Kicker Rock is actually split in two, and we dove in the channel. The currents were VERY strong - this is definitely not for novice divers. There was such a surge in current at the bottom that we had to hold onto rocks to maintain our position without moving 10 feet back and forth each time the waves came through, even though it was relatively calm on top.
Galapagos is located at the confluence of five ocean currents, so you never know which way the water is going to go. The water was mostly very cool, but once in a while you'd hit a really icy current for a few minutes.
The current was so strong that I was unable to swim back to the boat after the dive, which was a little scary. They had to motor around and pick me (and Mike, my trusty dive buddy) up on the other side of the rock.
We had really hoped for hammerhead sharks, but didn't see any. Plenty of reef sharks, sea lions, lobster, eagle rays, and a bazillion small to mid sized fish of every shape and size. The sheer quantity of marine life is amazing!
The giant tortoises were amazing. Prehistoric looking and huge. You can get an idea of the scale looking at the road this guy is travelling on, which is big enough for a jeep. This guy weighed about 700 pounds. They travel at the blistering pace of 1/6 of a mile per hour, and cover 15 miles from highlands to the beaches in about 5 weeks each year.
Observing the mating rituals of giant tortoises wasn't on our list of things to do, but it was interesting!! The male has to chase down the female (survival of the fittest, again!) The process happens once a year and takes 3 HOURS.
The Galapagos have thousands of iguanas...and they vary from island to island. These are Marine Iguanas, who love to swim in salt water. It's amazing how graceful they are underwater, like an eel. Other than swimming, they love to bask on the volcanic rock with salt spray nearby. You literally have to avoid stepping on them!
The iguana in the top photo snorted salt water all over the camera lens right after the photo. The lower photo is Mike with at least a dozen iguanas. Toward dusk, they group together for warmth and sleep in a huge iguana pile.
This was a moving sight. The little chick had died, but Mom was still standing watch. As Darwin noted in his research, only the strong survive. Of the two remaining chicks, only one may make it to adulthood.
This is so amazing - you don't even need binoculars. You can walk up to birds and they don't fly away. Everyone is very careful not to touch them, but we were inches away from these and other birds, even when they were nesting. It is such a privilege to be in this magical place!
From the top photo - the red throated frigate bird, who blows up his pouch while courting. Followed by the blue footed booby, who was doing a dance for his potential mate so she could decide if he was nesting material!!
Sea lions are a plentiful and friendly species here. Recommended distance is 6 feet, as they may bite. We swam with them, posed with them, stepped over them and talked to them. We saw many nursing babies up close. Many was the day we went back to our boat to shower off our essence of sea lion!!
Here is the spot! El Mitad del Mundo, the middle of the world and the actual equator line, at the highest point in the world. Thumbs up is the traditional pose here, as you are actually lighter on the equator by a couple of pounds :)
They did a demonstration showing how water drains straight down on the equator, and spins (the Coriolis effect) clockwise and counterclockwise within 6 feet of the line!!
People in Quito are extremely vocal about their political opinions! We were in El Centro Historico, where El Presidente was attending mass. There were probably 100 guards and police armed with assault rifles. We were able to walk into the church with no search at all...they don't screen people, but if you try anything, you are GONE. The chanting was deafening, with both supporters and critics yelling at the top of their lungs.
While Ecuador is primarily Catholic, they definitely take some liberties... and church attendance is sporadic. Here we have the reclining Jesus, a statue used for luck with women!
Gruesome but true - this is an actual shrunken head, along with instructions. Although this hasn't been done for hundreds of years, the indigenous people felt this was a way to capture the soul of either your loved ones or your enemies. Did you know that your closed fist represents the size of your own shrunken head?
This was a moving sight. The little chick had died, but Mom was still standing watch. As Darwin noted in his research, only the strong survive. Of the two remaining chicks, only one may make it to adulthood.
