Blue Whale. Balaenoptera musculus. An endangered species with a worldwide population of fewer than 10,000, and we had very close encounters with two of those animals today. How can one possibly describe the heart-stopping excitement of watching the largest animal ever to have lived on our planet feeding directly in front of the ship? For nearly an hour we raced around the decks to find the perfect photo spot, and then stood transfixed as this immense creature lunged to the sea's surface with its throat pleats billowing and left pectoral fin raised high. We watched it roll back onto its belly and then surface for several breaths before lunging again. The explosive sound of the whale's blow was echoed on deck by the clicking and whirring of cameras in action. We pulled away to search some more with everyone chattering excitedly about the encounter, and perhaps reflecting on this special event.
Our searching paid off when a pod of short-finned pilot whales was spotted from the bridge, so we slowed down to investigate. We decided to try and film these large black dolphins underwater, so we dropped a Zodiac and headed out with the splash cam. Within a few minutes we had some of the whales near enough to see underwater and managed to film several close passes, including the close approach of the large bull in the photo.
By lunchtime we'd seen six species of marine mammals and had been treated to the warmest and calmest conditions of the season, so we knew that we were on a roll. What we didn't realize was that this day still had another incredible surprise in store for us. During lunch, another blue whale was spotted. It was moving quickly and surfaced very near the ship, so, of course, we hit the brakes and hoped for a closer look. As we sat still in the water, scanning the distance for the tall, columnar blow of the blue whale, it slowly rose to the surface just 20 feet off the port bow! To say that those of us on the bow were startled would be a gross understatement, but we all quickly ran for cameras. For the next 20 minutes, or so, this curious blue whale slowly circled the ship and investigated us for a change. Folks still at lunch got eye-level views through the dining room windows, while those outside watched the entire body of this whale just below the surface. Being approached by this "friendly" blue whale is an experience that none of us will soon forget.
We finally made it to shore later in the afternoon for some desert hiking and snorkeling at Punta San Marcial. While guests were off having fun, the crew of the Sea Bird laid out a delicious beach barbecue. Sitting comfortably on shore around a blazing bonfire and under a sky-full of stars, we said thanks for a very special Valentine's Day.
