Panama Bay Islands and the Panama Canal
Powerful north winds and rolling swells lengthened the time of our evening journey from the Pacific Ocean to the Gulf of Panama. With the Sea Voyager at full tilt, the early morning yoga class on the sundeck embraced the harmony and soothing sound of the Sea Voyager cutting through the mighty gulf.
Soon after sunrise, we dropped anchor at our morning destination, just off the islands of Bona and Otoque. The nutrient rich cold waters that emerge from the bottom of the Gulf of Panama attract hundreds of marine birds for nesting and feeding on and around these unique islands. As soon as our Zodiacs were launched from the top deck, we set off to explore and view magnificent frigatebirds, brown boobies and brown pelicans in their natural environment. What a treat to be a minority among so many marine birds!
Shortly after our return to the ship, we continued north toward the opening of one of the world’s greatest shipping lanes, the Panama Canal. Surrounded by merchant liners also awaiting their entrance into the Canal, we gathered in the lounge for a fascinating presentation by our Panamanian Naturalist, Cristian Moreno, addressing the present expansion of the Canal. Panama has begun the building of a third and wider canal that will allow passage to larger container ships. And to our great surprise and excitement, our Canal Pilot arrived ahead of schedule, and we were underway passing beneath the bridge of the Americas, through the Miraflores Locks, then the Pedro Miguel Lock, and into the Gaillard Cut by nightfall.
Cruising down the Cut to the Gatun Lake, our evening destination, we crossed the Continental Divide. Surrounded by the lush rainforest, the stars guiding us from above, and the rumble and lights of the active dredging occurring along the shore, we were reminded of the consistent perseverance of man to expand and overcome the challenges of the past and the present, while preserving and appreciating the natural environment. Perhaps little has changed since our ancestors broke ground here more than 100 years ago.
Powerful north winds and rolling swells lengthened the time of our evening journey from the Pacific Ocean to the Gulf of Panama. With the Sea Voyager at full tilt, the early morning yoga class on the sundeck embraced the harmony and soothing sound of the Sea Voyager cutting through the mighty gulf.
Soon after sunrise, we dropped anchor at our morning destination, just off the islands of Bona and Otoque. The nutrient rich cold waters that emerge from the bottom of the Gulf of Panama attract hundreds of marine birds for nesting and feeding on and around these unique islands. As soon as our Zodiacs were launched from the top deck, we set off to explore and view magnificent frigatebirds, brown boobies and brown pelicans in their natural environment. What a treat to be a minority among so many marine birds!
Shortly after our return to the ship, we continued north toward the opening of one of the world’s greatest shipping lanes, the Panama Canal. Surrounded by merchant liners also awaiting their entrance into the Canal, we gathered in the lounge for a fascinating presentation by our Panamanian Naturalist, Cristian Moreno, addressing the present expansion of the Canal. Panama has begun the building of a third and wider canal that will allow passage to larger container ships. And to our great surprise and excitement, our Canal Pilot arrived ahead of schedule, and we were underway passing beneath the bridge of the Americas, through the Miraflores Locks, then the Pedro Miguel Lock, and into the Gaillard Cut by nightfall.
Cruising down the Cut to the Gatun Lake, our evening destination, we crossed the Continental Divide. Surrounded by the lush rainforest, the stars guiding us from above, and the rumble and lights of the active dredging occurring along the shore, we were reminded of the consistent perseverance of man to expand and overcome the challenges of the past and the present, while preserving and appreciating the natural environment. Perhaps little has changed since our ancestors broke ground here more than 100 years ago.
