The present-day reefs of the Galapagos are of rock, not coral. We saw old "stones"
of coral on a couple islands, but no living coral in the water. So the underwater
experience is visually more subdued, and with fewer species, than is typical for coral reefs.
But what's there is plenty entertaining! There were large sea turtles and many sea
lions cavorting. The sea lions are astonishingly playful, both with each other and
with swimmers. They would plunge and dart around us, nipping at swimfins and blowing
air bubbles around us, evidently immitating scuba divers' stream of air bubbles.
The second picture shows a calf nursing underwater.
