Punta Vicente Roca & Fernandina Island
The day dawned grey and cool and the ocean was lovely, almost mirror calm. For those of us who got up early, what a nice reward we had this morning: two Bryde’s whales – a mother and calf – and a large pod of common dolphins! Expedition Leader Lynn Fowler and I were delighted to identify a few striped dolphins mixed in among the others. This species is more seldom seen than either the common or the bottlenose dolphins. Three species of dolphins this week – wow! It was fantastic to watch them feeding, jumping and splashing right off the ship.
We set our course towards the north western tip of Isabela Island, and for Volcan Ecuador, an old eroded shield volcano that has been perfectly cross sectioned. With a crowd in the bridge, a countdown and two long and loud blasts of the ship’s horn we crossed the equator line and returned to the southern hemisphere.
We dropped anchor in the calm waters off Punta Vicente Roca, and went out in the Zodiacs to explore the shoreline at the base of the spectacular cliffs of Volcan Ecuador. Sea turtles popped their heads up every few minutes, and we watched our first flightless cormorants hopping among the lava rocks. We were all excited to see the strange pelagic sunfish, the Mola mola. They can be spotted from a fair distance and easily recognized by their wide, triangular dorsal fin which breaks the water’s surface and moves from side to side.
Back at the ship we geared up for snorkelling from the Zodiacs. Although the visibility was only mediocre, we saw sea turtles and penguins and fish of all sizes. We were able to swim so closely to the penguins and turtles that we barely noticed the cool water. Later we warmed up and replenished ourselves with a magnificent traditional Ecuadorian buffet lunch and a siesta.
In the afternoon we hiked along a lava trail at Punta Espinoza, on Fernandina Island. We got close looks and great pictures of marine iguanas, flightless cormorants, and very young and extremely cute sea lion pups. Late in the afternoon, as the grey sky behind the imposing shield volcano of Fernandina turned pink and orange, we returned to the ship, dreaming of more things to come during the final days of our voyage in Galápagos.
The day dawned grey and cool and the ocean was lovely, almost mirror calm. For those of us who got up early, what a nice reward we had this morning: two Bryde’s whales – a mother and calf – and a large pod of common dolphins! Expedition Leader Lynn Fowler and I were delighted to identify a few striped dolphins mixed in among the others. This species is more seldom seen than either the common or the bottlenose dolphins. Three species of dolphins this week – wow! It was fantastic to watch them feeding, jumping and splashing right off the ship.
We set our course towards the north western tip of Isabela Island, and for Volcan Ecuador, an old eroded shield volcano that has been perfectly cross sectioned. With a crowd in the bridge, a countdown and two long and loud blasts of the ship’s horn we crossed the equator line and returned to the southern hemisphere.
We dropped anchor in the calm waters off Punta Vicente Roca, and went out in the Zodiacs to explore the shoreline at the base of the spectacular cliffs of Volcan Ecuador. Sea turtles popped their heads up every few minutes, and we watched our first flightless cormorants hopping among the lava rocks. We were all excited to see the strange pelagic sunfish, the Mola mola. They can be spotted from a fair distance and easily recognized by their wide, triangular dorsal fin which breaks the water’s surface and moves from side to side.
Back at the ship we geared up for snorkelling from the Zodiacs. Although the visibility was only mediocre, we saw sea turtles and penguins and fish of all sizes. We were able to swim so closely to the penguins and turtles that we barely noticed the cool water. Later we warmed up and replenished ourselves with a magnificent traditional Ecuadorian buffet lunch and a siesta.
In the afternoon we hiked along a lava trail at Punta Espinoza, on Fernandina Island. We got close looks and great pictures of marine iguanas, flightless cormorants, and very young and extremely cute sea lion pups. Late in the afternoon, as the grey sky behind the imposing shield volcano of Fernandina turned pink and orange, we returned to the ship, dreaming of more things to come during the final days of our voyage in Galápagos.
