Fernandina and Isabela Islands
I had one of the most beautiful Zodiac rides I have ever had. The stars, planets and the moon all confabulated for creating the right conditions at the right moment. It was low tide, the lowest of the month. Sea was a flat mirror with at least sixty feet visibility. It was partially overcast; therefore, we had pretty agreeable temperature, perfect for us and perfect for fur seals that rested outside their caves. The water had shiny creatures all over, as far as we could see. There were green sea turtles floating, sunbathing, and enjoying the calmness of the sea. The highest volcano of the Galápagos Islands was visible, clear, and impressive. At the same time we could see the heart of another volcano, Ecuador, which is actually half of one, as most of its caldera has collapsed bellow sea level. Male iguanas were dressed in their breeding colors, territorially behaving, as they always do this time of year. Smaller iguanas were taking advantage of the low tide and ate marine algae exposed along the coastline. There were blue-footed boobies plunge diving, and brown noddy terns fishing little salemas driven to the surface by Galápagos penguins in an amazing feeding frenzy. I could go on and on forever. It made me very happy to see that most of our guests went back to the same area for snorkeling. They came back on board shining with the sights of ocean sunfish, sea horses, marine turtles, sea lions and Galápagos penguins.
The afternoon found us on Fernandina, for another festival of beauty. There were iguanas, flightless cormorants, and more penguins. We walked over pahoe-hoe lava, a pristine and new flow formed less than two hundred years ago. I can’t say anymore, it was overwhelming.
I had one of the most beautiful Zodiac rides I have ever had. The stars, planets and the moon all confabulated for creating the right conditions at the right moment. It was low tide, the lowest of the month. Sea was a flat mirror with at least sixty feet visibility. It was partially overcast; therefore, we had pretty agreeable temperature, perfect for us and perfect for fur seals that rested outside their caves. The water had shiny creatures all over, as far as we could see. There were green sea turtles floating, sunbathing, and enjoying the calmness of the sea. The highest volcano of the Galápagos Islands was visible, clear, and impressive. At the same time we could see the heart of another volcano, Ecuador, which is actually half of one, as most of its caldera has collapsed bellow sea level. Male iguanas were dressed in their breeding colors, territorially behaving, as they always do this time of year. Smaller iguanas were taking advantage of the low tide and ate marine algae exposed along the coastline. There were blue-footed boobies plunge diving, and brown noddy terns fishing little salemas driven to the surface by Galápagos penguins in an amazing feeding frenzy. I could go on and on forever. It made me very happy to see that most of our guests went back to the same area for snorkeling. They came back on board shining with the sights of ocean sunfish, sea horses, marine turtles, sea lions and Galápagos penguins.
The afternoon found us on Fernandina, for another festival of beauty. There were iguanas, flightless cormorants, and more penguins. We walked over pahoe-hoe lava, a pristine and new flow formed less than two hundred years ago. I can’t say anymore, it was overwhelming.
