Our first full day in the Gulf of California was quite a remarkable one. The weather conditions were ideal, with a subtle breeze from the west. Our destination for the morning was Los Islotes. These rocks that rise from the sea, just north of Isla Partida, are the southernmost California sea lion breeding colony in the gulf.
Early in the morning we embarked our boats to explore the periphery of these magnificent rocks. The first thing that called our attention, other than the sounds of the sea lions, was a pair of peregrine falcons that acrobatically flew in courtship displays.
California sea lions are here year-round, and there is an estimated population of around 300 individuals. The most playful are the youngsters of around two years of age. This morning we could invite them to play with us, by slightly accelerating the motor of our boats and creating a trail of bubbles, which they seem to love! Suddenly, they start leaping in the air and spinning around with evident joy as they follow our boats. We had great photographic opportunities and also a little challenge to practice wildlife photography in action.
For the adventurous people, that like to explore the underwater dimension, we offered snorkeling with the sea lions. The conditions were ideal; light wind, warmer water than the usual, great visibility, and more than anything, curious sea lions. We had the time of our lives sharing very special moments face to face with these wild animals. The conditions were simply perfect for underwater photography and the interaction with the sea lions could not have been better either.
This afternoon we visited Isla San Francisco. We went on different walks and took in the wild and remote scenery of the beautiful island. Exploring by foot through the low and high topography of the island gave us excellent opportunities to photograph or just enjoy the magnificent landscape.
Kayakers had their first chance to paddle in the vast bay, with clear blue waters below and calm skies above.
