This morning the National Geographic Islander dropped anchor close to Sombrero Chino and Santiago Islands. It was a spectacular sight, we have a beautiful islet, with a flat top, covered by brown lava: seen by the distance the islet looks like a Chinese hat. At the other side of the channel that separates Sombrero Chino from the big island of Santiago, it is easy to distinguish an extensive young black lava flow from the volcanic activity of 1897.
After breakfast we disembarked our fleet of four Zodiacs. The most adventure ones went Kayaking and today it was a good work out, it was windy. I was fortunate to lead this option, which brought us close to Galapagos sea lions and a solitary Galapagos penguin that was looking for a good place to warm up. Many other shore birds were spotted several whimbrels, brown noddies, Galapagos shearwaters, striated herons, yellow crowned night herons, while pelicans, frigates and boobies were fishing around the area. We all went back on board and had time for the second option of the morning activities: enjoying the time at a cute and small white sandy beach or snorkeling off the zodiac. The snorkeling this morning was awesome! With a water temperature of 70F, we swam along the coastal area, close to the rocks where schools of fish were observed; razor surgeonfish, several species of colorful parrotfish, large schools of creole fish and sergeant majors, coming so close to the surface to look for plankton that we needed to swim gently and slowly through them. The visibility was very good and we found two white-tipped reef sharks sleeping under a rock, while two others were swimming underneath us! At the end of the snorkeling we got to see two Galapagos penguins resting on the rocks. I like snorkeling at Sombrero Chino, it is like snorkeling in a large aquarium!
Captain Pablo Garces repositioned the National Geographic Islander towards the next visitor site located at the Island of Santiago: Sullivan bay. During our navigation we passed by the Bainbridge Islets, here our Captain maneuvered in order to bring us close the Islet that has a brackish water lagoon, what a sight! Before disembarkation our expedition leader, Dr. Lynn Fowler, gave a great talk about her PHD work on Alcedo Volcano, one of the northern volcanoes of Isabela Island. Right afterwards we went for a great hike, this visitor site is covered by a spectacular pahoehoe lava field, it is great for pictures and at the same time it is the beginning of life on earth. However we were able to find life here, the first pioneer plants are growing and here and there lava cactus, breaking slowly the rocks, creating soil little by little. Lava lizards were observed and we enjoyed the time over there. Your imagination is free to see whatever you want in the lava flow, it is just overwhelming how nature can destroy a place and at the same time after many years life will start all over again.
We went back on board, happy faces, true smiles! I love the spirit of Olivia Groups, they are so much fun. There is still another full day in Paradise and tonight we are heading towards Genovesa Island, where the adventure continues.
