We awaken to a grey morning with the surrounding waters starting to show the turquoise color that Gardner Bay is known for. Snorkelers head to Gardner Island for deep water snorkeling around the islet of Gardner. Invertebrates cover the wall of the submarine island with a kaleidoscope of colors from the soft corals, sea urchins, hawk fish, and black tipped cardinal fish. A young sea lion dives in and decides that we are worth “playing” with. After blowing bubbles at our faces this young sea lion takes various fins into its mouth and tests them to see if they could be worth its playtime. The sea lion decides that a sea cucumber is more amusing then us awkward humans and heads off. After a quick change we head to the fine coralline sand beach where we catch up with our fellow explorers. Kayakers paddle along the coast among pinnacle spires and pacific green sea turtles with the light of the sun starting to break the cloud cover. No less than three hundred sea lions lay upon this paradise as they rest between their foraging runs into the deep. Española mockingbirds flit among us and dig into the sand searching for their daily subsistence. Newborn sea lion pups search for their moms as they blurt out sounds that we would guess translate into “mother.” The sun makes its appearance at last, as we return to our floating home with bright turquoise colors finally showing us that nature has no comparison.
This afternoon brings us upon Suarez Point on the western coast of Española. We land and start an exploration of an area that is packed with wildlife. Black and dark red marine iguanas are littered upon the cobbled basalt boulders along the coast. Waved albatross soar overhead as they lower themselves towards their nesting areas and hungry chicks. Red billed tropicbirds screech as crowds pass above, eventually trying to land upon the steep outer cliffs of the island. Nazca boobies roost along the cliff of Española with swallow tailed gulls mixed amongst them. As we walk on the path we have to step around some wildlife with no more than a glare to let us know they are there. As the grey comes down once again we return to our ship, surprised at the density of life on this small island.
