Buoy Up, Certification Down

Just an hour after our previous dive, we stopped at North Seymour Island for the fourth and final dive of my Galapagos adventure - and the last one needed for my certification. The water here, like everywhere else, was full of life. This time, I spotted eels weaving through the rocks, trumpetfish gliding effortlessly, and cometfish darting about. Each dive seemed to bring something new.

After about 50 minutes, my oxygen supply was running low. Anderson signaled it was time to ascend, but not before I completed my last drill - deploying the surface marker buoy. Carefully, I let the buoy rise to the surface, marking our location for the boat.

We began our controlled ascent, pausing for three minutes at the 5-meter safety stop before finally breaching the surface. As if on cue, our boat was already there, guided by the buoy’s signal. Perfect timing.

Back in Puerto Ayora, Anderson officially released my Open Water Diver certificate. A big thanks to Anderson for his excellent teaching, the unforgettable experience, and the amazing pictures and videos. Surely, this won’t be my last dive.Read more