Floreana Island
Early morning saw quite a few of us out and about with postcards in hand to visit the famous Post Office Barrel. What was a complete surprise to all was looking over the side while drinking coffee or tea to see a tight school of anchovies being attacked with precision and calculation by Galápagos sharks and sea-lions. Rafael caught some of this action on tape, which we saw with great interest tonight in the lounge. Some postcards were left, and some were taken for hand delivery later. Some marine turtles were seen, and some sea-lions were smiled at.
By breakfast we were on our way to Champion Islet, off the main island of Floreana. The glass-bottomed boat was sent off, and deep-water snorkelers joined the underwater realm of razor surgeonfish, king angelfish, scorpion fish, sharks, turtles and “teenaged” sea-lions for a frolic in the clear waters around the island.
I was there, ready for action, and when the sea-lions appeared tried to engage their interest in order to keep them nearby. When they descended into the depths without me, I felt like the last child picked for the team, left behind looking with longing as the “pros” dove, spun around and blew bubbles which slid off their stream-lined bodies as mercury off a table. They came back, and all was well with the world for another few minutes.
The bull cruised by close, barking as through a muffled pillow, announcing his dominance and possession of the shoreline.
The afternoon turned magical. Soft late light bathed the flamingos in a glow that made their salmon pink colours intensify beyond the norm. Black-necked stilts, black-bellied plovers, spotted sandpipers, lesser yellow legs, pintail ducks, all were there preoccupied with survival yet providing us with pleasure.
The east Pacific green sea turtles were close to shore, rolling in the breakers as the female attempted to loose the male so closely attached. White-tipped reef sharks cruised nearby while small stingrays clung to the white sand bottom of the shallows.
We returned with reluctance, but night was settling in, and the stars awaited us in a stark-clear sky.
Early morning saw quite a few of us out and about with postcards in hand to visit the famous Post Office Barrel. What was a complete surprise to all was looking over the side while drinking coffee or tea to see a tight school of anchovies being attacked with precision and calculation by Galápagos sharks and sea-lions. Rafael caught some of this action on tape, which we saw with great interest tonight in the lounge. Some postcards were left, and some were taken for hand delivery later. Some marine turtles were seen, and some sea-lions were smiled at.
By breakfast we were on our way to Champion Islet, off the main island of Floreana. The glass-bottomed boat was sent off, and deep-water snorkelers joined the underwater realm of razor surgeonfish, king angelfish, scorpion fish, sharks, turtles and “teenaged” sea-lions for a frolic in the clear waters around the island.
I was there, ready for action, and when the sea-lions appeared tried to engage their interest in order to keep them nearby. When they descended into the depths without me, I felt like the last child picked for the team, left behind looking with longing as the “pros” dove, spun around and blew bubbles which slid off their stream-lined bodies as mercury off a table. They came back, and all was well with the world for another few minutes.
The bull cruised by close, barking as through a muffled pillow, announcing his dominance and possession of the shoreline.
The afternoon turned magical. Soft late light bathed the flamingos in a glow that made their salmon pink colours intensify beyond the norm. Black-necked stilts, black-bellied plovers, spotted sandpipers, lesser yellow legs, pintail ducks, all were there preoccupied with survival yet providing us with pleasure.
The east Pacific green sea turtles were close to shore, rolling in the breakers as the female attempted to loose the male so closely attached. White-tipped reef sharks cruised nearby while small stingrays clung to the white sand bottom of the shallows.
We returned with reluctance, but night was settling in, and the stars awaited us in a stark-clear sky.
