SCUBA December 2021 Issue 121 | Page 99

TRAVEL SPECIAL

I half expected a lynching on the Zodiac by the time I surfaced . As it happened , there had been some other drama on the dive and my errors had gone largely unnoticed .
I made my apologies anyway , and resolved to keep my wits about me on the second dive .
Sure enough , we came across another in the process of being cleaned , and this time I remembered to keep calm . We edged ever closer , watching the great fish adopt a vertical position as hogfish worked across its flanks , hoovering up the parasites . It wasn ’ t the biggest sunfish in the world ( about 2.5m in diameter ), but it was undeniably impressive , holding its position in the current with barely perceptible movements of its fins .
The Mola provided a fitting climax to my Galapagos adventure . The following day would bring a hike up the hill at Bartolome Island , followed by a dive with stingrays , mating pufferfish and more white-tip reef sharks . But Punta Vicente Roca provided one of those unique experiences that put Galapagos in a league of its own .
To be able to visit the Galapagos and dive the fabled northern islands was an incredible privilege ; to be able to do so in such comfort made it even more special . Diving these waters would have been a completely different proposition without the crew of Galapagos Sky , who work incredibly hard to make the guests ’ life as easy as possible . Their efforts ensured that we experienced an inspirational place in safety and comfort .
TBelow left : Kingston and Embridge BSAC
depart for their shakedown dive
SBelow : A Mola mola being cleaned
by hogfish
SBottom : A large Galapagos shark at
Wolf Island
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