Isla Monserrate
During the night the Captain and crew of the MV Sea Bird had sailed the ship north into the waters off Isla Monserrate. We awoke to a gentle wake up call of "Fin whales off the bow." Fin whales often patrol the waters of this area in search of schooling fish. Islands and sea mounts are scattered here creating a perfect physical scenario for upwelling. When the waters of the Sea of Cortez are allowed to mix, cold waters from the bottom layer mix with nutrients and sunlight at the surface creating a bounty of algae and plankton. Fish and krill come in to feed on the soup de jour and voila... Whale Central.
After a great morning of marine mammals we spent the afternoon ashore at Isla Carmen.
We wandered through Arroyo Rojo admiring a profusion of wild flowers in a canyon unusually green. Back at the waters edge we explored the tide pools.
Just before dinner the staff hailed us to the outer decks to witness the spectacular Baja sunset, as pictured above, over the Vermilion Sea.
During the night the Captain and crew of the MV Sea Bird had sailed the ship north into the waters off Isla Monserrate. We awoke to a gentle wake up call of "Fin whales off the bow." Fin whales often patrol the waters of this area in search of schooling fish. Islands and sea mounts are scattered here creating a perfect physical scenario for upwelling. When the waters of the Sea of Cortez are allowed to mix, cold waters from the bottom layer mix with nutrients and sunlight at the surface creating a bounty of algae and plankton. Fish and krill come in to feed on the soup de jour and voila... Whale Central.
After a great morning of marine mammals we spent the afternoon ashore at Isla Carmen.
We wandered through Arroyo Rojo admiring a profusion of wild flowers in a canyon unusually green. Back at the waters edge we explored the tide pools.
Just before dinner the staff hailed us to the outer decks to witness the spectacular Baja sunset, as pictured above, over the Vermilion Sea.
