Isla Santa Catalina
An aberrant southerly breeze assisted us in navigating northward during the night. This morning we cruised the southern shoreline of Isla Del Carmen and searched the waters for marine mammals. With the many binoculared eyes on deck, we felt sure to find cetational items of interest. Shortly after breakfast, the distinctive plume of a whale blow was sighted off our port side. We had ample opportunity to question Larry, our marine mammal naturalist, on the different aspects of whale biology, as this whale did not surface within our sights for another 35 minutes. Fortunately, its reluctance to be seen soon faded and the whale surfaced at close range several times. Larry pointed out the features characteristic to fin whales. We made every effort, as we were instructed, to see the definitive lower right white lip. Our baleen-bearing friend was soon sharing the spotlight with a few dozen bottle nosed dolphins, and later in the morning several dozen common dolphins had us squealing and squeaking in excitement as they rode the bow wave of the Sea Bird.
The afternoon found us along the shores of Isla Santa Catalina. This was to be our first opportunity for a full immersion into the Gulf of California as we snorkeled along the rocky shoreline. Colorful finned creatures swam along with the even more colorful and varied fish life.
Our next adventure was to investigate the desert flora and fauna. Recent rains from hurricanes have literally scoured the hillsides of Isla Santa Catalina. The evidence of the forces of nature were apparent as fallen cardons, uprooted barrel cactus and overturned elephant trees littered the arroyo sides and bottom. The abundant rainfall had also brought an abundance of foliage to what periodically can be a parched landscape. Along the edges of the arroyo, orb-weaving spiders were stationed and ready at their webs, we captured one of these spiders ourselves, as a photograph, shown above. The afternoon drew to a close, the shadows of the cardons grew longer and soon the sun set behind the namesake of our bay, Elephant Rock.
As we shuttled back to the mother ship Sea Bird, we enjoyed watching the moonrise over the island, twice actually as we did a Zodiac donut and enjoyed a quick moonset and a second moonrise. We gathered in the lounge for appetizers and cocktails and to share with our newfound friends our individual sightings, highlights and adventures from our first full day in the Sea of Cortez.
An aberrant southerly breeze assisted us in navigating northward during the night. This morning we cruised the southern shoreline of Isla Del Carmen and searched the waters for marine mammals. With the many binoculared eyes on deck, we felt sure to find cetational items of interest. Shortly after breakfast, the distinctive plume of a whale blow was sighted off our port side. We had ample opportunity to question Larry, our marine mammal naturalist, on the different aspects of whale biology, as this whale did not surface within our sights for another 35 minutes. Fortunately, its reluctance to be seen soon faded and the whale surfaced at close range several times. Larry pointed out the features characteristic to fin whales. We made every effort, as we were instructed, to see the definitive lower right white lip. Our baleen-bearing friend was soon sharing the spotlight with a few dozen bottle nosed dolphins, and later in the morning several dozen common dolphins had us squealing and squeaking in excitement as they rode the bow wave of the Sea Bird.
The afternoon found us along the shores of Isla Santa Catalina. This was to be our first opportunity for a full immersion into the Gulf of California as we snorkeled along the rocky shoreline. Colorful finned creatures swam along with the even more colorful and varied fish life.
Our next adventure was to investigate the desert flora and fauna. Recent rains from hurricanes have literally scoured the hillsides of Isla Santa Catalina. The evidence of the forces of nature were apparent as fallen cardons, uprooted barrel cactus and overturned elephant trees littered the arroyo sides and bottom. The abundant rainfall had also brought an abundance of foliage to what periodically can be a parched landscape. Along the edges of the arroyo, orb-weaving spiders were stationed and ready at their webs, we captured one of these spiders ourselves, as a photograph, shown above. The afternoon drew to a close, the shadows of the cardons grew longer and soon the sun set behind the namesake of our bay, Elephant Rock.
As we shuttled back to the mother ship Sea Bird, we enjoyed watching the moonrise over the island, twice actually as we did a Zodiac donut and enjoyed a quick moonset and a second moonrise. We gathered in the lounge for appetizers and cocktails and to share with our newfound friends our individual sightings, highlights and adventures from our first full day in the Sea of Cortez.
