Our day began before the sun with a rattle and thunk. We weighed anchor and headed north through San Jose Channel. As in many a narrow waterway, strong tidal currents here stir up productive water, so the channel is a good place to find marine wildlife.
Eventually we spotted distant splashes, and, nearing, we saw leaping Mobula rays. Though slightly smaller than the well-known manta rays, mobulas are still sizable. Seeing them leaping many feet in the air was impressive. And to see creatures that usually move with graceful submarine aplomb suddenly wiggling in the air with flippery exuberance was a joy. Cameras whirred, stopping the rays in frozen flips and belly flops.
Adjourning to the lounge, we heard Linda speak about adaptations of desert plants, using beautiful illustrations.
By late morning we were north of Isla San Jose, searching the wide sea for anything big. At last we found a great whale. It surfaced abruptly near the ship. Seeing dark color and significant size, we guessed a fin whale, but with a few more surfacings, we refined our identification. This was a Bryde’s whale. Unlike its congeners, Bryde’s are usually found in temperate or tropical waters. True to its nature, this Bryde’s was erratic in its behavior, so we moved on in search of more easily observed cetaceans.
After lunch we found a friskier whale. Humpbacks, the most gamesome of whales, are fond of acrobatic tricks, and we found one at its best. Again and again, the young whale threw itself out of the water in spectacular breaches.
Later in the afternoon, Ralph spoke about special techniques for photographing at night. These tips we intended to try out over the next few days.
At last we anchored at Puerto Gato on the peninsular mainland. During the hotter time of the day we engaged in water sports, snorkeling, or kayaking. Later, when it was a bit cooler, many of us walked off into the desert for a deeper introduction to Sonoran life. Others prowled about with their cameras, in search of an unusual image.
Meanwhile, the crew made preparations for a barbecue ashore. We dined on grilled chicken and fish washed down with chocolate cookies and plenty of cool wine and beer. And for a spectacular conclusion to the event, Alana Rowe, one of our deckhands, performed a dance with a twirling wand of fire while Alberto strummed flamenco guitar—a feast for ear, eye and camera.
