The youngest island, Isla Fernandina

Wednesday May 29^th  (afternoon)

During lunch, the Nemo navigated across the channel to Espinoza Point on Isla Fernandina, where we went for a walk on the the youngest island of the archipelago, Isla Fernandina. It is still rising out of the sea.

 

 

 

The engine from an old ship was lying well above the sea level, the result of a recent uplift

 

The bright orange Sally lightfoot crabs were also numerous on the rocks, with some males fighting. The dark grey young crabs were inconspicuous against the lava.

Tiny hermit crabs were also abundant at the edge of the rock pools. An eagle ray was swimming in the shallows.

We watched the marine iguanas swim ashore after their morning feeding session on the green algae at low tide.


They dragged themselves ashore and flopped down onto the warm rocks or sand, or even on top of other iguanas to rewarm themselves. They were aggregated into huge masses, and did not budge when we walked within feet of them.

 

 

 

 

The iguanas lay their eggs in the soft sand above the high tide, so we had to keep to a marked trail on the low tide sand.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sea lions were also everywhere, basking on the rocks, sand or lolling in the water. One cub suckled from mum only feet away from us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Back on the boat, it was time for another snorkel, but several of us opted to stay aboard after an energetic day and catch up on photo editing and diaries.

 

 

 

Before dinner we raised anchor and headed off into the sunset across the northern tip of Isabela, shaped like the head of seahorse, for an overnight south-west run to Isla Santiago. We crossed the equator at 1945 hr and back again later that evening. The stars were magnificent, with the Big Dipper and the pole star in the north and the Southern cross and Scorpio in the south.