Those who live in the Islas Galápagos often say, “You do not have to search for animals here — They find you.” This proved true when we went under for our second dive and immediately found a five white-tipped sharks huddled in a cave.

Our first Galápagos Islands scuba dive brought us to Isla Floreana where a pod of at least twenty dolphin jumped above water and below, numerous sea lions swirled in a dance all their own.

We were here, finally, scuba diving in the Islas Galápagos. Deeper and deeper we dove until I watched as our instructor’s eyes suddenly went wide, as he pointed directly below me. Nervous, I glanced down to find a large five-foot shark a few feet under my fins.