Sea Lion Snorkeling

Alex and her new whiskered friend

(Alex) When you conceive of the Galapagos, you consider of: warm, Equatorial, Darwin, giant tortoises, low footed boobies and blue water. Like a perfect dream land. Well, it`s not. At least not the month that we were here.

Mornings are cloudy, windy and overcast. Luckily it clears in the afternoon to blue skies, sun and a cool breeze.

Unfortunately, the water decided not to warm up like the sky did. No, instead it was gracious and COLD.

Our zodiac arrived at the cove where we would be snorkeling. I dipped my feet into the 66 degree water and now pulled them out. After multiple attempts at jumping in, I finally tossed myself into the water. "OH MY GOD!", I screamed, which obviously didn`t help my brother, who was in the work that I had only completed. I swam around for some time, playing with a young adult sea lion who seemed to enjoy playing with humans - zipping around like a mini torpedo. He came up to me and nuzzled my arm, his whiskers touching my face; then sped back off again. Swimming full speed into people`s faces, then just before striking them, flipping back over and zipping to the following person.

The fun quickly came to a halt, when I suddenly noticed that everyone was quickly swimming over to the rocky cliff. I looked up and our guide Fausto told me continue my side in the urine with my eyes on him at all times. Ok, WHO IS HIM?? I put my face back into the urine and look at me (pretty close - or at least too tight for my liking) was a huge alpha male sea lion. I, who has never felt very easy in the water, decided to be brave. Screaming, I swam out as quick as possible. Luckily, I had a disguise and wet suit on, so no one could really know that it was me who had screamed.

Playing with the sea lions, fish, turtles and penguins in the Galapagos was easily worth the hurt of getting into the water. Because once we got back onto the boat, I just jumped right into the nice hot shower, or the sauna.