Observe the Animal Life of Wolf Island
The Galapagos Islands off the coast of Ecuador are well known for their diversity and uniqueness. People come from across the globe to explore the islands that early explorer Charles Darwin made famous. Today they are every bit as full as unusual as they were in Darwin’s day, boasting spectacular animal life, and it is a treat to explore this aspect of the islands with your own eyes.
One of the better known islands in the Galapagos Island chain is Wolf Island (Isla Wolf). Wolf Island is named for German geologist Theodore Wolf. When combined with Darwin Island (Isla Darwin), the islands are said to be one of the best diving destinations, not only in the Galapagos, but in the entire world! On the surface, Wolf Island doesn’t seem to offer much. Large, sheer sea cliffs seem to rise above the waters and provide a bleak and uncomforting glimpse into the shape and form of the island. This is one of the largest islands in the northern island group and so you may well find yourself surprised to look up at such a massive lump of rock. However, the biggest clue to this island’s exquisite natural wealth is not the rock itself, but what exists on the rock. Fur sea lions and marine iguanas have made a home among the rocks. They are surrounded by hundreds of thousands of seabirds, providing bird-lovers with endless hours of bird watching. Here you will find red-footed and masked boobies, frigatebirds, ‘vampire’ finches and swallow-tailed gulls. These birds provide strong evidence of the abundance of sea life that lies below the water’s surface!
Once you put on your diving gear and head below the surface of the water, you’ll be dazzled by a wonderful variety of color and shape. You’ll find yourself surrounded by marine animals of every sort, great and small, harmless and frightening. Hammerhead sharks, dolphins, whale sharks, sea turtles and manta rays will probably get your blood pumping if you happen to have a close-encounter with them. Slightly less threatening are the Galapagos grunts, amberjacks, hogfish, butterfly fish, trumpet fish, eels, marbled rays and coronet fish. And these are just some of the striking creatures you can expect to encounter during a dive in the waters surrounding Wolf Island. The 14 hour boat trip to Wolf Island is completely worth it – especially if you take the time to explore both what’s on top and what’s below the water’s surface. Night dives can also be arranged for those with a sense of adventure. So make sure you visit Wolf Island the next time you head towards Ecuador!
