NSF Dive Talk

There's More to the Galapagos than Whale Sharks - by Susan Copelas

Galapagos trip, July 14-21, 2007

I woke up to the gentle waves rocking the boat and birds calling out to their friends as they gathered their morning food. I quickly donned my bathing suit and slipped the kayak in the calm waters of the bay in which we were moored. The volcanic rock sloped to the edges of the bay, and the birds were nestled in every available nook and cranny. Paddling close to shore, I was actually able to see the 35 arms of the jelly looking starfish. The Sally Lightfoot Crabs were scuttling around the rocks as plentiful and bright as they come. Suddenly, a large snort sounded behind me and I was joined by a playful sea lion, a usual site I have come to enjoy as a snorkeler, hiker and paddler. How lucky we have been!! Over the course of only 5 days, we saw over 20 species of birds, 35 different types of fish and mammals galore. I felt like I was living the pages of National Geographic. Everything from a sea lion mourning the death of a still born baby only hours old, to a Galapagos shark frolicking with a sea lion as they swam under a volcanic arch heading out to sea. Snorkeling at it's best! How often can you snorkel up to a penguin 5 inches away basking in the sun just before he enters the water and decides to play with you for a spell? This is just before we spent the next 5 minutes diving in and out of the lava formations with sea lions and more turtles than we could count. Who gets tired of counting how many sea turtles you have seen?

The land portion of the trip was just as exciting. Giant tortoises mating, owls catching their prey, baby vultures awaiting the return of their mother with their morning meal, families of marine iguanas warming against the rocks, and not to mention the wonderful site of the blue-footed boobies performing their unique mating dance. Who gets to see frigate birds with their red sacks so inflated you think the balloon will pop before a female notices him strutting his stuff? The postcards didn't do them justice. It was always hard for me to return the kayak to it's resting spot for the rest of the day, but knowing that I was about to embark on an adventure of a lifetime every time I set foot on land or put on my snorkel.