I've just finished reading an article in Rodale's Scuba Diving Magazine. The article states" Ecuador's powerful fishing industry is now a threat to the marine life of the Galapagos Islands. According to the World Wildlife Fund, the shark fins are worth $256 per pound! So the sharks are now the big prize"... This news is absoloutly shocking.. I won't go on, perhaps you folks have already heard about this, or even read the article yourselves.. but, if you haven't, please help by writing to either:

Senor Gustavo Noboa
Presidente de la Republica del Ecuador
FAX: 593-2-580-735 E-MAIL: despresi@presidencia.ec-gove.net

IN THE USA
Ambassador Ivonne A-Baki
The Embassy of Ecuador
2535 15th Street N.W.
Washington DC, 20009
FAX: (202) 667-3482
E-MAIL: mecuawaa@erols.com.

AND/OR: send a donation to the Charles Darwin Foundation
URL: http://www.galapagos.org

Thank You.
S.

The Galapagos Islands are a unique place, just out of this World, and the greed, curruption and sheer stupidity of many is indeed theatening this wonderful place. I add my message to Sarah's urging all those interested in Beauty to write as requested.

Antonio, thank you for your support.. it is much appreciated.. reading your post makes me think that you have been fortunate enough to visit the GI's?? We too plan to make a trip to the Islands hopefully next year.. Hugh, is of course, interested in the diving! I will be there taking notes/pictures etc for my studies..If you have any good advice/liveaboard details and so on.. it would be much appreciated. S

I was in the Galap's a year ago last month. We saw the hammerheads, Galapagos sharks, whale sharks, etc. We also did some land tours with a guide on a couple of the nothern islands and did a visit to the Darwin Research Center. I did a live-aboard on the G. Agressor II and land extended for several days in Quito. According to what I learned on the boat, the best diving is in April/May during the new moon. I do wish I had spent more time in Quito as it is a very interesting place. I stayed a hostal , which is not the same as a hotel, but a small hotel more like an pensione is in Italy. I booked my air through World of Diving (www.worldofdiving.com).

We were fortunate to visit the Galapagos islands last August. It was not a diving trip, but included a lot of snorkeling. In general, snorkeling there isn't as good as in Bonaire, but offers some unforgetable memories: sea lions swimming around you, a group of hammerhead sharks, and a huge manta ray! The whole experience was, as I wrote, out of this World: it is the best way I have of describing the trip, but really I don't find the words I would like to write!
We made our arrangements with a tour operator named Quasar Nautica. We were in the Eclipse, which was very good, but met other travellers at the airport who had been in a smaller boat (the Mistral) and also enjoyed it.
Anyway, this is not the place to discuss the GI; let us say it is a trip not in competition with Bonaire (entirely different experiences), and we will be back in Bonaire next year. If you want me to discuss the GI in greater detail, I will be glad to. Just e-mail me.

Linnea and Antonio, thank you both for your input on this.. I guess what's important right now, is getting those letters/e-mails off to the above mentioned.. and, yes, Bonaire is an enitirely different experience.. we'll be there in just about 4 weeks time..thanks again..S

Just sent off two emails to the addresses above. Hope we can help. Carole

Geesh...my email sent to the first address/link listed above was returned undeliverabel...is there a better address to use? Thanks. Carole

Hi Carole, sorry to hear that the first e-mail address didn't work out.. I posted a letter to the Washington D.C. address, but I'll also try e-mailing the above addresses too..S