Floreana Island
The Galápagos Archipelago is made up of several isolated, oceanic islands located in the Pacific over 700 miles from the nearest mainland, the country of Ecuador. They straddle the equator line and are at the heart of a complex system of oceanic currents that converge on the group from the south, north and west. This phenomenon is at the heart of the contradictory wildlife that inhabits the islands: penguins flitting among corals and reef fish, fur seals originally from way down south living side by side with tropical species such as hammerhead sharks and the Galápagos sea lions that descended from California sea lions, from up north. It is truly a case of “expect the unexpected;” a characteristic of this enchanted place that makes its exploration a never-ending source of amazement and wonder – even for those who have lived here for years.
The Galápagos sea lions have recently been declared a separate species from their closely-related cousins and differ in many ways, including size and behaviour. There are many healthy populations throughout the islands, but rarely are they seen in as many numbers as on the small satellite of Floreana: Champion Islet. This islet is home to the very rare Floreana mocking bird on land, but its underwater world is unparalleled. Steep cliffs covered in black coral stretch down almost as far as the eye can see, home to myriad colourful angel fish, butterfly fish, surgeonfish and countless other species. White-tipped reef sharks and green sea turtles glide gracefully by as we swim along, while sea lions are everywhere.
At the moment, they are at their very best, about three to four months of age and full of boundless curiosity aimed at anything that surrounds them. Their excitement at a new element entering their world, the unsuspecting snorkeler, is palpable; they test the limits of our bravery by charging at full speed, only to turn away at the very last second. Until we get used to this play, our hearts are in our throats - one can just imagine the glee with which they observe our startled reactions! Once we get over our initial nervousness, we start playing their game and partaking in an aquatic ballet that could go on forever. It is a truly unforgettable experience to really interact with other species in their natural habitat, an experience we have here in Galápagos almost on a daily basis.
The Galápagos Archipelago is made up of several isolated, oceanic islands located in the Pacific over 700 miles from the nearest mainland, the country of Ecuador. They straddle the equator line and are at the heart of a complex system of oceanic currents that converge on the group from the south, north and west. This phenomenon is at the heart of the contradictory wildlife that inhabits the islands: penguins flitting among corals and reef fish, fur seals originally from way down south living side by side with tropical species such as hammerhead sharks and the Galápagos sea lions that descended from California sea lions, from up north. It is truly a case of “expect the unexpected;” a characteristic of this enchanted place that makes its exploration a never-ending source of amazement and wonder – even for those who have lived here for years.
The Galápagos sea lions have recently been declared a separate species from their closely-related cousins and differ in many ways, including size and behaviour. There are many healthy populations throughout the islands, but rarely are they seen in as many numbers as on the small satellite of Floreana: Champion Islet. This islet is home to the very rare Floreana mocking bird on land, but its underwater world is unparalleled. Steep cliffs covered in black coral stretch down almost as far as the eye can see, home to myriad colourful angel fish, butterfly fish, surgeonfish and countless other species. White-tipped reef sharks and green sea turtles glide gracefully by as we swim along, while sea lions are everywhere.
At the moment, they are at their very best, about three to four months of age and full of boundless curiosity aimed at anything that surrounds them. Their excitement at a new element entering their world, the unsuspecting snorkeler, is palpable; they test the limits of our bravery by charging at full speed, only to turn away at the very last second. Until we get used to this play, our hearts are in our throats - one can just imagine the glee with which they observe our startled reactions! Once we get over our initial nervousness, we start playing their game and partaking in an aquatic ballet that could go on forever. It is a truly unforgettable experience to really interact with other species in their natural habitat, an experience we have here in Galápagos almost on a daily basis.
