, and the kind of memories that somehow only happen when you throw a bunch of freedivers together in a beautiful part of the world.
While our mailing list and past students get first access to registrations, many of our expeditions are also open to the wider freediving community — so whether you’ve trained with us before or are joining us for the first time, you’re invited to come dive, explore, and experience it all with us.
Each trip is a close knit and a unique experience for those that join. Space is very limited at these events which opens us up to one of a kind opportunities to explore the world with new friends.
A Bucket-List Freediving Expedition: The Galápagos Islands
There are few places left in the world that still feel truly wild - and the Galápagos Islands are one of them. This legendary archipelago, shaped by volcanic landscapes and protected as a UNESCO World Heritage site, is home to some of the most unique marine life on the planet. From playful sea lions and marine iguanas to schools of tropical fish, penguins, and sharks, every day in the Galápagos feels like stepping inside a nature documentary.
But this expedition is about more than incredible wildlife encounters. The Galápagos are one of the most important conservation areas in the world. Strict protections and carefully managed tourism have helped preserve these islands and the ecosystems that make them so extraordinary. This trip will give you an inside view into what local operators are doing to prioritize environmental protection, sustainability, and responsible exploration.
This is an immersive adventure designed for ocean lovers, explorers, photographers, and citizen scientists who want to experience one of the most extraordinary destinations on Earth alongside a small group of like-minded people.
There’s only room for 11 adventurers on this expedition that’s definitely not for the feint of heart! Read on for more info!
Take a peak at all we have planned
* Please note everything is weather dependent and the schedule is flexible.
🐢 Day 1 - Arrival day at Baltra Airport
• Day 1 will start off strong with a visit to see the famous Galápagos Giant Tortoises in the wild!
🦭 Day 2 – Seals & sharks
• On day 2 we’ll depart for Floreana to look for sea lions and sharks
🪸 Day 3 – Conservation & coral restoration
• We’ll spend the day assisting in some citizen science for a coral restoration project with a local NGO!
• In the evening our partner will give a coral talk on all they’re doing to restore coral in the Galápagos!
🌊 Day 4 – Looking for Mantas on Isla Tortuga
• We’ll head out to see if we can locate some mantas!
🐧 Day 5 – Swimming with Galápagos Penguins!
• The Galápagos is one of the few place in the world you can actually swim with penguins and we are SO excited to experience it!
🌋 Day 6 - Rest(ish) day on Santa Cruz Island
• We’ll depart in the morning from Isabela, spending a chill day on Santa Cruz Island before taking a boat to San Cristobal.
🦈 Day 7 - Dive the famous Kicker Rock for sharks
• Kicker Rock is perhaps the most well known dive spot in the Galápagos, specifically for it’s hammerhead shark population!
🥲 Day 8 - Departure day
• We’ll depart from San Cristobal Island Airport to end the trip. Already sad just thinking about it!
Meet Your Hosts
This adventure will be guided by Marissa Schmidt and Gianna Haro.
Marissa is a Molchanovs Instructor and has been running trips with Freediving Family for over 2 years now. If you know her, you know this kind of wild adventure is exactly her kind of trip!
Gianna is a proud Galapagueña, from Santa Cruz Island. She is a Biologist with a master’s in Environmental Management from Cornell University, with over seven years of experience as a biologist, environmental educator and eco-entrepreneur.
She is a NetGeo Field Educator and a member of the Island Education Network (IEN), where she is currently contributing to a book on island education worldwide.
We are so stoked to have hand-curated this trip with her to share her magical homelands with our Freediving Family community!
*Imagery by Sandra at Deep Serenity
Who is this trip for?
The Galápagos are wild, remote, and wonderfully unpredictable - and that’s exactly what makes this expedition so rewarding. But it’s important to understand that this is not a luxury cruise or a relaxed resort-style vacation. Conditions can be physically demanding, with long days on boats, changing weather, and strong currents that are part of what make these islands such a thriving marine ecosystem. Make sure you answer yes to the below before booking on!
You’re very confident in the water This expedition is best suited for adventurous travelers who are comfortable spending extended time at sea, entering and exiting boats in dynamic conditions, and swimming in open water environments that can sometimes be challenging. While you do not need to be an elite athlete, a good level of ocean confidence, adaptability, and resilience will help you get the most out of the experience.
Minimum Wave 1 Certification or Equivalent For all of the reasons above, you also need a Wave 1 freediving certification (or equivalent) to join this adventure.
You’re ready to come with the spirit of adventure The Galápagos reward those who arrive with a spirit of adventure. The conditions may challenge you at times — but they are also what make this destination feel so raw, authentic, and unforgettable.
A Bespoke Citizen Science Adventure
Throughout the expedition, we’ll be working alongside experienced local guides and operators who are deeply connected to the islands and committed to sustainable tourism practices that help preserve this extraordinary environment for future generations.
As part of the expedition, we’ll have the opportunity to support a local coral restoration NGO by volunteering a day to assist in some hands-on community science! We’ll receive a talk with their local partners before helping them to clean and maintain the newly planted coral beds!
This is a unique opportunity to learn more about reef restoration initiatives in the Galápagos and support the ongoing work being done to protect marine biodiversity in one of the world’s most unique ocean environments.
Where are we staying?
Most of this adventure takes place aboard a boat as we explore the islands, so we’ll often finish each day in a different place than where we began. It’s a highly mobile, ever-moving journey, with stays across a range of stays scattered throughout the Galápagos.
Accommodation is based on twin-share rooms, meaning you'll typically be sharing with one other guest. If you'd prefer your own space, private rooms may be available upon request for an additional fee. And rest assured all of the accommodations are equipped with internet, air conditioning and hot water!
What’s included?
✅ What is Included:
8 privately chartered tours
Private Galápagos Naturalist Guide who is also an experienced freediving instructor
7x nights of accommodation
All breakfast and lunches in the Galápagos
Welcome + farewell dinners
All transportation within Galápagos
Snorkeling gear
Drinkable water supply
❌ What is not included
Visas/Permits
Airfares to and from Ecuador
Airfares to and from the Galapagos Islands
Galapagos National Park Entrance Fee ($200 USD)
Galapagos Transit Control ($20 USD)
Dinners on days not mentioned
Personal travel insurance
Tips & gratuity
Alcoholic beverages
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Yes you can! All of our expeditions are first opened to prior event attendees before we open them up to the general public! But after that they are open to anyone who’s keen to come along for an adventure :)
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During our Family Expeditions, we don’t offer certifications. You must be at least Wave 1 certified or the equivalent to be able to attend these events!
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Due to the unique nature of the events and how each one is individually planned, we are only able to transfer your deposit to a future Freediving Family Reunion and only if you have requested the deposit to be moved no closer than 8 weeks before the event begins.
In the event that you need to cancel your spot between 8 weeks and 4 weeks of the event starting, we do charge a fee equal to the event deposit. Any balance remaining can be applied to a future Family Reunion.
If you need to cancel within 4 weeks of the event starting, we cannot move your balance to a future event.We cannot issue refunds.
For more info, check our terms of service.
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Basic snorkeling gear is included (mask, snorkel, fins and short-sleeved wetsuit) but any other equipment is not available and will need to be brought!
Lead will be provided but weight belts will not so please bring your own if you have it! -
The air temp in The Galápagos this. time of year is usually around 23-28C and the water temp is around 22-25C so we recommend a 3-5mm suit!
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You can pay an initial deposit to secure your spot and 8 weeks before the reunion begins the remaining balance is due.
With no deposit, there is no booking confirmed.
As soon as you book in, you will receive an email with a button that says “Pay Remainder Balance”. We ask that if you are booking on within 8 weeks of the event starting, you continue on to pay the remaining balance as soon as possible!
We ask the full payment to be covered eight weeks before the start of the event.
You can also choose to pay in full upon checkout.
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You can pay with a credit or debit card on our website. The payment is securely captured through Stripe. PayPal transfer or crypto are also options. If you would like to pay with PayPal or crypto, please contact Marissa at deepweek@freedivingfamily.com and she can assist you.
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Nothing during the retreat is compulsory.
If you feel like you need some time to chill and relax by skipping a dive session, then by all means do so!
As Brandon always says, this is your vacation and you get to decide how much or little you want to do!
If you do decide to skip an activity, you are not entitled to a partial refund on the event.
FAQs
Pricing
Trip dates: December 2-9, 2026
$1,175 AUD
Deposit
$5,890 AUD
Full Payment
The price includes all charters, guides, accommodation, all transport to scheduled activities, basic snorkeling equipment, breakfasts, lunches and 2x dinners. It does not include flights, entry fees into the National Park, visas, gratuity, travel insurance or alcoholic beverages. To ensure your booking is confirmed, please provide a $1,175 AUD non-refundable deposit. The remaining amount can be paid 8 weeks prior to the trip. Your transaction is secure through Stripe. Terms of Service.