- Address: Ecuador, Galapagos Islands, near the island of Floreana.
The Crown of the Devil Rocks is known as one of the best places for snorkeling and diving in the Galapagos . Only here, when swimming in a mask with a tube in blue ocean water, one gets an indescribable pleasure from unity with nature.
Rocks in the middle of the ocean
An unusual form of rocks is surprising in those who see them for the first time. Once upon a time there was a huge volcano, but eventually it went under water. Now you can see only the northern and southern tops of the crater, protruding from the water with sharp rocky islets. It is not known which of the Galapagos explorers saw in the gloomy and dark islands the crowns of the crown, but the well-known name took root and for many years this place is known as the Crown of the Devil Rocks. From the side it may seem that the rocks are uninhabited, but the first impression is mistaken: dozens of species of marine inhabitants have chosen the underwater volcanic kingdom, while over the water, in the crevices of the rocks, numerous birds nest.
Underwater world of rocks
As we approach the island Floreana on the horizon appears a volcanic cone, wiped off by sea waves. Coral reefs and the rocks themselves are attractive not only for their picturesqueness and clear water of a turquoise hue, but also for the variety of marine fauna. One has only to dive into the water with a mask, and here it is, a colorful underwater world - passing fish jambs, slowly swimming sea turtles, scattered radiant starfish and inflated sea urchins at the bottom. Here you can play with all your heart and swim with the good-natured sea lions and dolphins, which jump out of the water. Sharks-hammers and spotted stingrays - predatory, but non-aggressive fish, come to the rocks. Inside the rock ring, the water is almost always calm, and the fish floating in shallow water do not disturb anything. Nevertheless, in fact this place is in the ocean, where there are strong undercurrents, so swim outside the Crown of the Devil guides only experienced swimmers. If you decide to devote a few hours to swimming, take care of the wet suit: the water temperature is often kept within 18-20 degrees.
Rocks serve as a haven for overnight seabirds: cormorants, pelicans, gannets and frigates. The number of nests is not so great as to turn rocks into a bird market, but there are a lot of them.
How to get there?
The cliffs are located 250 m from Punta Cormorant Point on the northern tip of Floreana Island . A trip from Puerto Iowa takes less than two hours.
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