Bahia Alcatraz and the Canal de Ballenas
We cruised last night towards the Baja California Peninsula where we reached the beautiful bay named Bahia Alcatraz. We boarded the Zodiacs to get to the white sand beach. Part of the group opted for a short hike on the sand dunes and the rest of the group chose to walk along the beach searching for the invertebrates that waited for the high tide among the flat rocks. After the hikes we gathered to hear a kayak briefing from Jason, our Expedition Leader, so we could start paddling. We could hardly wait to be closer to the water in our quiet boats. Some of us decided to go deeper for an exploration of the rocky shore, equipped with our snorkeling gear. Fish swam amongst the tall sargassum and other types of brown algae that grow in this bay. Some other fish would find shelter or hide in the rocks crevices.
After lunch we cruised through Canal de Ballenas (Whales’ Channel) towards the northern part of Angel de la Guarda Island. We anchored and boarded our Zodiacs for cruises around Granito Island, a small islet that the California sea lions use for a rockery. We observed very large territorial males, barking as they patrolled in the water while the females remained in the beach nursing their pups.
As one of the Zodiacs was returning to the M.V. Sea Voyager, they sighted some dorsal fins and decided to have a closer look to those dolphins. As they approached, they discovered that they were the so-called “black fish” or false killer whale, Pseudorca crassidens. Their dorsal fin is very tall and falcate and the head is blunt, without a rostrum. The body is very dark. There was a group of around 15 individuals, with at least two young ones. Three bottlenose dolphins were swimming amongst them, as well as a small group of California sea lions. They swam along our zodiacs, turning around several times and even breaching out of the water occasionally. We followed them for some minutes as they swam graciously towards deeper waters. The emotion of the moment will last for several days to come and longer!
We cruised last night towards the Baja California Peninsula where we reached the beautiful bay named Bahia Alcatraz. We boarded the Zodiacs to get to the white sand beach. Part of the group opted for a short hike on the sand dunes and the rest of the group chose to walk along the beach searching for the invertebrates that waited for the high tide among the flat rocks. After the hikes we gathered to hear a kayak briefing from Jason, our Expedition Leader, so we could start paddling. We could hardly wait to be closer to the water in our quiet boats. Some of us decided to go deeper for an exploration of the rocky shore, equipped with our snorkeling gear. Fish swam amongst the tall sargassum and other types of brown algae that grow in this bay. Some other fish would find shelter or hide in the rocks crevices.
After lunch we cruised through Canal de Ballenas (Whales’ Channel) towards the northern part of Angel de la Guarda Island. We anchored and boarded our Zodiacs for cruises around Granito Island, a small islet that the California sea lions use for a rockery. We observed very large territorial males, barking as they patrolled in the water while the females remained in the beach nursing their pups.
As one of the Zodiacs was returning to the M.V. Sea Voyager, they sighted some dorsal fins and decided to have a closer look to those dolphins. As they approached, they discovered that they were the so-called “black fish” or false killer whale, Pseudorca crassidens. Their dorsal fin is very tall and falcate and the head is blunt, without a rostrum. The body is very dark. There was a group of around 15 individuals, with at least two young ones. Three bottlenose dolphins were swimming amongst them, as well as a small group of California sea lions. They swam along our zodiacs, turning around several times and even breaching out of the water occasionally. We followed them for some minutes as they swam graciously towards deeper waters. The emotion of the moment will last for several days to come and longer!
