Cabo San Lucas and Gorda Bank
The sunrise found us facing the majestic peaks of finisterra, or land’s end, just off Cabo San Lucas. For many the archetype of Baja California, the granitic arch that marks the confluence of the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez is a timeless image. Solid and devoid of vegetation, the pinnacles at land’s end are also home for a number of frigate birds, brown and blue-footed boobies, brown pelicans and a small colony of California sea lions, neighbors of the thriving human population of Cabo San Lucas. Once a sleepy fishing village and the site of the first commercial fishing plant in the state of Baja California Sur, Cabo is now a world-class tourist destination. Despite this, it is still possible to find many of Baja’s original flora and fauna. We brave explorers divided into smaller groups to admire nature’s wonders by means of bird-watching and snorkeling; an adventurous bunch even went shopping the streets. At Chileno’s beach, we were lucky enough to see a mother and calf humpback whale swimming off the beach, and we all had a great time admiring a large number of fish and invertebrate species. Big schools of convict tangs (see photo), Mexican goatfishes, Cortez rainbow wrasses and king angelfishes greeted us as we snorkel amidst emerald coral heads and numerous brown sea urchins. Even the elusive Moorish idol and the rare Clarion angelfish were seen at this spot! Equally rare sightings were reported from the shopping group as well…
Later on, as the Sea Lion sailed east, we were enthralled by numerous humpback whales. These magnificent leviathans greeted us with numerous acrobatic behaviors, including lobtailing, flipper slapping and breaching! We brave explorers were even able to witness a most dramatic sight late in the afternoon as a group of four, or possibly more, males competed aggressively for the right of being closest to a female with lunges, tail slashes, charges and blocks. While the lack of sunlight persuaded us to move away from the deck, I'm sure that the great whales will continue their antics deep in our dreams tonight…
The sunrise found us facing the majestic peaks of finisterra, or land’s end, just off Cabo San Lucas. For many the archetype of Baja California, the granitic arch that marks the confluence of the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez is a timeless image. Solid and devoid of vegetation, the pinnacles at land’s end are also home for a number of frigate birds, brown and blue-footed boobies, brown pelicans and a small colony of California sea lions, neighbors of the thriving human population of Cabo San Lucas. Once a sleepy fishing village and the site of the first commercial fishing plant in the state of Baja California Sur, Cabo is now a world-class tourist destination. Despite this, it is still possible to find many of Baja’s original flora and fauna. We brave explorers divided into smaller groups to admire nature’s wonders by means of bird-watching and snorkeling; an adventurous bunch even went shopping the streets. At Chileno’s beach, we were lucky enough to see a mother and calf humpback whale swimming off the beach, and we all had a great time admiring a large number of fish and invertebrate species. Big schools of convict tangs (see photo), Mexican goatfishes, Cortez rainbow wrasses and king angelfishes greeted us as we snorkel amidst emerald coral heads and numerous brown sea urchins. Even the elusive Moorish idol and the rare Clarion angelfish were seen at this spot! Equally rare sightings were reported from the shopping group as well…
Later on, as the Sea Lion sailed east, we were enthralled by numerous humpback whales. These magnificent leviathans greeted us with numerous acrobatic behaviors, including lobtailing, flipper slapping and breaching! We brave explorers were even able to witness a most dramatic sight late in the afternoon as a group of four, or possibly more, males competed aggressively for the right of being closest to a female with lunges, tail slashes, charges and blocks. While the lack of sunlight persuaded us to move away from the deck, I'm sure that the great whales will continue their antics deep in our dreams tonight…
