Galapagos - In and Under the Sea (4 of 5)

     Every day we had one, and usually two, snorkeling trips. The crew would load us into the Zodiacs and head out to a reef, or a submerged volcano cone, or just off some rocky points. Then we would don our gear and slip into the water. I carried our GoPro camera for some super underwater shots.

     There are two seasons in the Galapagos. The first, from February through August, is when the warmer currents arrive. This attracts certain kinds of aquatic life. Then the colder currents from the antarctic predominate, bringing colder water and different sea life. We preferred the warmer currents, if for no better reason than that we wouldn't be too cold to stay under for a longer time. The Letty carried wetsuits for those who wanted them, but the water at the time of our trip was warm enough that we didn't nee them.

     Each session lasted perhaps an our. Gaby and Pepe stayed in the zodiacs, lifeguards. We were told there were sharks, but not any significant risk of harm. I never saw one, but others did see a few reef sharks and a couple hammerheads. We were not there during the times that humpback whales congregated, a pity. But we saw plenty of other sea life. Just jump in anywhere, and right below the surface the water teems with colorful tropical fish. Here are some photos and videos:

A highlight was the time we came across a pod of five spotted rays, swimming along serenely. I also captured a shot of two interacting more playfully:

I followed a sea turtle for a time, as shown here:

Finally, a couple vids of seal lions and a view from the water:

Sometimes still shots are interesting, here are a few:

Penguins swimming - they are fast!

An unusual starfish

Reef life

Tom, Deb and the Zodiacs

     Actually, snorkeling was one of the daily highlights. The sights were awesome, and being in the water was so refreshing. That equatorial sun got quite hot every day. And how can you ever beat a sight like this -