Swimming with Iguanas

Today’s snorkel was not the most amazing yet, but it was still interesting. We hopped into the pangas and made our way to the algae-covered rocks along the shore of Fernandina. We dropped into the water, murky with nutrients – the reason the critters in the area were going wild. Immediately, one person called out “penguin” while another called out “iguana” and we all paddled tenaciously to find our desired targets.
 
The currents were strong along the rocks, and the sun coming through the water made it incredibly difficult to see at times. I found myself stuck in a maze of coral and rocks, having to backtrack when the walls became too tall and the water too shallow to cross. Despite the less than perfect conditions, we had the opportunity to follow dozens of iguanas as they slithered through the water to their favorite algae spots and to watch turtles bob up and down through the murk and even to spot a ray!