Photo: Trefz

 

Surfing in the Galapagos Islands, 1000km west of Ecuador and open to the full brunt of Pacific swells, means entering a world where nature is very much in charge.

Where heavy locals come in the form of species that helped Charles Darwin kill God via his theory of Natural Selection.

As and you plunge somewhat apprehensively into those crisp translucent waters, you can’t help but hope you are not naturally selected as something’s dinner.

You look at waves of course, which are varied and many and all uncrowded and all fun, you step with caution on the sharp, slippery rocks, but most of all you can’t take your eye of the by the immediate natural ballet.

Seals dive and play, iguanas cook in the mid sun only moving slightly their prehistoric heads at the new comers. Sea lions sleep and in awesome laziness, dry their thick hairy coats. But in this pretty and picturesque surrounding you know also that you are been watched. Animals don’t use cameras or Instagram, like we do at the zoo, but still they are watching just as intently.

And that’s only the tip of the iceberg, so to speak. As you paddle out, the water’s freshness reminds you how full of nutriments and life these waters are, one of the most appreciated banquets in all the Pacific. Species come a long way to eat here.

You know full well that you’re also been watched from underneath, and the nervous giggle you emit upon realising that the tug on your leash is merely frolicking seal pups, betrays a sentiment that’s never far from your mind – that the food chain here is in full riotous vigour.

And you’re part of it.