Floreana Island
The weather was a bit cool and gray today but by no means did this slow us down or dampen our spirits in the least! From the 6:00 a.m. early optional wake up call to the barbecue dinner and dancing on the sky deck, the day was full and fun. We delivered postcards to the Post Office Barrel and took mail that we could hand deliver to its destination. We snorkeled with thousands of colorful fish of dozens of species, and twirled and swirled with the playful and amazingly graceful sea lions. Quick predatory tuna fish swam among huge schools of salema and anchovies and made them panic and dart away. Noddy tern fluttered and dipped under the surface and blue-footed boobies dove on the thousands of tiny fish. Hotel Manager Esteban had hot chocolate ready for us when we returned to the ship; much appreciated, as we were cold!
We took a panga ride around Champion and found several of the rare Floreana mocking birds. Naturalist Bitinia even got a very good picture of one! Then we motored way off shore, following the feeding noddy terns, blue-footed boobies and shearwaters. We returned to feed ourselves at the lavish and delicious lunch buffet and then took a much deserved siesta.
But by 2:30 p.m. I was calling all “Rambo” snorkelers and we motored off to Devil’s Crown. The current was swift and below us were thousands of fish. We also saw a large spotted eagle ray, a half dozen white-tipped reef sharks, a school of huge snappers, and three poisonous and well-camouflaged scorpion fish.
By 4:00 p.m. the snorkelers had made a quick change into dry clothes and we joined the beach group and hikers for a very pretty walk at Punta Cormorant. A brackish water lagoon just behind the greenish, olivine beach harbors a large population of brilliant pink greater flamingos. We took many photos and had good views of these birds as they fed on tiny shrimp in the shallow pond. At sunset we returned to theIslander for showers, cocktails, the evening recap and briefing and a delicious deck barbecue dinner.
The weather was a bit cool and gray today but by no means did this slow us down or dampen our spirits in the least! From the 6:00 a.m. early optional wake up call to the barbecue dinner and dancing on the sky deck, the day was full and fun. We delivered postcards to the Post Office Barrel and took mail that we could hand deliver to its destination. We snorkeled with thousands of colorful fish of dozens of species, and twirled and swirled with the playful and amazingly graceful sea lions. Quick predatory tuna fish swam among huge schools of salema and anchovies and made them panic and dart away. Noddy tern fluttered and dipped under the surface and blue-footed boobies dove on the thousands of tiny fish. Hotel Manager Esteban had hot chocolate ready for us when we returned to the ship; much appreciated, as we were cold!
We took a panga ride around Champion and found several of the rare Floreana mocking birds. Naturalist Bitinia even got a very good picture of one! Then we motored way off shore, following the feeding noddy terns, blue-footed boobies and shearwaters. We returned to feed ourselves at the lavish and delicious lunch buffet and then took a much deserved siesta.
But by 2:30 p.m. I was calling all “Rambo” snorkelers and we motored off to Devil’s Crown. The current was swift and below us were thousands of fish. We also saw a large spotted eagle ray, a half dozen white-tipped reef sharks, a school of huge snappers, and three poisonous and well-camouflaged scorpion fish.
By 4:00 p.m. the snorkelers had made a quick change into dry clothes and we joined the beach group and hikers for a very pretty walk at Punta Cormorant. A brackish water lagoon just behind the greenish, olivine beach harbors a large population of brilliant pink greater flamingos. We took many photos and had good views of these birds as they fed on tiny shrimp in the shallow pond. At sunset we returned to theIslander for showers, cocktails, the evening recap and briefing and a delicious deck barbecue dinner.
