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Unforgettable Sea Turtle Experience in the Galapagos
Once, I got to go snorkeling with several sea turtles. About four years ago, I remember being taken aback by their peaceful and easygoing demeanor. On this occasion, though, the Santa Cruz II experience was infinitely more thrilling. Maybe it was the anticipation they aroused in me during their briefing the previous evening, or perhaps I could not fathom how close we would get to the Galapagos fauna and how many of them there would be when we did. “They call this place Sea Turtle City,” the official photographer for Santa Cruz II said to me just before our party of Frigates jumped into the dinghy.
First Things First
Here, I have to give a brief recap. This was only day two of the Western Islands Itinerary for the Galapagos. The day before, we had landed at Baltra’s airstrip and left for North Seymour Island for our first tour. We were all shocked to see such sizable colonies of blue-footed boobies and frigates welcoming us. We watched as they provided warmth for their fluffy chicks beneath their feathers. We all walked our bellies to bed that evening, tired but thrilled for what awaited us the following day after a fantastic meal on the boat that the chef himself catered. The ship sailed to Isabela that evening while we were asleep.
When I got up that morning, I used the boat’s gym’s upstairs treadmill for a little run before breakfast. Even though we were still sailing, I could easily see Isabela’s shoreline in front of us. Since Isabela is the largest island in the archipelago, its coastline stretches for a great distance. I must admit that the scenery was breathtaking, even when viewed from the treadmill. The first traces of sunlight were painting the sea and the island. How the morning clouds broke the light was a fantastic source of inspiration for Caravaggio.
Getting Ready
Each group had a naturalist leader who took them back into the dinghy. We were reminded of the regulations governing the Galapagos National Park and other crucial safety advice that would enhance the enjoyment of our activity. We were dumped off immediately at Punta Vicente Roca, the most incredible location. It’s close to a large natural cave and a small bay where we could swim against the current and be picked up by the dolphins when we got to the other side.
Our tour guide, Fatima, gave us a small biodegradable shampoo to clean our goggles so they wouldn’t fog up. We all got off the dinghy individually with our backs to the ocean while still sporting our wetsuits and water cameras.
The Best Sea Turtle Experience
Nobody was prepared for what awaited us in the water. There were sea turtles everywhere! Probably more than thirty of them were swimming placidly, grazing, and using their strong beaks to pick at bits of algae on the rocks. It was similar to being in the center of the road and having cars drive by you while attempting to avoid hitting you. Even though turtles can move quite quickly underwater, their speed is nothing compared to a car’s. Nevertheless, they were not in a rush because it was their lunch break, and they had nothing else planned.
We had Sea Turtle City all to ourselves that day, so it’s a good thing the Santa Cruz itinerary is designed so it can enjoy most of these fantastic visitor sites. This allowed everyone to witness them in their most untamed and uninhibited condition, and they appeared unperturbed by our presence. I talked to a friend about how excellent everything was as I swam back up to the surface for some air when I abruptly elbowed another visitor.
My apology seemed to have little effect on the sea turtle experience swimming by. All I could do was extend my sincere apologies once more! I was sorry that I had hit the sea turtle by accident! She continued swimming as if nothing had occurred.
Sea Turtles All Day, Every Day!
Even though we were in the water for about an hour, it only seemed like five. Swimming beside so many sea turtles and having them at our feet is pretty amazing. I recall attempting to hold my breath as long as possible while submerged to extend my time with these animals. Being underwater with them gave me a sense of calm unmatched by anything one experiences on land or in the real city. If I could have stayed with them longer, I would have.
Fortunately, my wish was granted. For the remainder of our days on the Santa, we had the opportunity to snorkel alongside sea turtles during an unforgettable Sea Turtle Experience. I was not able to ask for more. I did, however, receive more!
The impeccable service on the Santa Cruz II was a pleasant surprise, especially with the otherworldly scenery and bold wildlife. It was a life-changing event with the fantastic food, the delectable cocktails that paired with the most gorgeous sunsets, and the incredibly comfortable bed. The sole drawback? All it does is make you desire more.
