David was awake early and decided to go and get a coffee and watch the day break. It was a bit overcast so there wasn't going to be a nice sunrise. At 6am the boat's engine burst into life giving a sealion, sleeping on the boats back platform, a fright. It jumped into the water assuming safety but a Galápagos shark had been lurking under the boat and swiftly gave chase.

The ship's bell rang at 7am, as promised yesterday, calling us to breakfast - scrambled eggs, ham, cheese, toast and fresh fruit. After breakfast, the Galápagos shark was back, circling the boat half a dozen times giving everyone on board a chance to see it.

During breakfast, the boat had taken us from our overnight anchorage to Mosquera, a small islet with white sand beach populated by sealions. And there were lots of sealions, old and young. The young ones were very curious and even came out to swim around our dinghy as we came in for our wet landing. They were completely fearless of humans and no doubt, if National Park rules were not followed, you could touch them. As we walked the length of the beach, we were continually amazed at the number of sealions and their antics in the shallow water. It was almost as if they were showing off for us.

One very fat pup was breastfeeding and it turns out they do that until one and half years old. It wasn't all happy though, there was a skinny little pup who had lost it's mother and looked like it was running out of time before it was adopted. There were also quite a few dead sealions decomposing on the beach. All part of nature though.

Back on board, we were given snorkeling gear and wetsuits that we would keep for the week. We would be given a chance to go snorkeling every day. Today, we were taken back to Mosquera Islet by dinghy and dropped close to the rocky shoreline. The guide came into the water too, to help point out some of the marine life we might otherwise miss.

The water was a bit choppy but we still managed to see heaps - huge blunthead trigger fish, big bumphead parrot fish, pacific boxfish, guineafowl pufferfish, parrotfish, a small whitetip reef shark sleeping under a ledge, hieroglyphic hawkfish, a stingray, reef cornetfish, butterflyfish, moorish idol and an eagle ray. Not bad for our first hour in the water.

Back on board, we were rinsed off with hot water, given towels to dry ourselves. The crew took care of our snorkeling gear and wet towels while we went off to our cabins and showered before lunch. It was a bit of a surprise to be served the equivalent of 'a dinner' albeit without dessert.

The boat had set off again over lunchtime for a short cruise to Isla Santa Cruz. We were scheduled for a dry landing at Cerro Dragón to see the cactus opuntia forest and the huge land iguanas which can live to 60 years. We passed dozens of marine iguanas and Sallylightfoot crabs as we came ashore so we crossed our fingers for the land iguanas to be there for us too. We passed by a lagoon, as we headed inland, which normally has a flock of flamingos but like yesterday, there was only one.

Walking a little further inland, we came across our first land iguana hiding under a bush. Whereas the marine iguanas are black and grey to blend in with the shore rocks, the land variety are red and orange to blend in with the arid vegetation. They are quite a lot bigger too but equally as fearless of humans as all wildlife on these islands. As we continued our walk towards the viewpoint, we came across lots more iguanas and one that was spotted in the distance even walked 50m down the hill to within inches of us.

The boat moved again, anchoring off Rabida Island, so we could have dinner on calm water. Rabida Island had a red sand beach with loads of frigate birds flying above it and sealions chilling on the sand. As the sun set, the island began to glow.

After dinner, we were on the move again. We will be cruising overnight to Tagus Cove on the western coast of Isabella Island and expect it to be a bit bumpy once we round the north of the island...