Click FIRST PAGE for rankings # 

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Sharks

Although snorkelers and divers readily see these formidable looking fishes, other visitors can view them, too. On some boats the ship's crew points a spotlight into the water. This attracts sharks, which can readily be seen. You will likely see silvertip reef, Galapagos, and hammerhead sharks. The last sometimes swims in large groups.

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Orcas

They also go by the name "killer whales", which is a misnomer because they are more closely related to dolphins than whales. They are fearsome predators and often hunt in large pods. Favorite foods include squid, octopus, and sea lion. I rank them at the bottom of my top 5 marine life list because you are far less likely to see them than the other four sea creatures described above. If you do, consider yourself lucky.

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More marine life

The above list doesn't embrace all the sea life you will see during your Galapagos visit. For example, you can sometimes see from your Zodiac a manta ray or sting ray leaping up out of the water. You might also see the latter partially buried in sand in shallow waters.

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Tropical fish

In addition to viewing some of the marine life listed above, snorkelers and divers have the advantage of exploring an underwater world containing hundreds of colorful tropical fish species, too many to list here.

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Category criterion

This top marine life ranking list covers sea creatures that spend all or virtually all of their lives in the water. Use menu below to see my land-and-shore page for creatures like marine iguanas and my bird page for those like penguins.

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Click FIRST PAGE for maritime rankings#

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Best 5 islands
Top 5 land & shore wildlife
Top 5 birds
Top 5 marine life

Best Galapagos ships by category
Boat class - pros & cons
Itinerary tips
Cost and booking tips

Best time to go
Getting there tips
Packing tips
Snorkeling tips
Diving tips
Some more helpful tips

Celebrity Xpedition
Charles Darwin - Brief bio
Interesting Galapagos facts

World's Top 100 Wonders

World's Top 1000 Wonders

Site map

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Ecuador Ministry of Tourism

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