Punta Zapotal & Tamarindo

Dec 29, 2019 - National Geographic Sea Lion

1 of 6

A Giant hawkfish, the largest member of the hawkfish family, perches for me on a rock while snorkeling this morning. This striking fish is one of my favorites in this region since they often like to interact with me while I free dive. They’re always perched on their pectoral fins, not moving, waiting for prey, but when I come by, they’ll try out new perching techniques but never break eye contact.

Today we got a true taste of the coastal and marine environment in the Guanacaste region of Costa Rica. A real treat for me was getting under the water, snorkeling and freediving, and finding fun critters with our guests. Mangroves were the focus of the afternoon, with some amazing birding as well.

Send
Tweet

About the Author

Kim Nesbitt

Naturalist/Expedition Diver

Kim moved around a lot growing up, spending time in Virginia, New Hampshire, and South Carolina before choosing to call Denver home. She fell in love with travel at an early age—visiting to all seven continents by age 24—and the outdoor culture of Colorado only fueled her love for nature. While completing her bachelor’s degree in biology and cognitive neuroscience at the University of Denver, she spent time living and conducting environmental research in Zanzibar, Tanzania, where her work studying groupers at a world-renowned marine protected area was later published. She earned her M.B.A. from both the University of Denver and Doshisha University in Kyoto, Japan, where she conducted research on sustainable tourism that will be used in the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. Her combination of business and natural science experience has allowed her to consult with the United Nations Foundation, publish field guides, conduct genetics research, and develop university study abroad programs.

Talk to an Expedition Specialist