Snorkeling in the Galapagos

I heard one of my fellow travelers comment about how disappointed he was in the Galapagos. I thought to myself it was because he did not get in the water and go snorkeling! I have snorkeled extensively on some great reefs and seen some tropical waters that have taken my breath away. I have to say the water around the Galapagos was very cold. The humboldt current runs through there and it creates a marine environment that is conducive to fish and marine life that is some of the most interesting I have ever experienced. However, I would venture to guess that the real reason why the waters were so alive with marine life was due to the conservation efforts of the Charles Darwin Foundation. The Galapagos are a protected Wildlife National Park. This includes the water around the islands.
Most islands such as those in the Caribbean are fished heavily and so the reefs tend to have small schools of fish. The fish tend to be fairly small and the fish are not allowed to mature to their full size. They are caught and eaten before they grow to their fullest potential. Often the largest predators such as sharks or barracudas are viewed as competition for food sources by local people in those island areas and so they are also killed or eaten.
The Galapagos waters, due to the extended protection, had schools of fish that numbered in the hundreds! The fish were huge. I am used to seeing parrot fish that are beautiful and diverse in colors and sizes. There was no comparison in the Galapagos waters. The parrot fish were the largest and most diverse I have ever seen.
When I was snorkeling, I saw something flash beside me really fast. I glanced quickly to see what it was and it was a Galapagos Penguin! They are so fast and agile in the water. I tried to swim to follow but there was no way to keep up. They are very quick in the water. I actually saw three penguins while in the water.
Snorkeling in the Galapagos was an experience of a lifetime. I would strongly recommend you try it.