We awoke on Easter morning to watch the sunrise over Los Islotes, part of the Espiritu Santo National Park. We donned our wetsuits promptly after breakfast so we could maximize our adventure time on this last day of our expedition. We were fortunate enough to encounter juvenile California sea lions during our snorkel excursion! The sea lions we saw were roughly nine months old and incredibly curious and playful; it was incredible to see these beautiful marine mammals in their native environment.
While anchored at Los Islotes, the Undersea Specialist and the dive team went scuba diving to see what lived at depth. With the onboard underwater camera, the undersea specialist is able to share the underwater ecosystem with those onboard; what a unique tool of exploration! Due to upwelling in the gulf, the Sea of Cortez is one of the most productive seas in the world. The productive underwater world is the reason why we have been able so see so much incredible wildlife throughout our voyage (dolphins, whales, birds). The dive team’s favorite underwater discovery today was a nudibranch (many of them!) and an electric ray.
After sailing north through the lunch hour, we arrived at Half Moon Bay, Isla San Fransisco for our last outing. The brilliant blue water and white sandy beach were calling our name! We beachcombed, kayaked, and soaked up some vitamin D; a perfect leisurely afternoon. And, of course, the Easter Bunny didn’t forget about our young explorers onboard. A scavenger hunt leading to Easter baskets full of goodies was a fun afternoon activity. Being an educational expedition, the young explorers weren’t going to get off too easily; trivia questions and challenges needed to be completed at each check point.
The evening winded down with a slide show of images taken during the week and the Captain’s farewell dinner. We wined, dined, and reminisced with new and old friends alike about the wonderful expedition we just had. Until next time, friends!
