Our morning was launched with a beautiful sunrise and morning stretch class as we sailed south with fair winds and following seas. We made a lovely stop at Punta Belcher, a point on the southern shore of Isla Magdelena. Half the group hiked down the beach to a small fishing camp, where a handful of families were making a living at sea. Ramshackle shelters were clustered together at the point surrounded by clouds of pelicans, gulls, terns, and fish bones. Other folks took a stroll on the seashell-strewn beach and wandered up an arroyo to experience the desert ecosystem.
After lunch we made tracks south, enjoying some relaxation on the deck and wildlife viewing from the bow. Dolphins made periodic appearances beside the ship, bow-riding for a few minutes before disappearing, a humpback whale rolled through the water before sounding, and an abundant collection of shearwaters cruised inches above the waves on the lookout for food.
The sun set into the waves of the west as we began recap and the evening ended with a dive presentation by our undersea specialist Paul North.
