There are days spent at sea where one might encounter whales—perhaps even a couple of different species of whales. Then there are days like today where all on board National Geographic Sea Lion were treated to a plethora of whale species!
After a magnificent green flash sunrise, sharp eyes on the bow started calling out the blows on the horizon. Staff and guests in the know recognized the 45-degree angle of the whale exhalation to belong to the only species that creates such a blow: the mighty sperm whale! Soon angled blows started to be seen all around the ship, and we were amongst the largest toothed whales on the planet. Individual and pairs of sperm whales began to pop up all around us, logging while taking several breaths, only to raise their flukes into the air in order to dive into the depths.
The sperm whales were headed towards the island of San Pedro Mártir, and conveniently we were headed towards that very same island for our afternoon activities. Sperm whales gave way to bottlenose dolphins, which eventually led us to short-finned pilot whales. These large dolphins, known as blackfish to some, were spread out and foraging, affording us a close up glimpse as they came close to National Geographic Sea Lion.
Tall columnar blows amongst the pilot whales prompted us to change course, rewarding us with views of fin, Bryde’s, and sei whales. These large baleen whales were all foraging near the surface in what was obviously a very plankton rich part of the sea. As if six species of cetaceans weren’t enough, a pair of humpback whales crashed the party and began to sub-surface feed as well. Quite literally, spiritually, and physically we found ourselves in whale soup for most of the day!
This blubbery day was capped off with circumnavigations by DIB of Isla San Pedro Mártir, home to one of the largest colonies of blue-footed boobies in the entire world. Brown pelicans, magnificent frigatebirds, and red-billed tropicbirds all wheeled and glided above us, offering fantastic photo opportunities. As the sun began to set in the west over the Baja Peninsula, the barking of California sea lions ushered us into a perfect starry night.
