Just got back from the Galapagos yesterday. I will only do a brief synopsis right now, until I can find time to write out all the details.
Aug. 29- After work, I went to the airport & met up with the group. We flew out & were in Quito by 10pm. We stayed at a plush hotel. Could really feel the altitude there (elev. about 9,000 ft). All my luggage made it!
Aug. 30- we fly from Quito to San Christobal Island Galapagos. There we met up with the crew. We were ferried out to the Humboldt Explorer. I was in one of the middle lower cabins. Not too bad. The boat went out & we did a check- out dive near a colony of sea lions. Had a blast watching them play! The diving is done out of Pangas (inflatable zodiacs) I wound up having to wear 40 lbs to be weighted enough for my dry suit & for getting down quickly. The boat went back to the harbor for the night.
Aug. 31- The boat arrives at the next dive sites,... there the dive masters see how we handle deep diving & some moderate currents. No problems in general. Late that morning we set out for Darwin & Wolf Islands (20 hrs away). I had mild sea sickness, but didn't take anything for it. Mostly slept.
Sept. 1st.- Darwin Island. We had to dive in 6-8 ft seas. 1st dive our panga didn't see much of anything, the other one saw a whale shark. There was moderate surge, but nothing major. Dive 2- We saw several sharks (Hammerheads, Galapagos & Silkies). Dive 3- saw more sharks & during my safety stop I had a 50 ft whale shark pass within 5 ft of me. I was completely astounded at the size & grace of the animal.
4th dive- saw more sharks & lots of schooling fishes. The rough surface & the panga rides nearly beat me to death. After the last dive I tore the seal of my newer drysuit.
Sept. 2nd- Used my older drysuit, 1 dive,... nothing much, a couple of sharks. I sat out dive 2 because of soreness of being beaten in the panga with nearly 80 lbs of gear on me. Dives 3 & 4 more sharks & schooling fishes.
Sept 3rd- Wolf Island. Here we experienced some much stronger currents. Dive 1- saw several sharks. Dive 2- I tore a leg muscle getting into the panga. I could still dive, but standing & walking was difficult. we did a drift dive. Saw several critters around the reefs. Dive 3- we dove along a wall. Had VERY strong currents coming from every direction. I got caught in an up current that separated me from my group & after exhausting myself trying to hold on, it forced me to the surface. That dive certainly reminded me to respect nature. 4th dive was a deep dive to find a red- lipped batfish. Very weird looking creature.
Sept. 4th- We did 2 dives along Isabela Island. Saw some huge Mantas! & a few sharks. Afterwards we took a tour on the pangas of the shoreline. Lots of sea lions, marine iguanas & Blue Footed Boobies (Yes, the birds,... not the other
).
Sept. 5th- we did 2 dives at Cousin's Rock, looking for sea horses, none were found. Unfortunately I didn't get to enjoy the first dive much, as my neck seal rolled & the suit flooded. I did manage 35 min. before calling the dive. I sat out the second dive because of being too cold. Some eagle rays were spotted on that dive. I started to dry out my equipment. In the afternoon, we went on land & took a tour of Santiago's highlands. We visited a tortoise reserve,... very cool!:cool2:.
Sept. 6th- we packed & left the boat. All but 5 of us went to the airport to head home. The 5 of us who stayed in Quito walked as a group around town learning the nearby neighborhoods. We found a little restaurant that had brick oven pizza. Some of the best pizza I've ever had.
Sept.7th- We shopped in the morning & took a tour of the equator & the old section of town. Mind blowing tour. It was really cool!
Sept. 8th- We shopped some more in the morning & in the afternoon took the tram up the side of the mountains overlooking the city. Breathtaking! Our flight left at 11pm. It was completely full & very crowded. Not pleasant at all. We arrived home Thurs. about 10 am. It was an amazing trip. The boat was great, as was the crew. The people of Ecuador were very friendly. A very memorable trip.
Aug. 29- After work, I went to the airport & met up with the group. We flew out & were in Quito by 10pm. We stayed at a plush hotel. Could really feel the altitude there (elev. about 9,000 ft). All my luggage made it!
Aug. 30- we fly from Quito to San Christobal Island Galapagos. There we met up with the crew. We were ferried out to the Humboldt Explorer. I was in one of the middle lower cabins. Not too bad. The boat went out & we did a check- out dive near a colony of sea lions. Had a blast watching them play! The diving is done out of Pangas (inflatable zodiacs) I wound up having to wear 40 lbs to be weighted enough for my dry suit & for getting down quickly. The boat went back to the harbor for the night.
Aug. 31- The boat arrives at the next dive sites,... there the dive masters see how we handle deep diving & some moderate currents. No problems in general. Late that morning we set out for Darwin & Wolf Islands (20 hrs away). I had mild sea sickness, but didn't take anything for it. Mostly slept.
Sept. 1st.- Darwin Island. We had to dive in 6-8 ft seas. 1st dive our panga didn't see much of anything, the other one saw a whale shark. There was moderate surge, but nothing major. Dive 2- We saw several sharks (Hammerheads, Galapagos & Silkies). Dive 3- saw more sharks & during my safety stop I had a 50 ft whale shark pass within 5 ft of me. I was completely astounded at the size & grace of the animal.
4th dive- saw more sharks & lots of schooling fishes. The rough surface & the panga rides nearly beat me to death. After the last dive I tore the seal of my newer drysuit.
Sept. 2nd- Used my older drysuit, 1 dive,... nothing much, a couple of sharks. I sat out dive 2 because of soreness of being beaten in the panga with nearly 80 lbs of gear on me. Dives 3 & 4 more sharks & schooling fishes.
Sept 3rd- Wolf Island. Here we experienced some much stronger currents. Dive 1- saw several sharks. Dive 2- I tore a leg muscle getting into the panga. I could still dive, but standing & walking was difficult. we did a drift dive. Saw several critters around the reefs. Dive 3- we dove along a wall. Had VERY strong currents coming from every direction. I got caught in an up current that separated me from my group & after exhausting myself trying to hold on, it forced me to the surface. That dive certainly reminded me to respect nature. 4th dive was a deep dive to find a red- lipped batfish. Very weird looking creature.
Sept. 4th- We did 2 dives along Isabela Island. Saw some huge Mantas! & a few sharks. Afterwards we took a tour on the pangas of the shoreline. Lots of sea lions, marine iguanas & Blue Footed Boobies (Yes, the birds,... not the other
). Sept. 5th- we did 2 dives at Cousin's Rock, looking for sea horses, none were found. Unfortunately I didn't get to enjoy the first dive much, as my neck seal rolled & the suit flooded. I did manage 35 min. before calling the dive. I sat out the second dive because of being too cold. Some eagle rays were spotted on that dive. I started to dry out my equipment. In the afternoon, we went on land & took a tour of Santiago's highlands. We visited a tortoise reserve,... very cool!:cool2:.
Sept. 6th- we packed & left the boat. All but 5 of us went to the airport to head home. The 5 of us who stayed in Quito walked as a group around town learning the nearby neighborhoods. We found a little restaurant that had brick oven pizza. Some of the best pizza I've ever had.
Sept.7th- We shopped in the morning & took a tour of the equator & the old section of town. Mind blowing tour. It was really cool!
Sept. 8th- We shopped some more in the morning & in the afternoon took the tram up the side of the mountains overlooking the city. Breathtaking! Our flight left at 11pm. It was completely full & very crowded. Not pleasant at all. We arrived home Thurs. about 10 am. It was an amazing trip. The boat was great, as was the crew. The people of Ecuador were very friendly. A very memorable trip.
