Bahia Bonanza, Isla Espiritu Santo
Just before sunrise, the ship was nosing in close to Los Islotes, rocky islets that are home to more than 200 California sea lions. For many of us, the sound of barking sea lions was the first noise we heard this morning. We watched as dawn’s light illuminated distant mountains, then the islets just ahead of the ship. Finally, the barking sea lions were visible in the glow of early morning. What a wonderful way to wake up.
As we finished breakfast, some alert eyes sighted a blue whale. As we waited for the whale to surface again, we sighted another species - a Bryde’s whale.
By late morning we were at Bahia Bonanza at the southern end of Isla Espiritu Santo. This gorgeous beach is covered with white sand and many shells. After enjoying a barbeque lunch ashore, we walked in the desert, kayaked, or snorkeled off the end of the beach. Corals and fishes were numerous. There were large schools of sergeant majors, Mexican goatfish, and blue and orange king angelfish. Most unusual was a school of porcupinefish; some of the spiny fish appeared quite curious about us!
Just before sunrise, the ship was nosing in close to Los Islotes, rocky islets that are home to more than 200 California sea lions. For many of us, the sound of barking sea lions was the first noise we heard this morning. We watched as dawn’s light illuminated distant mountains, then the islets just ahead of the ship. Finally, the barking sea lions were visible in the glow of early morning. What a wonderful way to wake up.
As we finished breakfast, some alert eyes sighted a blue whale. As we waited for the whale to surface again, we sighted another species - a Bryde’s whale.
By late morning we were at Bahia Bonanza at the southern end of Isla Espiritu Santo. This gorgeous beach is covered with white sand and many shells. After enjoying a barbeque lunch ashore, we walked in the desert, kayaked, or snorkeled off the end of the beach. Corals and fishes were numerous. There were large schools of sergeant majors, Mexican goatfish, and blue and orange king angelfish. Most unusual was a school of porcupinefish; some of the spiny fish appeared quite curious about us!
