Los Islotes and Bonanza Beach, Espiritu Santo
Today was the perfect day for ending our voyage through the Gulf of California. At sunrise we arrived at Los Islotes, a small rocky islet in the Espiritu Santo archipelago. As we approached, sea birds were leaving there nighttime roosts to head to sea to begin searching for food, and a peregrine falcon flew from its nest. We hopped in the Zodiacs for a cruise amongst the rocks, and for close up views of the sea lion colony. This morning the sea lions were incredibly playful, and they used the Zodiacs as play toys for investigating.
Next, we entered the water to explore the world below the surface. A gigantic school of herring surrounded us at all times, and were the base of an interesting food chain. Pelicans and boobies assaulted them from above, while groupers, snapper, and skipjack tuna attacked from below. But, the graceful sea lions were the real show stoppers. I sat on the bottom videotaping the playful sea lions and the not so graceful humans who were trying to imitate them. The sea lions regularly would charge the camera and do flips and pirouettes in a beautiful ballet. The humans, on the other hand, regularly splashed and flailed, and occasionally tried to dive under to join in the dance. It was hard, however, to see who was having more fun.
During lunch we repositioned to the south side of Espiritu Santo to the gorgeous beach at Bonanza bay. Sunny skies and no wind made for excellent conditions in the shallow, turquoise bay. No matter if one choose to join a walk to find the endemic black jackrabbit, snorkel on the rocks at the end of the bay, or merely stroll along the white sand beach, Bonanza was the perfect place to end this journey.
Today was the perfect day for ending our voyage through the Gulf of California. At sunrise we arrived at Los Islotes, a small rocky islet in the Espiritu Santo archipelago. As we approached, sea birds were leaving there nighttime roosts to head to sea to begin searching for food, and a peregrine falcon flew from its nest. We hopped in the Zodiacs for a cruise amongst the rocks, and for close up views of the sea lion colony. This morning the sea lions were incredibly playful, and they used the Zodiacs as play toys for investigating.
Next, we entered the water to explore the world below the surface. A gigantic school of herring surrounded us at all times, and were the base of an interesting food chain. Pelicans and boobies assaulted them from above, while groupers, snapper, and skipjack tuna attacked from below. But, the graceful sea lions were the real show stoppers. I sat on the bottom videotaping the playful sea lions and the not so graceful humans who were trying to imitate them. The sea lions regularly would charge the camera and do flips and pirouettes in a beautiful ballet. The humans, on the other hand, regularly splashed and flailed, and occasionally tried to dive under to join in the dance. It was hard, however, to see who was having more fun.
During lunch we repositioned to the south side of Espiritu Santo to the gorgeous beach at Bonanza bay. Sunny skies and no wind made for excellent conditions in the shallow, turquoise bay. No matter if one choose to join a walk to find the endemic black jackrabbit, snorkel on the rocks at the end of the bay, or merely stroll along the white sand beach, Bonanza was the perfect place to end this journey.
