Galapagos Day 4: SCUBA Diving near Enderby Islet (continued)

Manta Ray swimming above me


This was totally crazy. When I was swimming along at about 90 feet below the surface, I saw this huge dark shadow above me, which I assumed was a boat. Then, as I came up a bit, I realized whatever it was was actually in the water, so then I thought it must be some mythologically huge whale shark or something. Upon closer inspection, I realized it was an incredbily dense and stationary school of fish. Salemas, to be exact. Maybe they do that to throw off predators, who might think that there's a gigantic creature in the water...


School of Salemas


Hogfish with part of the school of Salemas in background


Galapagos Shark (why does this photo look so fake? it's not -- I swear!)


Galapagos Sharks


Barberfish


I really like this shot looking up at the other divers with all the layers of different fish between me and the surface. Kinda cool, dontcha think?


Eagle Rays

Galapagos Day 4: SCUBA Diving near Punta Cormorant!

Here I am, all ready to go!


Almaco Jacks and Bullseye Puffer


Red-lipped Batfish

Diamond Stingray

Diamond Stingray on the ocean floor


Diamond Stingray - you can see it breathing through its weird spiracle thingy behind the eye. Craziness!

Galapagos Day 4: SCUBA Diving near Punta Cormorant, continued!

It's really hard to tell, but this is actually an octopus all rolled up!


White-tipped Reef Shark


White-tipped Reef Shark in motion


More White-tipped Reef Sharks



Some kind of funky blue starfish


Bluechin Parrotfish


Not particularly exciting video of a Bluechin Parrotfish


School of Surgeonfish

Galapagos Day 4: SCUBA Diving near Punta Cormorant, continued even more!

Trumpetfish


Some type of moray/snake type of thing.

This was an extraordinarily friendly Bullseye Pufferfish. I was just hanging out, minding my own business, fiddling with my camera, when I looked over my shoulder and saw this guy swimming over towards me quite deliberately. I held my hand out and he actually landed right in my glove. Then I took this photo of him.

After I took the photo of the Pufferfish, I swam away to rejoin my fellow divers. I turned to glance around, and the little guy was hustling to try to catch up with me! Then I took this video of him (he didn't quite land in my hand this time, but came close!), and I am not sure whether you can hear it or not, but he actually headbuts my camera. Then he swims away for a second, turns right around and comes back! He really wouldn't leave me alone. It was kind of cute, in a stalkerish sort of way...

A couple of sting rays on the ocean floor (these things are pretty big -- about 5 feet across!)

Me with a Stingray (there it is on the lower left, near my foot, but quite a bit behind me -- I was a little skittish after hearing what happened to Steve Irwin.)

Manta Ray

Galapagos Day 4: Punta Cormorant, Floreana Island!

Pink Flamingos on Punta Cormorant



I think this was a yellow-bellied warbler or something, but I'm not sure.



Lagoon and ocean behind, Punta Cormorant.

Me on Punta Cormorant, Floreana Island

Female sea turtle making her way up the beach to lay some turtle eggs...

Punta Cormorant, Floreana Island. Isn't it pretty???

Leaving Punta Cormorant


View towards Puerto Ayora after dropping achor. Puerto Ayora is the biggest town in the Galapagos and is located on the south coast of Santa Cruz Island. We were going to be spending the night anchored in this harbor and then visit the Santa Cruz Highlands and the Charles Darwin Research Station the next day. But first, we had pop over to town for a much-needed internet fix and the requisite appearance in the local watering hole: the Bongo Bar! Yeah, baby!

John, Me, Diane and Erica at the Bongo Bar in Puerto Ayora after a few caipirinhas. You would think we've never been off a boat before...

Galapagos Day 3: Española Island and Gardner Bay! Sea Lions!!!

Our schedule for the day!

WARNING: The photos and videos which follow contain material with an extraordinarily high cuteness quotient, and may not be suitable for all audiences. Viewer discretion is advised.



Sea Lion Mum & Pup


Dozing Sea Lion


Sea Lion Pup climbing over iguanas


Dozing Sea Lion Pup


Sea Lion Pup collapses


Another Sea Lion Mum & Pup

Galapagos Day 3: Iguanas and Nazca Boobies!

Land Iguana (oooh...scary!)


Land Iguana Attacks!


Red & Green Land Iguana (found only on Española Island)


Nazca Boobies, with chick in foreground


Nazca Boobies, with chick in foreground


Nazca Boobies


Nazca Booby Chick spreads its wings


Nazca Booby


Nazca Booby

Galapagos Day 3: Blue-Footed Boobies!

All photos and videos taken in and around the Blue-Footed Booby colonies on Punta Suárez, Española Island. I’m warning you, Blue-Footed Boobies may not be sea lions, but can be quite cute in their own right.


Blue-Footed Booby with eggs


Blue-Footed Booby – Cuteness Alert!


Blue-Footed Boobies


Blue-Footed Boobies


Blue-Footed Booby Swordfight


Blowhole on Punta Suárez


Blowhole


Galapagos Hawk


Me hanging with a new friend.

Galapagos Day 3: SCUBA Diving near Gardner Bay!

Mexican Hogfish


Another Mexcian Hogfish


Me


Stone Scorpionfish (very poisonous!)


Flag Cabrilla


Me again


Sea Lion


Cushion Starfish


Reef Cornetfish


Lizardfish on the ocean floor