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Just cruising....
This iguana (about 2 foot long) was just going for a stroll along the beach. From the minute you arrive into the Galapagos Islands you cant help but be impressed. For those of you not familiar, these small islands are the setting for Charles Darwins 'Origin of Species'. Every creature that inhabits these islands has over a period of years had to evolve and adapt in order to survive.
On arrival into the island of Santa Cruz (some 12'000 of the 30'000 population of Galapagos live here) we straight away head to the south of the island to Puerto Ayora. Which is our base for the next week or so. Without sounding too cliched, on arrival its pretty much everything you expect. Crystal clear waters, blue skies and plenty of wildlife. A quick walk along the seafront and straight away you can see Crabs and Iguanas just chilling on the rocks, whilst Brown Pelicans and Sealions fight over scraps at the local fishmarket.
In about a week we start an 8 day cruise that will take in many of the islands and hopefully give us an opportunity to see most of the species of animals that call this place home. So in the meantime you may be wondering what we are here a week
Taking Flight!!
You need to be quick on the draw to get these in action! early for. Well its simple really, I have taken a complete leave of my senses and booked myself to do an PADI open water scuba diving course. To many of you this may not seem too strange, but those that know me well will know this is a pretty big deal. Firstly im not really what you would call a water baby, 3 lengths of a pool and im reaching for the oxygen (Galapagos is also not really a novice diving site as it sometimes has strong currents!), secondly and perhaps more importantly, I have the most ridiculously irrational fear of sharks known to man. Seriously, im 29 years old and I have never watched Jaws (and yes i've been told many times the shark doesnt look real in it, but I dont care)
So we meet up with our Dutch instructor Jan, who briefs me and some other English girls a little bit about the theory side of things in preparation for the following day. A couple of the girls are a bit concerned about sharks too. Our fears are not exactly eased when Jan tells us he is a little bit wary of them since his surfer
Frigate Bird....
these soar overhead and every now and then divebomb the water in search of fish! friend was recently bitten by one.
Now the girls can´t dive until the weekend so I am to dive with Chris and some other fella who have both dived before and are doing a refresher day. When you do an open water course usually you learn the important safety techniques in a swimming pool or water shallow enough for you to stand in. What you don´t normally do is dive backwards off a boat the first ever time you have used the breathing gear, descend 5 metres underwater and sit on the seabed doing the exercises. To say I was a bit nervy was a wee understatement.
So 5 metres down on the seabed just off the coast of North Seymour, and im taking my mask off underwater, removing my breathing gear and all sorts of exercises. Im glad to say I didnt panic at all and my earlier concerns were eased. Also just getting used to all the marine life underwater was pretty cool, at one point we swam through a solid wall of fish!
After a spot of lunch, it was time for dive two. Now this time I actually enjoyed the navy seal style
Sealion....
battling the Pelicans for a spot of lunch at the local fish markets! backwards dive off the boat! The water was a bit choppier this time and we were a bit deeper at about 9-12 metres.
So we are sat on the seabed again doing some exercises, when Jan points to indicate he has spotted something passing behind us. Well at this point, I really didnt want to turn around for fear of what I might see. Sure enough swimming right past us was a 1.5 metre long white tip reef shark. Earlier on we had been warned not to pee in our wetsuits, im not sure how the guide would have felt about the little present I deposited in the rear of said suit.
The following day, after finishing all of the necessary exercises on my first dive, the next two were purely recreational affairs.
At one point, we sat and watched a school of about 17 reef sharks swimming about a metre or two in front of us, whilst to our left passed 5 Hammerhead sharks! I was surrounded, in true British style, I was about to start screaming like its 11.10 on a friday night and I'd had a gut full of Stellas, when it hit me
Feeding Time!
This piggsy Pelican has bitten off more than he can chew! that between these sharks there is a hell of a lot of very sharp teeth on display. I, on the other hand have freakishly small teeth...you know you'll be looking at them the next time you speak to me. It was a no win situation for yours truly. Still I live to tell the tale so it cant of been that bad. I did also see one marine turtle, some rays and best of all a Sealion that kept swimming right next to us in a bid to get our attention.
So im all qualified to dive now. Thank you very much, sharks of the world beware!
The rest of the time prior to our cruise has been spent at the Charles Darwin Research centre, where they are trying to breed Giant Tortoises. Their species has diminished due to the introduction of goats, cats, dogs and rats amongst other species to the islands. (all by man....doh!)
Also a new species has arrived on the island in the form of Caroline. A fair skinned individual from London, who seems to think she is impervious to the Equatorial Sun. A whole day spent on the beautiful golden beach of
Tortuga Bay proved to her that she hadn't quite evolved or adapted fast enough....she is currently making like an Iguana and shedding skin!
Bon Voyage baby...next stop an 8 day cruise!!
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