Gardner Bay and Espanola Island
This was a very special day, as it was the first time we began to test our Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) at Espanola Island. It was an early wake-up for Jonathan Aguas, the undersea specialist in charge of operating this instrument of discovery that will show us the impressive and amazing creatures that inhabit the dark depths of the ocean around the Galápagos Islands. As the sun rose over the horizon and some of us drank our first cup of coffee the ROV was being tested onboard, before being taken to an exploration of the waters nearby.
After the informative talk about the basics of snorkeling around the waters of the Galápagos Islands, and getting our snorkeling gear, it was time to test it. However, many did not expect the friendliness of the marine animals that we soon found. As we swam along a beautiful underwater wall that was decorated with numerous small marine animals, two young sea lions approached a group of explorers, apparently as curious about us as we were about them, looking at us and rolling around, then suddenly diving for some time and after a while returning to the surface to meet us again. It was a scene that none of us could get bored of, until a mobula, a fish similar to manta ray but smaller, lured us away from the sea lions.
Once we arrived at the beach hundreds of sea lions lay on the white sand, mothers nursing, pups sleeping, adults sleeping, other sea lions rolling around in the surf. Last but not least, the endemic Espanola mockingbirds walked around; some seemed to talk to each other, and others behaved as if going through some sort of family discussion – what a sight!
During the afternoon we did a hike at Punta Suarez, on Espanola Island, one of the most interesting islands to see marine birds. As soon as we landed a few sea lions received us on the dock; one was very stubborn and did not want to move. Several colorful marine iguanas were scattered all over the rocks, with brilliant green and red colors, lying there motionless, facing the sun, sneezing every now and then to get rid of the salts that they intake when feeding on marine algae.
As the hike continued we started to see some Nazca boobies with their chicks next to them, and in one location we saw blue-footed boobies that had started their courtship dance, the female honking and the male whistling. This scene all happened three feet away from us, as in the background young Nazca boobies started to flap their wings, training for the day when they will take off for the first time.
An incredible day that gave us surprises and memories that will last forever.
