EcuadorSouth America

Swimming with sharks in Galapagos and facing the fears.

 

swimming with sharks in galapagos

Swimming with sharks in Galapagos

The alarm went off at 5:45 that morning. The sun was slowly raising. The excitement of the fore-coming adventure was successfully substituting my need for caffeine. We could smell the toasted bread and freshly made coffee by the lovely staff of Peregrina. I put the bikini on, packed the essentials in a backpack and waited for our guide to pick us up. Half an hour later and we joined a few more people on a catamaran that was going to take us to a small, incredible island and a few great places to do snorkeling.

I didn’t know then that what will happen is swimming with sharks and that my life will be changed forever.


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  • Trip Advisor amazing for good quality recommendations.
  • Skyscanner is a perfect website for searching flight routes and comparing prices.

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swimming with sharks in galapagos

And here the story begins. We arrived, all ready to discover some of the underwater world, the world that Darwin did not see. Well, everyone was ready except me. I have an overwhelming fear of the water. I did not think much about going into the water or not going. I had even done some preparations the previous day. I hired well fitted wet suit thinking that how scary the ocean can be, right? My fear started years ago. Since then I slowly step by step tried to overcome it. It’s been taking years.

Galapagos, Ecuador

The captain of the boat, who seemed to love making jokes, but also loved the islands and  its animal residents was surprised to see me left behind on the boat. “Aren’t you going with the others?’, he asked. “Well, I am not sure”, I replied. “You have to go. It is amazing! You can wear a life vest if you are so scared”. I did not think. I quickly put my wet suit on, a mask, flippers and carefully adjusted a life vest. I was afraid that any hesitation would result in inability go enter in the water.

Our guide, a true lover of the sea, as he appeared, looked after me and made sure I don’t miss any living creatures underwater. This was the first time I saw the sharks, 6 of them taking a nap in a cave.

The deep water was scarier than the sharks.

That was the first snorkel in Galapagos. There were many after. Each of them was a bit scary, a bit exciting. Every time the first minutes after entering the water were the worst. Every look down into the deep ocean was terrifying. I did try not to think, just enjoy it. I was grateful to have someone to look after me always close.

swimming with sharks in galapagos

A day of snorkeling in Galapagos

Another day came and another tour. This time I knew that it will be a very emotionally exhausting day. Eight hours on the boat moving from one snorkeling point to another. I was not sure if I could make so much marine adrenaline.

The first stop was nearby rock: home to birds and sea lions. Funny creates, those sea lions surely love to play…or take off our flippers. The waves were strong hitting the rocks with a bang. After forty minutes maybe, already freezing cold and too tense from the fear I wished to get on the boat. Luckily we all did and moved to another location. Every place we went to was beautiful and full of diverse life. It was like a whole other world with hills and valleys and its residents.

Every time you do something that makes you uncomfortable, something that you fear, you feel free. That freedom is the door to unlimited adventures and possibilities in life. That’s how I felt after forbidding the fear of water to paralyze me again in my life. I was in Galapagos, a place from dreams and I refused to let anything ruin it.

swimming with sharks in galapagos

That moment I met the sharks

It was time for the last snorkeling session of the day. After a while, our guide took us to a little hidden spot, somewhere between the rocks and caves. I did not see at first, probably a bit overwhelmed by the beauty and amount of sea turtles and thousands of colourful fish. I saw the others floating still making minimal smooth movements, all looking in the same direction. I followed them and to my biggest surprise (and if I was not under the water I would say that I got totally speechless) the floor full of sharks appeared underneath me.

The water was shallow making our visibility extra perfect…and our distance a tiny bit too close, I thought. 32 sharks our guide counted. 32 of those beautiful and fascinating creatures are inches away from us. Some of them seemed to have a mid-day nap, some idly swimming around.

Galapagos, Ecuador

I do not know much about sharks and their habits. I tried not to think much about “Jaws”, an infamous movie showing the spooky side of those animals. The white-tipped sharks that looked into our eyes haunted at night, we were told. I guess they are not as bad-tempered as it is said about them.

I must tell you, no fear is ever worth the beauty you can witness, the world you can discover.

Galapagos, Ecuador

Swimming with sharks was special: it helped me get rid of fears

I honestly cannot find words to describe the whole experience. The mix of emotions of my own pride that I somehow was able to get in the cold, deep, at times crazy ocean and the incredible beauty of the underwater world somehow makes me lose the ability to verbally portray the experience.

swimming with sharks in galapagos

Coming out of your comfort zone is tough in the beginning, chaotic in the middle, and awesome in the end…because in the end, it shows you a whole new world !! Make an attempt..”
                                                                                                                           Manoj Arora, From the Rat Race to Financial Freedom

Watch the video: Swimming with sharks in Galapagos

I thought that after that day filled with discovering new worlds, swimming with sharks and facing my own fears, I won’t get speechless again in Galápagos. I quickly learned that those islands can never get boring. The abundance of life there is unimaginable. Each island is different with its own unique beauty. After some time discovering Santa Cruz and nearby islands, we jumped on a boat to Isabela for more adventures.

If you go to Galapagos it would be very difficult to avoid water tours, it is where the other half of the islands’ magic happens. We continued the snorkeling tours there and had the privilege to meet face to face other magnificent animals. Sharks seemed to be ordinary-day companions.


Galapagos, Ecuador


See also:

A day in Guayaquil.

A quick guide to San Pedro de Atacama

That one time I went to Uyuni, Bolivia.

Caleta Buena. In search for penguins and discovering hidden gems of Chile.


 

Thank you for visiting. It is always lovely to have you here. Tell me, how traveling helped you to step out of your comfort zone?

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swimming with sharks Galapagos


Disclosure: Please note that this post included affiliate links, when you decide to purchase anything through these links I get a small commission at NO extra cost to you, it helps me to keep running this blog! I only promote products and services I use or would use myself. All images are the property of Postcards from the World and cannot be used without permission. 

  1. Cristina Picone says:

    Lo de los animales en las islas Galápagos es maravilloso, ¡inimaginable!!!
    `¡Qué valor hay q tener para nadar entre tiburones! ¡Te felicito, Anna, por lo valiente que eres!
    Un abrazo y sigue así que tu blog es fantástico.

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