Elephant Rock & Tursiops Beach, Isla Santa Catalina
Our Wellness Therapist and the early risers greeted the morning light across the bow. We had traveled a short distance during the night from Isla del Carmen and now we lay at anchor with a close-up view of elephant rock, a large slab of granite that over time had eroded into the shape of an elephant sitting at the water’s edge with its massive head and trunk facing the sea.
Long hikers trekked across to the other side of the island to see what they could find. Other walks revealed the endemic giant barrel cactus, a species that we had not seen before. Because Isla Santa Catalina is further from the peninsula, migration of peninsular organisms is more difficult, so it has allowed for the evolution of endemic species. Judging by the spectacular specimens of giant barrel and cardon cacti found here, the granite, which is of considerable age, seems to have formed a good soil. Also found here is the rattleless rattlesnake that lost its rattle, possibly because of the absence of large hoofed animals. But why hasn’t this happened on other islands?
Following the visit to the island, we immersed ourselves into the cool clear waters under the watchful eye of the elephant. The snorkeling was amazing, clear water and plenty of fishes, such as the Panamic sergeant major, giant and scissortail damselfish.
Not far away, scuba divers rolled from the Zodiac and slipped below the surface. We descended over a sandy bottom that soon sloped downwards amid numerous boulders. The visibility was the best ever and easily exceeded sixty feet. The diversity of fish was outstanding. Within moments, we were surrounded by clouds of yellowtail surgeonfish, huge large yellow snapper, Pacific creolefish and leopard grouper. I felt dizzy as I spun around to take in the number of fish around us, all going about their daily fishy business. I almost sat on a free swimming Panamic moray eel that was calmly poised above a rock. I did not want this dive to end. But because we are air-breathing mammals, eventually we had to return to the surface.
After a delicious paella and cold refreshing gazpacho soup, we relocated to another part of the island for more water activities and spent the rest of the afternoon swimming and snorkeling while the younger members of our group got the thrill of their life riding the “banana boat”, a small banana-shaped inflatable watercraft that was pulled behind our Zodiac. Their hoots and screams of laughter could be heard all the way to the ship.
But sadly, all good things must come to an end until another time at least, and we said our silent goodbyes as we headed back to the ship. Tomorrow, we would bid our comfortable home the Sea Voyager farewell as our time here in this glorious Gulf of California ends. But I am particularly sad because I have spent nine weeks here in this beautiful Baja and I am already missing it. One thing that we cannot forget is how the beauty, the mystery and the magic of this place have made us feel and that we will all be taking a little part of Baja with us in our hearts. And we are left to ponder how we can protect the integrity of the Gulf of California’s fragile environment and endangered species before it’s lost.
Our Wellness Therapist and the early risers greeted the morning light across the bow. We had traveled a short distance during the night from Isla del Carmen and now we lay at anchor with a close-up view of elephant rock, a large slab of granite that over time had eroded into the shape of an elephant sitting at the water’s edge with its massive head and trunk facing the sea.
Long hikers trekked across to the other side of the island to see what they could find. Other walks revealed the endemic giant barrel cactus, a species that we had not seen before. Because Isla Santa Catalina is further from the peninsula, migration of peninsular organisms is more difficult, so it has allowed for the evolution of endemic species. Judging by the spectacular specimens of giant barrel and cardon cacti found here, the granite, which is of considerable age, seems to have formed a good soil. Also found here is the rattleless rattlesnake that lost its rattle, possibly because of the absence of large hoofed animals. But why hasn’t this happened on other islands?
Following the visit to the island, we immersed ourselves into the cool clear waters under the watchful eye of the elephant. The snorkeling was amazing, clear water and plenty of fishes, such as the Panamic sergeant major, giant and scissortail damselfish.
Not far away, scuba divers rolled from the Zodiac and slipped below the surface. We descended over a sandy bottom that soon sloped downwards amid numerous boulders. The visibility was the best ever and easily exceeded sixty feet. The diversity of fish was outstanding. Within moments, we were surrounded by clouds of yellowtail surgeonfish, huge large yellow snapper, Pacific creolefish and leopard grouper. I felt dizzy as I spun around to take in the number of fish around us, all going about their daily fishy business. I almost sat on a free swimming Panamic moray eel that was calmly poised above a rock. I did not want this dive to end. But because we are air-breathing mammals, eventually we had to return to the surface.
After a delicious paella and cold refreshing gazpacho soup, we relocated to another part of the island for more water activities and spent the rest of the afternoon swimming and snorkeling while the younger members of our group got the thrill of their life riding the “banana boat”, a small banana-shaped inflatable watercraft that was pulled behind our Zodiac. Their hoots and screams of laughter could be heard all the way to the ship.
But sadly, all good things must come to an end until another time at least, and we said our silent goodbyes as we headed back to the ship. Tomorrow, we would bid our comfortable home the Sea Voyager farewell as our time here in this glorious Gulf of California ends. But I am particularly sad because I have spent nine weeks here in this beautiful Baja and I am already missing it. One thing that we cannot forget is how the beauty, the mystery and the magic of this place have made us feel and that we will all be taking a little part of Baja with us in our hearts. And we are left to ponder how we can protect the integrity of the Gulf of California’s fragile environment and endangered species before it’s lost.
