Isla Santa Catalina
This photo of a leaping bottlenose dolphin captures the mood of guests on board the Sea Voyager at the end of our second day in the Sea of Cortez. This morning’s sunrise caught up with us off the east coast of Isla San Jose, along with a strong following wind. Our first choice for a landing was scrapped due to sea conditions so we sailed past Punta Colorado and aimed for our plan B destination. But the wind died down during breakfast so we did an about face, returned to Punta Colorado and commenced Zodiac operations just slightly later than we had planned originally. The setting was spectacular and offered us opportunities to stretch our legs on a long walk up a beautifully colored arroyo as well as soak up the ambience of multi-hued and layered sandstone cliffs framing an aquamarine cove at the landing site.
During the afternoon we cruised steadily north towards Isla Santa Catalina with a bow full of dedicated whale spotters. The wind accompanied us, making it difficult to spot whale blows, what with white caps horizon to horizon. Nearing Santa Catalina however, the large splashes of breaching dolphins were impossible to miss and a group of them approached our ship for mutual closer looks. These creatures gave form to the concepts of grace, agility and joy as they moved through the water and air around our ship.
Soon we were ashore at Tursiops Cove (named after the species of dolphin we had just spent time with) and experiencing the world of marine mammal-dom in our own fashion: with snorkels, wet suits, mask and fins as key adaptations. The water was a balmy 75 degrees or better which, along with the variety of fish and invertebrate life to be seen beneath the waves, encouraged everyone to stay in as long as possible. Not so long that there wasn’t time for one more arroyo hike, exploring the interior of the island and viewing the incredible giant barrel cactus, a species that grows only here in all the wide world. With so many highlights to one day, is it any wonder that we are leaping with joy at the prospect of more days exploring where the desert meets the sea?
This photo of a leaping bottlenose dolphin captures the mood of guests on board the Sea Voyager at the end of our second day in the Sea of Cortez. This morning’s sunrise caught up with us off the east coast of Isla San Jose, along with a strong following wind. Our first choice for a landing was scrapped due to sea conditions so we sailed past Punta Colorado and aimed for our plan B destination. But the wind died down during breakfast so we did an about face, returned to Punta Colorado and commenced Zodiac operations just slightly later than we had planned originally. The setting was spectacular and offered us opportunities to stretch our legs on a long walk up a beautifully colored arroyo as well as soak up the ambience of multi-hued and layered sandstone cliffs framing an aquamarine cove at the landing site.
During the afternoon we cruised steadily north towards Isla Santa Catalina with a bow full of dedicated whale spotters. The wind accompanied us, making it difficult to spot whale blows, what with white caps horizon to horizon. Nearing Santa Catalina however, the large splashes of breaching dolphins were impossible to miss and a group of them approached our ship for mutual closer looks. These creatures gave form to the concepts of grace, agility and joy as they moved through the water and air around our ship.
Soon we were ashore at Tursiops Cove (named after the species of dolphin we had just spent time with) and experiencing the world of marine mammal-dom in our own fashion: with snorkels, wet suits, mask and fins as key adaptations. The water was a balmy 75 degrees or better which, along with the variety of fish and invertebrate life to be seen beneath the waves, encouraged everyone to stay in as long as possible. Not so long that there wasn’t time for one more arroyo hike, exploring the interior of the island and viewing the incredible giant barrel cactus, a species that grows only here in all the wide world. With so many highlights to one day, is it any wonder that we are leaping with joy at the prospect of more days exploring where the desert meets the sea?
