'Bad experience with Galasam International' Galapagos Islands

perigor2000 (118.173.75.57) - 02/23/09 22:33

Dear all, we want to share our bad experience with Galasam International (Ecuador). In August 2008 we booked a live-aboard dive trip with them on the Estrella Del Mar I (It is still advertised on their website ). We were told by the Galasam International Sales Manager, Tania Haws, that the boat Estrella Del Mar I has a proper dive permission for the Galapagos Islands.

After we paid the deposit by the bank transfer we received an email from another employee, Solvei Rasmussen, saying that “Diving in Galapagos has been restricted for the National Park Galapagos

and from now all the yacht can only operate naturalist cruises, (just

land visits on the islands) and for them that like dive are specific

daily diving excursions from Santa Cruz”.

As the daily diving is quite different from live-aboard diving, we decided to cancel the whole trip and asked them to refund the deposit and sent them our bank details. We have contacted them many times about the refund but were always told it has been already sent, but they were unable to provide any paper proof for it. Now it is the end of February 2009 (more than 6 months since we booked the trip) and we still haven’t received the refund. Right now they don’t answer our emails at all and hang up our phone calls.

As we are running out of options to get our money back, the only choice seems to post this story as a warning to others and try to force the management of Galasam to resolve the issue.

Comment #1 Mulan (63.176.159.161) - 06/28/09 09:25

From sea to mainland the Galapagos Islands are a clear image of the history of Earth's terrestrial evolution. The historical volcanic activity of the Galapagos Islands are visible a long the islands, because of the accidental land created by the great amou nt of lava that build the Galapagos millions of years ago.

Taking a deeper view of the Spartan landscape of the Galapagos Islands, it is in fact a boiling source of wildlife, being a contradiction such abundance of wildlife in a hostile environment. For one moment to another some rocks will move, but what you are watching it's not a rock, but an iguana that even takes it original place without caring about your presence.

I think Galapos is a fantastic island...

• www.galasam.com/travel_information.php

Comment #2 Eat-it (72.193.25.206) - 07/30/09 18:08

Thanks let us know what happen to you. We all learn from watching somebody's mistake. I wonder how you'll get your money back. But don't feel bad. I bought HP pc believing their advertising for rebate. They never sent my rebate and I complained thru direct line to the HP president. It was year and half ago and all I got so far is his answer no rebate money. Now you and I both learned.

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