I dip my face into the crystal blue waters of the Pacific Ocean. Beneath me another world awaits. I adjust my mask and snorkel and take another look. A greenish brown body swims toward the surface.

I stare at it with shock and amazement knowing this is not an ordinary occurrence. The turtle is barely two feet away from me and it is not alone. Many other turtles are there as well, surrounding our group as we snorkel at Kicker Rock. Moments later a familiar grey shape comes to view up through the murky depths. This is the Galapagos shark; it’s native to the area.

I am in awe but at the same time in panic as I attempt to climb out of the 100 foot deep waters, onto my father’s back. I scream through my snorkel and accuse my dad of using me for shark bait as my method of getting out did not work as planned.

The small jellyfish sting me and a pang of pain sticks through me like a sharp needle but I try to ignore it and look out at the beautiful wildlife extravaganza that surrounds me.

To arrive at the final destination of the Galapagos, we traveled from Boston to Miami. From Miami, the next stop was Quito, Ecuador. Quito, at 9,200 feet, is the second highest capital in the world after La Paz, Bolivia. Because of the elevation, we immediately noticed that our hearts were beating faster and that simple tasks such as climbing up a flight of stairs was no small feat. The elevation takes some adjustment.

From Quito, which is in the mountains, we flew to Guayaquil, which is on the coast, and is the largest city in Ecuador. Then it was off to the island of Baltra in the Galapagos. A short five minute ferry ride and a 45 minute bus ride took us to Puerto Ayora on the most populous of the 15 Galapagos islands, Santa Cruz.

Puerto Ayora is a tourist town filled with gift shops, travel agencies, dive shops, restaurants and boutiques. Each day, we went on different excursions, venturing out of town and to the other islands. To reach those islands, boat rides are required transportation. Some rides can be smooth and calm while others are rocky and sickening, but as long as some medicine is brought, the ride should be fine.

I am here with my family, 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador in the remote islands of the Galapagos. This is the birthplace of Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution and the home of many unique species that have evolved to thrive in this unusual environment. Marine iguanas sunbathe on the rocks and lie on the islands’ jagged coast. These creatures have learned a new way of surviving. Once land iguanas, they have now adapted to the new settings and have different techniques for foraging for food than they did in their past. They are now able to swim below the surface and eat algae off the bottom. They are the only iguanas in the world to do so. These marine reptiles are just one of the many wonders here.

Besides the marine iguanas, there are the old slow tortoises that make their home here. They may be slow but they can certainly outlive us by having a lifespan of up to 150 years. Of all tortoises, the most famous one is named Lonesome George. One misconception based on his name is that he is lonesome because he is the oldest known tortoise. Actually, Lonesome George gets his name because he is believed to be the last known individual of the Pinta Island Tortoise population, one of the 11 subspecies of the Galapagos Tortoise.

(Editor’s note: The Associate Press reported that Lonesome George was found dead in his pen on June 24. The Galapagos Island had become an ambassador of sorts for the archipelago off Ecuador’s coast. Galapagos conservation officials Washington

Llerena says scientists suspect Lonesome George died of a heart attack. He was believed to be about 100 years old, not especially old for a giant tortoise.)

We were lucky enough to meet Lonesome George at his current home, the Charles Darwin Research Center. They have tried to breed him with other female tortoises but the attempts have so far been unsuccessful. The research center also contains numerous exhibits showcasing the fauna and flora of the Galapagos including many birds, other species of tortoise and iguanas.

No matter what island you are visiting, sea lions are quite abundant. They can be found playing in the waves and swimming alongside you, bathing on the coast, or even in unusual places such as in parking lots, under cars or on playground slides. In general, all the animals which live in the Galapagos are friendly and playful. This is because they are protected and have never been hunted, so they have never lived in fear of humans. Most animals can be found on all of the islands but some are found exclusively on certain islands.

The Galapagos penguin, for example, is a fascinating animal that is only found on a few islands. We were lucky enough to see it on the island shaped like a sea horse called Isabella. It is the only tropical penguin in the world and it is very small in size. They zip very fast through the waters and appear to be flying.

Also found on Isabella are majestic volcanoes. One of the volcanoes is accessible by taking a day hike. It is called Volcan Chico and it has the second largest caldera — or volcanic crater — in the world next to one in Africa. It also claims the title as the largest active volcanic caldera.

Beyond that volcano, we visited another volcano which has fumaroles, small volcanic vents you can feel. If you place your hand near one, you can feel the hot air coming from deep within the volcano.

There are so many sights to see in the Galapagos that are found nowhere else in the world. From giant tortoises to sea turtles and sea lions there is never a dull moment. If you are up for exploring the outdoors and going on an adventure, then look through your snorkeling mask into to the depths and wonders of the Galapagos Islands.

ALLIE BURNS will be an eighthgrader at Brunswick Junior High School this fall.