Floreana Island
As the sun began to rise over the horizon we could start to see the impressive landscape around us; to the east a group of lava rocks spread over the ocean. The name for this place is almost out of the pages of a mystery novel – Devil’s Crown. As we prepared for an early-morning walk on Floreana Island some marine turtles surfaced occasionally around the National Geographic Endeavour. The ocean was calm; few waves and a light breeze made the conditions ideal.
After landing on Floreana Island we found two flamingos in a lagoon. The hike took us to a beach with the finest white sand, and as we walked on this beach a yellow-crowned night heron was standing on the sand, probably looking for something to eat. As we approached it, it did not move away from us, just stayed motionless.
Snorkeling around the waters of Champion Islet was beyond expectations; different tropical marine fish gathered in schools below us: king angelfish, parrotfish, spotted eagle rays, and many others. This sent some of our explorers straight into the library to find out the names of the new fishes to add to the identification list. Some were very confusing as they change colors as they get older and bigger, but with dedication and patience it was possible to discover all their names.
The afternoon had more surprises waiting for us. First it was a visit to the barrel in Post Office Bay, to pick up some mail and leave postcards that should be hand-delivered to their final destinations, in a similar way as a few centuries ago, when there were no e-mails or internet and the only way to get a letter home was to leave it in this place and wait for some sailor going to the same location and expect that he would deliver the letters.
Later on this same beach we had some moments that will be remembered forever. Several spotted eagle rays were mating, and we could see their wings getting off the water; then a school of these amazing fish swam in front of us – as in a well-choreographed parade – while we stood in knee-deep water.
To finish this day with even more emotions, several juvenile black-tip sharks were swimming along the beach, and some of the young explorers in the group overcame their apprehensions and decided to get a little wet. As they moved in the water and could observe the little sharks swim by, most of their fears disappeared. Just like the first day at school, it is only a matter of time to adapt to the new friends and start to know your neighbors.
As we left the island the sun started to set behind the clouds, and marine turtles periodically emerged at the surface to take a little gulp of air.
