All along the coastline of Baja California Sur, we have been graced with exhilarating ocean encounters ranging from long-beaked common dolphins riding the bow of National Geographic Venture, thousands of various seabirds soaring over the dunes of Bahia Magdalena, and a pair of humpback whales dancing below the ship for over an hour. But today, with warmer water temperatures and a world-renowned National Park in our favor, we finally took the chance to dip below the surface and experience Mexico’s marine biodiversity up close. Guests donned wetsuits, masks, fins, and snorkels before jumping into a bustling underwater landscape of Cabo Pulmo National Park.
The waters of the park are dominated by large schools of various reef fishes, rays, and invertebrates, all of which have recovered after intense overfishing throughout the 20th century. National Geographic photographer Octavio Aburto, who played a large part in the conservation efforts that have helped these waters rebound, provided guests with the story behind the park’s establishment after they had dried off and warmed up. Later in the afternoon, we took the opportunity to explore on land and
