Isabela and Fernandina Islands
Days like this one are the reasons why after nineteen years of working in the Galápagos Islands I am still enjoying my job as if it were the very first day.
Early in the morning before breakfast many of us were at the top and outside areas of the ship looking for some marine mammals, however, we did not have much luck in that field (little did we know what was about to come for us). Certainly we were very fortunate in the ornithology area, we saw a couple of red bill tropic birds, the endemic dark rumped petrels and red neck phalaropes with one of them sitting in the water very close to our ship, giving us the opportunity of a positive identification.
Our guests went for breakfast and tasted our delectable food. Suddenly our ship began to turn very quickly as an indication of something interesting occurring in the area, and indeed our officer at the bridge had a surprise for us. A large group of short-finned pilot whales were spotted together with some bottle nose dolphins. All our guests were heading towards the outside decks for a better view while our expedition leader Celso spoke to our captain checking for the possibility of getting a Zodiac on the water. Our permission was granted, and a couple of minutes later I jumped out of the Islander and into the Zodiac with the ship’s under water camera. After a few minutes of riding I found myself in the water, and started to burn so much adrenaline while I was filming these two species of sea mammals. It has been at least two years since I had a similar experience and perhaps the fifth time in my life with such privilege to be in their element, the ocean, contemplating these amazing creatures.
In the afternoon we went to Fernandina Island, one of the most pristine places in the world, where we saw penguins, flightless cormorant and a great number of marine iguanas. On top of it all, the highlight of the day to me was the most incredible sounds we listen to, not just on land but also under water, the sound of Mother Nature.
Our expedition is at its peak, but we still have many more days to go.
Days like this one are the reasons why after nineteen years of working in the Galápagos Islands I am still enjoying my job as if it were the very first day.
Early in the morning before breakfast many of us were at the top and outside areas of the ship looking for some marine mammals, however, we did not have much luck in that field (little did we know what was about to come for us). Certainly we were very fortunate in the ornithology area, we saw a couple of red bill tropic birds, the endemic dark rumped petrels and red neck phalaropes with one of them sitting in the water very close to our ship, giving us the opportunity of a positive identification.
Our guests went for breakfast and tasted our delectable food. Suddenly our ship began to turn very quickly as an indication of something interesting occurring in the area, and indeed our officer at the bridge had a surprise for us. A large group of short-finned pilot whales were spotted together with some bottle nose dolphins. All our guests were heading towards the outside decks for a better view while our expedition leader Celso spoke to our captain checking for the possibility of getting a Zodiac on the water. Our permission was granted, and a couple of minutes later I jumped out of the Islander and into the Zodiac with the ship’s under water camera. After a few minutes of riding I found myself in the water, and started to burn so much adrenaline while I was filming these two species of sea mammals. It has been at least two years since I had a similar experience and perhaps the fifth time in my life with such privilege to be in their element, the ocean, contemplating these amazing creatures.
In the afternoon we went to Fernandina Island, one of the most pristine places in the world, where we saw penguins, flightless cormorant and a great number of marine iguanas. On top of it all, the highlight of the day to me was the most incredible sounds we listen to, not just on land but also under water, the sound of Mother Nature.
Our expedition is at its peak, but we still have many more days to go.
