Students at the University of Miami come to Isabela as part of their study abroad program – one aspect of their trip is the opportunity to go snorkelling and exploring all areas of the island. I headed out with them to the incredible dive and snorkel spot Cuatro Hermanos for a morning of snorkelling and a boat tour around the islets.
The Galapagos islands are famous for pristine waters, dramatic landscapes and the exceptional wildlife and snorkelling and Cuatro Hermanos definitely ticks all the boxes. We begin our journey with a boat trip taking us about 45 minutes from Puerto Villamil to Cuatro Hermanos. The archipelago of four uninhabited islands, collectively called Cuatro Hermanos or the four brothers are on the south eastern side of the island.
Arriving at Cuarto Hermanos we first navigated our way in the boat into a cave and watched as the water turned from bright aquamarine to black – iguanas and crabs scurry along the walls and looking down in to the water we could see large numbers or fish emerging from the cave out into the bright ocean.
We all begin to suit up and prepare to snorkel around the rock face – similar to the boat we make our way straight into the cave and felt the ebb and flow off the water taking us higher up and further into the cave. We head further in – there is very little light so we stay where we can see the opening. Noises echo around the cave reverberating the sounds of water splashing on rocks and sea lions barking adding to the incredible atmosphere.
Turning around we began to swim against the current out into the light. The water turns bright and soon we can see the vast numbers of fish which were swimming around with us. The sight is spectacular bright blues merge with the red rock and the water is brimming with underwater creatures, sea lions, and the occasional reef shark. Swimming along we all throw ourselves into acrobatic routines playing with the sea lions we flip and turn and they mimicked us playing with the bubbles.
Leaving the cave I began to snorkel around one side of the island, the rock face is steep but home to an array of marine plants and fishes of all colours are circling everywhere. I look further down and see the shadow of a ray and then beyond to a black reef-tip shark – they swim off quickly but we continue to hold out hope that we may get more than just a glimpse. Snorkelling around the island for around 40 minutes I hop back onto the boat, warm myself up in the sun and head for the second snorkel.
Getting back in the water I am full of hope to see a few sharks or even a ray and luckily enough my dream comes true – with my mask in place I look down and there directly beneath me swimming close to the the ocean floor are four or five sharks and they seem to be undisturbed by our presence, remaining deep they circle around the ocean floor. Heading on our way I feel the cooler currents of the water but with the sightings of the sharks I am hoping to see more wildlife before I head back to the boat. Continuing to snorkel and pass through schools of fish, ranging from bright blues to oranges I am eagerly trying to take it all in, and then like a flash of lightening a hammerhead swims past – he spots us and soon turns and heads out to the ocean, but I still got to see one it was a moment of excitement for the group and we eagerly awaited retuning to IOI to see if any of the GoPros had managed to capture the magnificent animal.
Back on the boat we head off to see the other islands which make up Cuatro Hermanos we pass by a family of sea lions on the rocks, the waves crashing and breaking on the land seem to leave them unperturbed and many are swimming in the water coming close to the edge of the boat and then turning and swimming away. The cliff edges of the islets are dramatic rusty oranges and reds which make up the volcanic rock face and the scene is spectacular.
Having never swam with a shark’s or manta rays before I came to the Galapagos I have been able to experience some incredible opportunities through volunteering with the IOI and now swimming with wildlife underwater seems to be a weekly occurrence, no matter how often you see the wildlife it never gets boring!
Georgia In The Jungle 