Icing on the cake

Look chicos sharks! Big ones!!

And with that, we charge toward the boat, snorkel gear in hand. Galápagos is likely the only place on the planet where I’d willingly and enthusiastically dive into the water knowing there were three big sharks patrolling the shoreline. 

But I’ll back up to the morning and our long walk on Española Island at Punta Suarez. Greeted by sea lions dotting the rocks, we passed quickly into marine iguana land. These are more colourful than their cousins seen on other islands due to the food they eat. They’re sometimes called Christmas tree iguanas, and they are so plentiful that we must pay close attention so as not to walk on them. Nazca boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, lava herons and yes, albatross have started arriving for the mating season. Even spotted one amorous couple “at it”. 

Afternoon walk on beautiful Gardiner Bay beach. Approaching the sandy white sand it looks rocky until we realize that the rocks have heads, tails and flippers. Sea lions! Napping when we arrive but awake and ready to play when we finish our walk. Today, however, we’re in search of something different..Milton has more or less promised me sharks, and Milton always delivers. 

The panga drops us off just beyond a huge outcropping of rock. Rays abound, far below us on the sand. The usual schools of yellow-tailed surgeonfish, lots of king angels, parrotfish. Milton gathers us together and tells us to watch as he dives down to say hello to a friend of his. A white-tipped reef shark. Several actually. Finally, I am in the water with sharks! Several of them are swimming lazily below is, paying little if any attention. They are beautiful. 

On the way back to shore, Milton sends the panga ahead to scout for the three big Galápagos sharks he saw earlier from the beach. As comfortable as he is in these waters, he’s no fool and not about to insert his guests into the midst of a shark feeding. Im good with that.