We have spent the night on the MS Beagle anchored off Punta Vicente Roca, off Isabella Island in the Galapagos. An early morning panga cruise yields a sighting of orcas hunting off the point of the island, so we abandon the plan of cruising along the point and follow the orcas. A small pod of one male and two females and a calf spend 45 minutes in the area looking for food. One of the orcas surfaces unexpectedly close to the panga, causing Daniel the naturalist to sit down promptly in shock – just in case!
The morning gets even better as we don the snorkel gear and jump in the protected waters off the point from the panga. The water is cold, and we have been snorkelling in wetsuits all week. There are many sea turtles in the area, and some curious sea lions come to investigate us. Many tropical fish are in the coral growing on the point, and a very obliging turtle floats with us towards the end, enabling the shot below.
The afternoon is spent nearby at Punta Espinoza, which is notable for it’s lava formations from the nearby volcano on Fernadina Island, and the large colony of marine iguanas.
