Marine Life

The Galapagos is the World's 2nd largest Marine Reserve.  

"One of the Seven Underwater Wonders of the World" CEDAM  

Although directly on the equator, the islands are surround by deep ocean currents: the Humboldt, South Equatorial and the Cromwell, which makes the ocean cooler than one might expect. The marine life of the Galapagos is well documented. The combination of cool upwelling waters in some locations and warm tropical waters in others, provides a variety of habitats for an incredible diversity and abundance of marine life.

In Galapagos waters there are over 306 species of fish, nearly a quarter of which are indigenous. There are few coral reefs in these waters, the crevasses in the lava provide a similar habitat. Smaller fish live within the crevasses coming out to feed, and invertebrates make their home in the lava.  

The Pacific Green Sea Turtles grow to 1m and weigh up to 180 kg. These cousins of the tortoise mate in the waters near the Galapagos and are often seen near Caleta Tortuga Negra on Santa Cruz. Males never leave the sea, but females come ashore on beaches to nest and lay eggs on several of the islands. Green Sea Turtles are an endangered species.  

Of course there are far too many species of marine creatures to list here, but whales include Blue, Finback, Sei, Humpback, Bryde's and Minke, large Sperm Whales, the Orca, short finned Pilot Whale, and several species of dolphin, including Bottled Nosed and White Bellied dolphins can be seen in these waters. Large Whale Sharks, huge schools of Hammerheads, the Galapagos shark, lots of docile white tips.  

It's a special experience to roll off the panga into a school of dozens of hammerhead sharks, huge schools that seem to be unaware of your presence and just sweep over you - wave after wave of hammerheads. Lots of eagle rays "flying by" and larger, majestic manta rays. Marine iguana grazing on algae in the shallows.

Most sites have huge numbers of brightly coloured tropical species: Moorish idols, hieroglyphic hawkfish, panamic fanged blennies, red lipped batfish and brilliant yellow sea horses   Sea lions are everywhere in the central region, and penguins too ! The Galapagos penguin is often seen in the cooler waters off the western islands.