All Aboard the Shark

Boarding a plane from Quito to Guayaquil to Baltra, we touched down on our first Galapagos island on a Saturday afternoon. An ecological control dog smelled all our bags for any food or animals or plants or insects, etc. that could invade and harm the delicate Galapagos ecosystems. One the K9 officer released our bags, on to the bus, on to the zodiac and on to the Tiburon Explorer we went. Tiburon means shark in Spanish, hence all aboard the shark!

Once aboard, it was time to settle in our MASSIVE rooms and sort out our gear. Seriously, these are the largest and most luxurious dive boat rooms I have ever seen. 

After a detailed emergency drill (including dramatic fire hose demonstration), we were introduced to the crew that will be taking care of us and the boat for the next week. 

Once settled for dinner, I was unsettled by the rather large pelicans emerging from the dark skies beside the boat and landing on the railings. Mostly to poop. They were very impolite dinner guests…