Time and tide have not only brought us to Espanola Island but also back to a time at which these incredible creatures we are witnessing have arrived and settled in the Galapagos archipelago. Being one of our oldest islands, this has been one of the stepping stones for the arrival and establishment of the ancestors of the endemic species we encounter today. Gardner Bay is our first destination this morning and a gunmetal grey sky greets us with a bit of rain as we prepare ourselves for snorkeling in the turquoise waters that surround our anchorage. Snorkeling along the coast of a small satellite island of Española, we encounter Galapagos sea lions that consider us worthy as playmates as they blow bubbles at us, grab some fins in their mouths, and swim circles around us. Large schools of razor surgeonfish feed upon algae covering the boulders in the shallows as an occasional Indio Pacific bonito tuna darts by. Diamond stingrays rest at the base of an incredible wall of invertebrates that includes soft corals, sea anemones, cup corals, and various sea stars. We head to the main beach where we encounter snorkelers coming out of the water with smiles upon their faces. Española mocking birds flit among us and start exploring the backpacks left on the beach as sea lions laze on the bright white coralline sand beach. Kayakers venture along the coast and find an occasional Pacific green sea turtle pop its head above the surface for a breath of air. As all return to our floating home we continue our navigation towards the western area of Española Island.
The afternoon has brightened up with the equatorial sun warming all as we land at Punta Suarez. Most are surprised at the wildlife that not only surround us but also accept us as part of the environment and do not fly or run away. Brightly colored marine iguanas take high positions upon the black basalt rocks so they can keep an eye on the field as this is breeding season. As we continue along the southern Cliff areas we encounter Nazca boobies resting along the cliffs. A large cloud of water vapor is shot to the sky as waves are compressed into a crack along this lava flow coastline. As we return and follow the sun as it dips into the horizon, a small group of red billed tropic birds screech overhead as they head along the cliff looking for their nesting areas. This is a wonderful end to this surprising day as we start our navigation towards our next exploration at Floreana Island.
