GALLERY YATCH

DAY 4 :  ​ISLAND DARWIN  AND WOLFEl Arenal (Darwin) Sharks, turtles and jacks visit cleaning stations all around Darwin’s Arch, to be freed from parasites. They maintain an incredible symbiotic relationship with the resident barber fishes and king angelfishes. The busiest area is usually the sandy slope right in front of the portal, known as “El Arenal”. If the surge is not too strong, it is possible to be dropped off in these shallows, amidst dancing clouds of creolefish, to come face-to-face with individual and small groups of scalloped hammerhead sharks, as well as resting Pacific green turtles and rare hawksbill turtles in between hundreds of garden eels stretching up and plenty of colorful starfish. Further out, the sloping shelves with rubble that drop into a deep gully form the curved contours of the reef platform. The upper edge offers more hideouts between the rocks to observe approaching hammerheads. Located only 100 m/110 yd around the corner of Darwin’s Theater, there are new lifetime opportunities to swim with majestic whale sharks, or to wonder about all marine life that comes with the flow. Did we already mention bottlenose dolphins, Mobula devil rays, and giant oceanic mantas (depending on the season)? Darwin’s Theatre (Darwin) Two forked ridges point from the reef foundation of Darwin’s Arch to the Northeast and to the Southeast. Beneath the splashing waves, curved shelves bend around the northern branch, which is illustratively called “Darwin’s Theatre”. It features a genuine grandstand with panoramic hangouts at about 18 m/60 ft, right above the edge of the deep drop-off wall. The exposed, barnacle-covered rocks are the perfect seats to enjoy the upcoming aquatic show, but as soon as one of the expected celebrities makes its grand entrance, every diver hurries into the blue to keep up for a while. Even if there isn’t any whale shark on the move, the usually endless parade of extraordinary marine fauna swarms by, which includes schools of sometimes hundreds of hammerhead sharks, patrolling Galapagos requiem sharks, incidental silky sharks, and likewise, hunting yellow-fin tunas, wahoos, bonitos, amberjacks, as well as massive pelagic schools that transform into whirling bait balls when hunted. Shark Bay (Wolf) Shark Bay, located on the exposed east coast of Wolf, is shallower than most sites around, yet for many the most memorable. Besides being another spot where sharks galore, local cleaning stations reveal fascinating symbiotic relationships. Critically endangered hawksbill and Pacific green turtles visit busy king angelfishes. Cleaner fishes also groom spotted eagle rays and even hammerhead sharks. In these shallows, individual male hammerheads tend to approach motionless divers closer than schooling females in open water do. Their reluctant character is quite opposite to the curious Galapagos sea lions, that immediately look for company and love to interact! 
The Landslide (Wolf) The Landslide is the premium dive spot of Wolf Islet. Looming silhouettes of dozens, seasonally even hundreds of hammerhead sharks circle around or head against the currents, preferably when these currents are strong. Ending up the blue-water safety stop right into their middle might even give you an extra rush of adrenaline! This exciting drift dive follows a boulder slope underneath the partly-collapsed east cliffs of the islet. Find a hangout between the boulders to stay for a while, and hold the barnacle-covered rocks firmly while the current flows by. Beware that well-camouflaged scorpionfishes, abundant white-spotted moray eels, and whitetip reef sharks also hang around! Some beautiful pavona corals are an example of Indo-Pacific influences around these northern islets. Wonder about the ever-changing parade of hammerheads, awesome Galapagos requiem sharks, pelagic schools, and many more species that are easily overlooked in these surroundings. Clicks and whistles indicate that bottlenose dolphins are also not far away. The hot season usually brings lots of Pacific green turtles, majestic formations of spotted eagle rays, and, if lucky, Mobula devil rays and giant oceanic mantas.

ISLAND WOLFThe Pinnacle and The Caves (Wolf) This area has some of the best caves in the Galapagos and an exciting experience at The Pinnacle, and it’s located on the northern tip of the main island. It has four good underwater caves that penetrate into the wall of the islet and are easily accessible, although the current can get a bit strong from time to time, from south to north. All the entrances to the caves are at depths of 15-21 m/50-70 ft, and there is a sandy ledge that runs along the wall below the entrances. Hawksbill and green turtles usually gather in this area, hanging around the opening or swimming in and out. The fourth cave has the largest opening, with an entrance at 18 m/60 ft, and can also be interesting to explore if you have the time. In general, the large variety of life around and in the caves includes schools of soldierfish, guineafowl puffers, moray eels, whitetip reef sharks, marble rays, cardinalfish, and lobsters hiding in holes and cracks. The dive ends in the northeastern corner of Wolf at a tall and massive underwater pinnacle, of which the top is barely below the surface of the water. The main current comes from the southeast, but there can also be other currents coming from different directions at varying depths, creating sort of a whirlpool effect. If the currents allow it, you can swim across the gap to the pinnacle, grab on, and watch the bubbles to see how the currents are behaving. Here you can watch for large pelagic species, like hammerhead and Galapagos sharks, bottlenose dolphins, and turtles.
The Secret Cave - Night dive (Wolf) The Secret Cave has its origins in gas chambers that date back to the formation of the island that eroded and collapsed with the passing of time. It is a great alternative on the northern side of Wolf if the conditions allow you to dive here. Along the wall, sometimes with hammerheads, we find the entrance into a cave that may reveal several nocturnal species, such as cardinal fishes, spiny lobsters, shrimps, colorful sea urchins, hunting moray eels, as well as Pacific green turtles and sea lions. Anchorage - Night dive (Wolf) The Anchorage of Wolf is the only dive site located at its sheltered west coast. The cove and surrounding cliffs reveal outlines of the former main crater of this extinct volcanic islet. Leeward, water temperature is higher and the turbulent currents and treacherous swell of the surroundings are hardly felt anymore. Nevertheless, some sharks and reef fish may be spotted during the surface intervals back aboard, as well as blue-footed boobies. Those who dare another, quite different adventure during these intensive days, may opt for a dark and exciting night dive. Right beneath the anchored yacht, walks and hops the weird red-lipped batfish with its leg-fins on the 20 m/70 ft deep sandy bottom. Though active at night and attracted by your light’s beam, this chilly activity probably won’t be the only opportunity to marvel at this endemic Galapagos species.