13th Jan 2016
Today we have arrived at Chinese Hat a small island, just of the coast of Seymour Island The sea around here is the most incredible turquoise and the thought of snorkelling later today is wonderful, I just can't wait. But first we have marine and land iguanas to see, a sea lion or 2 to watch playing just off the pure white beach. There are Lava tubes (where the lava from long past volcanos have spilled down to the sea and as the lava cools around the outside leaves a tube as the molten rock flow through). As we survey the shore line, sadly a large dead adult Turtle is seen and this really upsets the group.
So we now head back to the boat and our usual mid-morning snacks and prepare for that snorkelling and WOW was it worth it. Perfect calm water, unbelievable turquoise, so on with our masks, over the side of the dinghy and we spend the best part of an hour floating with thousand upon thousand of fish. Nemos (actually Clownfish, but you get the idea), parrotfish, a white tip shark, a small turtle coming zooming by, it's truly stunning. Large shoals, small brightly coloured fish, you name it, we see it, including the Galápagos penguin which are watching us from the rocks on the shore. It seems everyday there is an utterly WOW moment.
We knew this visit to the islands was going to surpass any wildlife trip you can ever imagine and words like incredible, stunning, amazing, just doesn't give you even 1% of an idea how this place makes it you feel. It's a mind blowing moment that happens here about 4 times a day. A pinch yourself type of feeling. 
Are there any downsides to the place, you might ask? OK honestly, it does get incredibly hot at this time of the year and because we are in the tropics the sun burns from 9am through to 5pm but with plenty of factor 50 (and I'm an olive skinned person who is well used to sunshine) we manage. But I've a very red nose, for the first time in years!There is always a pleasant breeze which again disguises the intensity of the sun and also helps to crisp you!
The only other problem I find here, like many parts of the world I've visited, I'm top of the food list for biting insects. But, I bought Jungle Formula spray and Mozzie bands and have only been bitten 3 times and one of those was the day we landed at the airport and I wasn't yet prepared! So after 7 days of walking around the islands, through wet-lands, scrub, cactus and grasslands I think just making sure you have a good repellant, you won't have much problems. I'm thrilled I didn't. We have been very lucky with super dry weather, that maybe helped also.