Los Islotes & Isla Partida

We started the day out at Los Islotes, a group of tiny islands in the Sea of Cortez. We all took Zodiac tours to see these small red volcanic rock islands, one of which had a beautiful sea arch. There were cormorants, blue-footed boobies, and brown boobies flying to and from their nests on the rocks. However, the California sea lions stole the show, with their entertaining sounds and actions on the rocks and in the water. There were many female and juvenile sea lions, but there was an occasional 800-pound male guarding his space.

The day got better when we went snorkeling at the same place. We saw many colorful fish, including damselfish, angelfish, and wrasses. Once again, it was the sea lions that took our breath away. They swam past us, using their flippers like wings. Some of them swam right up to us, blowing bubbles as they went by. Several of them were playing with each other several feet below us on the sea floor.

When we got back to the ship, we were treated to a real science experience. The ship’s crew described the high tech CTD apparatus that they lower into the deep sea every week in order to help scientists study the affect of the oxygen minimum layer on the changing Humboldt squid populations. They attached a Styrofoam cup in order to demonstrate how it was crushed to half its size by the tremendous pressure deep down in the ocean.

After lunch, the National Geographic Sea Bird cruised into the Ensenada Grande Bay on Isla Partida for a fantastic afternoon of hiking and kayaking. This bay was the amazing light blue color of a swimming pool, surrounded by volcanic ash flow tuff rock formations in fantastic shapes resembling things like flowers, women’s faces, and even skulls. The kayakers paddled around the clear waters of the bay and past the rock formations. The hikers saw many varieties of cactus, flowers, and trees, all of which were green due to the abundant rain in January. Some hikers even made it up a trail of huge boulders to the top of the island.

We concluded the incredible day on the ship with a blazing sunset, Captain’s farewell party, and another scrumptious dinner.