Bona and Otoque Islands – Panama Canal, Panama
Panama is not only the narrowest land portion in Central America, but also the lowest point relative to sea level. Thus the trade winds coming from the Caribbean Sea easily blow across the isthmus at Panama and push the warm waters in the Pacific Ocean towards the south. This phenomenon causes an ocean upwelling, which allows for the nutrients in the depths to come up to the surface. All of this combines to cause an abundance of marine life in the Gulf of Panama, as one approaches the Panama Canal.
We were witness to the ocean’s abundance this morning during Zodiac cruises at the islands of Bona and Otoque, indeed not only did we see thousands of seabirds, but some of us were lucky enough to see dolphins and a Bryde’s whale. We too had our last chance to enjoy the ocean waters with a quick swim from the stern of the ship and a final appearance this week for the “banana boat” or as we know it, the torpedo blaster!
During lunch we repositioned to the entrance of the Panama Canal to await our pilot and the start of our transit through this engineering marvel. We were quite lucky, the pilot was aboard by 5pm, and we passed under the Bridge of the Americas as the sun was low in the sky, lighting up other vessels as they left the Canal. As we approached the first set of locks the sun set, a perfect way to end the day.
Panama is not only the narrowest land portion in Central America, but also the lowest point relative to sea level. Thus the trade winds coming from the Caribbean Sea easily blow across the isthmus at Panama and push the warm waters in the Pacific Ocean towards the south. This phenomenon causes an ocean upwelling, which allows for the nutrients in the depths to come up to the surface. All of this combines to cause an abundance of marine life in the Gulf of Panama, as one approaches the Panama Canal.
We were witness to the ocean’s abundance this morning during Zodiac cruises at the islands of Bona and Otoque, indeed not only did we see thousands of seabirds, but some of us were lucky enough to see dolphins and a Bryde’s whale. We too had our last chance to enjoy the ocean waters with a quick swim from the stern of the ship and a final appearance this week for the “banana boat” or as we know it, the torpedo blaster!
During lunch we repositioned to the entrance of the Panama Canal to await our pilot and the start of our transit through this engineering marvel. We were quite lucky, the pilot was aboard by 5pm, and we passed under the Bridge of the Americas as the sun was low in the sky, lighting up other vessels as they left the Canal. As we approached the first set of locks the sun set, a perfect way to end the day.
