Our first full day in the Sea of Cortez would give us a chance to see a few of the jewels that this sea has to offer. Our long fruitful day began with early expedition landing craft cruises at the islets, or Los Islotes which are the northern most extension of Isla Partida (partial island) which is part of Espiritu Santo, or the Holy Spirit Island. These rocky islets are home to many tropical fish as well as marine mammals in the form of playful pinnipeds. The California sea lions that reproduce here are a draw for many people on private yachts, tourist boats and others. We took advantage of the calm conditions and cruised near shore to see the antics of the sea lions and the many tropical and temperate fish. It was then time to get in the water for those that wished a closer interaction with the sea lions. The younger animals seemed to enjoy trying to get the humans to swim just a little faster so they could play chase on their level.
After lunch National Geographic Sea Lion ventured north towards Isla San Jose. This mostly granitic island has some sea beds that contain fossils on its eastern shore. These colorful sandstones were a perfect backdrop for walks and beachcombing. An expedition landing craft cruise yielded an opportunity to see pelicans and frigate birds up close. In the late afternoon the crew set up a dinner on shore which was followed by smores and campfire songs. All in all it was a great day in the Sea of Cortez.
