One of the many notable features of Baja and the Gulf of California are the sunrises. This morning, rays of light burst through the clouds painting the sea pink and the sky orange. We stood on the bow in awe, taking photos and taking in the majesty of the morning. Blue-footed boobies and other seabirds darted in front of the bow as we appro
The protected waters of Bahia Agua Verde were a prime location for our first outing. We geared up in our wetsuits and hit the water to explore the vibrant and abundant marine life below. Cornet fish stood still while balloonfish hovered around the rocky reefs. Sea stars were abundant in many varieties including the charismatic crown-of-thorns and gulf sun star. We were met on the beach with fine cocktails before returning to National Geographic Venture for a festive lunch on the sun deck.
In the afternoon we set out to explore the land around us by foot, kayak, and for the adventurous – stand-up paddleboard. While hiking we saw many species of plants and learned about the adaptations undergone to survive the intense climates of the Sonoran Desert. A multitude of birds flew overhead while we were about, some of them endemics found nowhere else in the world. Our time on land in Agua Verde opened our eyes to the diversity and complexity around us in Baja California Sur.
After our traditional recap where our divers shared footage of the underwater world, we enjoyed a fanciful dinner followed by a captivating presentation by our National Geographic representative Tierney about the phyla of the animal kingdom. It was a great first day of our voyage; we look forward to what tomorrow holds.
