Join HX Ambassador Monty Halls as he tells the remarkable story of this most iconic of archipelagos and learn about the wildlife and history

HX Ambassador Monty Halls has a relationship with the Galapagos that spans three decades.

Monty is President of the Galapagos Conservation Trust, and lived in the islands with his family, during which they filmed the Channel Four series “My Family and the Galapagos”.

This talk tells the remarkable story of this most iconic of archipelagos, from their volcanic birth to first discovery in 1535, to the first human settlers, through to being granted the status of the first World Heritage Site in 1978. It is also a chance to learn more about the wildlife both above and below the waves, a truly unique ecosystem that inspired Charles Darwin, and continues to enthrall visitors to this day.

Bio

Monty Halls is an ex-Royal Marines Officer who worked for Nelson Mandela during the peace process in the early nineties. He left the Marines to pursue a career in expeditions, travel journalism and biology, achieving a First Class Honours Degree and becoming qualified as a marine biologist.

His degree was funded by running expeditions, the most notable of which was leading a multi-national team to the discovery of a sunken city off the Indian coast in 2002. During this period he also led four expeditions to Southern Africa, three to Malawi to explore the ecosystem of the lake and investigate poaching activity on the Nyika Plateau, and one to South Africa to dive looking for evidence of prehistoric settlements in cave systems off the Cape. For his work he was awarded the Bish Medal for services to exploration by the Scientific Exploration Society.

About HX

HX is The Perfect Choice for Curious Adventurers

• HX has been sailing the world expedition-style for a long time. For almost 130 years, they’ve honed the art of exploring by sea, its lineage stretches back to a golden age of exploration.
• HX’s purpose-built ships bring you closer to adventure, and its range of activities and excursions mean you’ll dive deeper into your destination. You’ll find yourself inspired, and your mind illuminated. And you’ll come back home with an intimate knowledge of the region you’ve just explored. Here are some of the reasons people choose to join an HX voyage time and again.

Striking the Right Balance between Adventure, Comfort and Sustainability

• Since HX first set out in 1896, its been refining its ships to suit the conditions in which it explores. They’re large enough to carry a full suite of expedition equipment, including fleets of small boats and kayaks, while a dedicated tender deck means you’ll be at sea level getting to and from shore landings. At the same time, they’re also small enough to go off the beaten track and venture to where larger ships cannot reach. With sustainability in mind, HX are continuously striving to achieve a lower ecological footprint while keeping plenty of room for restaurants, lecture areas and quiet window seats.

True Pioneers of Mindful Exploration

• When it comes to sustainability, HX has always been at the vanguard. The first to stop using heavy fuel oils and single-use plastic in its fleet, and introduced the world’s first hybrid-powered expedition ships. But that’s far from the whole story. HX tries to provision food as locally as possible; trading with the communities where it sails; and clean up marine plastics from remote beaches. What’s more, HX partner with global scientific institutions, giving their scientists free onboard space to do their research, while the HX charitable foundation supports community and conservation projects around the globe.

For this event, non-u3a members are welcome to join - please do invite a friend.

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