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  • Nº118 # Date: 2018-06-15 - 06:49
  • # Max Depth: 19.8m Duration: 46mins
Diver's Notes

Moray eels are everywhere in these outer islands of the Galapagos: I don't think we've been on a single dive at Wolf or Darwin without seeing several. As with the wrasse, hogfish, moorish idols and other fish that inhabit the waters around the barnacle-laden boulders. We're looking for the big stuff now, but it's not hard to get distracted by these beautiful creatures; never a dull moment! Right away we spotted several hammerheads: more than yesterday. The water seemed clearer today, which made for better viewing (and photography). Could be due to the clearer skies this morning, or maybe there was less detritus in the water column. We hung out longer on the ledge, about 65' under the surface. The hammerheads took up their usual pattern: swim by below and in front of us, up the wall, then circle back around above and behind. The hogfish were ever-present, waiting for a free handout. Another green sea turtle, a finescale triggerfish, and then it was time to ascend. Dennis and I were at about the same tank pressure, albeit I had 100cf tanks and he had 80's, so we started up together. And then it happened: the largest whale shark I have seen! We were all by ourselves, at the right place and at the right time. Dennis had his back turned, but I knew he'd see her, so I kept filming. We were swimming head-first toward each other, then she slowly turned and swam by, effortlessly moving through the water with barely a move, but faster than I could hope to keep up. I didn't have to, as she swam right by me. About half-way along, I could hear Paulo's rattle: he was alerting the others now to what I had already discovered. As I turned to watch her swim away and toward the group, there was Dennis beside me, giving me a thumbs-up. This single dive made the entire trip worth it! This was why we came to the Galapagos. And now we would all hungry for more!

Dive Profile
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  • Temp: Surf 27°C Bottom 27°C
  • Dive type : Recreational
  • Visibility: Good Water: Salt
Specific gear used
  • Weights: 7.3 kg
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Dive Shop & Buddies
  • Dive buddies: Jennifer McDonald, Tracy Newton, Cathy Dingman, James Shawver, Dennis Zullig, Johnny Kerr, John Dingman
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Dive Profile

  • 1. Nitrox 32
  • 12L Aluminium     202 → 30 bar
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  • Average depth: 16.2m
Data provided by EOL.org

Species Identified

Rhincodon typus Smith, 1828 (Whale shark) These sharks are usually solitary, but loose groups of up to 100 individuals have been sighted, often when they are feeding . Whale sharks appear to be highly migratory , and have been tracked for thousands of kilometres ....
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Sphyrna lewini (Griffith and Smith, 1834) (scalloped hammerhead) Forming impressively large schools, female scalloped hammerheads gather in the Gulf of California during the day, around underwater mountains known as seamounts, where they perform a wide range of poorly-understood behavio...
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Carcharhinus galapagensis (Snodgrass and Heller, 1905) (Galapagos shark)

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