We are posting 2 posts a day to catch up for when we were in the “no WIFI zone”. Check below for another new post.
My sleep in is interrupted by a grinding noise, then a sloshing sound, and the bed is rolling from side to side. Up to this point I have slept solid and now it is an on and off thing. We’re moving towards tomorrow’s dives and it is the first night on the boat for a couple of landlubbers.
The day starts with a land tour of Bartolome Island. Not much there really. A walkway over desolate solidified lava to the top of a fairly short volcano. There is a cactus or two and some other scrub, the occasional lizard but that is about all. The view includes some of the adjacent islands and we get an idea as to the layout of the territory.
Bartolome Island
We get back on the Panga and tour the shore line. Our first sighting of the blue footed booby is just around the corner but the highlight is a short Galapagos Penguin standing on a rock preening. The only time northern folk get to see this bird is in the zoo so to see them up close and personal is a treat.
Blue Footed Booby
On the mother ship, after lunch, we prepare for out next dive. The gear is different than what we use in the Caribbean. The wetsuits are 7mm thick. They are not only a struggle to get on but require you to about double the amount of weight you need to carry. Everything is more awkward and takes longer. Most on board do not deal with this amount of gear and everyone struggles.
Both dives today are at Cousin’s Rock. A relatively easy place to dive and it is obvious practice for the next few days. One dive we go clockwise and the second dive is counter clockwise. We see most of the same animals only in reverse order. A few white tip sharks nodding a bit before a evenings work (they are nocturnal), a couple of large eels, a small group of eagle rays and quite a few very large tortuga. One extremely big fellow I’m guessing 6’ long and about 4’ wide.
Hawksbill Turtle
Neither dive is difficult but as I mentioned I think they are practice for the more technical dives in our near future. After the second dive today everyone is feeling more confident.
As I write, the boat is again on the move and when we awake in the morning we will be above our next dive site.