Espiritu Santo Island Complex
On our last day in the Sea of Cortez we awoke to blustery winds at Los Islotes. These tiny islets are famous for their nesting birds, good snorkeling and the resident California sea lions. These marine mammals can be quite curious and playful either with boats or with people in the water.
The first order of business was to explore the islets by Zodiac. One section was sheltered from the wind so time was spent there photographing the swimming animals and those on land still waking up after a night on the tough volcanic islands. Guests that wanted to swim and witness the fish and invertebrates were occasionally interrupted by quick flashes of the furry pinnipeds as they masterfully swam by at full speed. The sea lions were probably wondering why we didn’t give chase but the human body, even wrapped in a wet suit and with flippers, is no match for these graceful beasts.
During lunch the ship repositioned south and along the west side of Espiritu Santo. A few blows were spotted off the coast so the ship changed course and once we arrived in the area of the blows, a humpback cow and calf were seen making their way. Female humpback whales give birth to their calves along the southern coast of the Baja Peninsula.
There were other whales around but they seemed to be performing long dives so we returned to our afternoon’s activities. Once in Ensenada Grande there were several activities to enjoy in this beautiful bay… one of many to be explored in this beautiful place.
