South Plaza and Seymour

It's our last full day of excursions in the Galapagos.  After a breakfast of cinnamon french toast and bacon, we depart the Theory for South Plaza Island.  This small island off the coast of Santa Cruz is home to a huge number of land iguanas.  Resting beneath ancient prickly pear cacti, the iguanas show off their bright yellow mating colors.  In the water below is a sea lion nursery.  Dozens of pups frolick in the water near the landing site, playing in circles.  

Afterwards, we are back on the Theory for cold beers and lunch, while we motor to Seymour Island.  Off the coast of Seymour, we have a fruitful afternoon snokeling session though the water is rough. We swim alongside white tipped reef sharks, a sea turtle, sea lions and countless king angelfish.  Our last shore excursion is on Seymour, home to vast numbers of frigate birds and blue footed boobies.  We catch them in the midst of their courting, nesting and mating.  Being able to see the red pouch of the male frigate bird fully inflated is a special event.  Both that and the courting dance of the blue footed booby was a highlight of the trip.