Isla del Carmen and Isla Santa Catalina
Our day could not have started better than with a call of “Whales!” between Isla del Carmen and Isla Danzante, south of Loreto. With teeth half-brushed, smiles, and expectant spirits, brave expeditioners rushed onto the deck just after sunrise. We were in prime whale waters. The big cetaceans favour this area. Krill, those small planktonic, shrimp-like invertebrates that respond to upwellings of cold, rich water, are abundant here. We were absolutely thrilled as the world’s second largest mammal surfaced before our eyes – the fin whale. Fin whales are among the most handsome of cetaceans, with light-gray chevrons draping their sides, black swirls on their back and a pure white left lower jaw… in sharp contrast to the dark-gray of the right jaw. They love the waters off Isla del Carmen! For centuries, people who lived on this island, working in the sun-dried salt mine, were familiar with the tall, 20-foot, columnar blows seen just offshore. Today, the exploitation of the salt deposits is over, but the mighty blows can still be seen there.
In the early afternoon, after we had marveled at fin whales, a Bryde’s whale (pronounced Breeu-dis) and a joyous school of long-beaked common dolphins, the Sea Bird arrived to Isla Santa Catalina, home of numerous endemic plant and animal species. We set off for different activities – some to trek to the summit of the island, others to stroll casually and to learn about the endemic giant barrel cactus and the magnificent cardon cactus, and to search cautiously for the endemic rattleless rattlesnake. Still others – the more aquatic explorers, with salt in their veins – took advantage of our final opportunity to snorkel, at the aptly named “Elephant Rock.” The wonders of the submarine world puzzled our thoughts, left us in awe and put a smile on our faces. (Invariably, that smile would break the seal of our masks and flood our eyes!) The crown-of-thorns sea star, king angelfish, yellowtail surgeonfish and giant hawkfish (see photo) were just a few of the colourful species that reminded us of what a privilege and huge responsibility it is to share this world with other living things. Just how big is that responsibility? Maybe as big as a fin whale!
Our day could not have started better than with a call of “Whales!” between Isla del Carmen and Isla Danzante, south of Loreto. With teeth half-brushed, smiles, and expectant spirits, brave expeditioners rushed onto the deck just after sunrise. We were in prime whale waters. The big cetaceans favour this area. Krill, those small planktonic, shrimp-like invertebrates that respond to upwellings of cold, rich water, are abundant here. We were absolutely thrilled as the world’s second largest mammal surfaced before our eyes – the fin whale. Fin whales are among the most handsome of cetaceans, with light-gray chevrons draping their sides, black swirls on their back and a pure white left lower jaw… in sharp contrast to the dark-gray of the right jaw. They love the waters off Isla del Carmen! For centuries, people who lived on this island, working in the sun-dried salt mine, were familiar with the tall, 20-foot, columnar blows seen just offshore. Today, the exploitation of the salt deposits is over, but the mighty blows can still be seen there.
In the early afternoon, after we had marveled at fin whales, a Bryde’s whale (pronounced Breeu-dis) and a joyous school of long-beaked common dolphins, the Sea Bird arrived to Isla Santa Catalina, home of numerous endemic plant and animal species. We set off for different activities – some to trek to the summit of the island, others to stroll casually and to learn about the endemic giant barrel cactus and the magnificent cardon cactus, and to search cautiously for the endemic rattleless rattlesnake. Still others – the more aquatic explorers, with salt in their veins – took advantage of our final opportunity to snorkel, at the aptly named “Elephant Rock.” The wonders of the submarine world puzzled our thoughts, left us in awe and put a smile on our faces. (Invariably, that smile would break the seal of our masks and flood our eyes!) The crown-of-thorns sea star, king angelfish, yellowtail surgeonfish and giant hawkfish (see photo) were just a few of the colourful species that reminded us of what a privilege and huge responsibility it is to share this world with other living things. Just how big is that responsibility? Maybe as big as a fin whale!
