Los Islotes and Isla Espiritu Santo, Baja California, Mexico
A following sea allowed us to slumber peacefully as we motored south during the night. The silence of the early morning was abruptly interrupted by the raucous barks of California sea lions as we neared and anchored just off the two islets that make up Los Islotes. Soon, we entered the water and watched in awe as these agile creatures nimbly and effortlessly twisted their lithe bodies around us.
Lindblad Expeditions has teamed up with Mexico and international partners to form the Gulf of California Conservation Fund (GCCF) and place high priority on conservation issues affecting the Gulf. One project at Los Islotes is to educate the local fisher people about how important it is to maintain the health of the marine reserves and protected areas.
As we motored along to our next destination at Bonanza Beach, we participated in an activity that required little effort - enjoying a delightful lunch served on the bridge deck. The sea was flat, perfect conditions for whale watching. The captain’s cry of “Kogias spotted off the bow” sent everyone scurrying forward for a closer look. Indeed, there were at least two Kogia sima or dwarf sperm whales, and they allowed us a fleeting glimpse before they quietly slipped below the surface.
Once ashore at Bonanza Beach, part of the Espiritu Santo complex, our guests kayaked, snorkeled, trekked or joined others in the stationery hike on the endless beach.I grabbed the ship’s underwater camera and housing and set out into the turquoise-colored water to see what I could find. Within minutes of entering the water and descending to the sea floor, I came upon a couple of brown sea urchins nestled closely together. But something odd was occurring here. Great plumes of white and orange “smoke” were being pumped out of the center of the urchin’s body. These animals were spawning! This was truly an unforgettable experience and one that I never witnessed before. The outgoing tide would carry the fertilized eggs to new location to avoid direct competition with the adults. As I looked around, I discovered that I was surrounded by erupting urchins. Could this be why visibility was so limited at this sight?
A following sea allowed us to slumber peacefully as we motored south during the night. The silence of the early morning was abruptly interrupted by the raucous barks of California sea lions as we neared and anchored just off the two islets that make up Los Islotes. Soon, we entered the water and watched in awe as these agile creatures nimbly and effortlessly twisted their lithe bodies around us.
Lindblad Expeditions has teamed up with Mexico and international partners to form the Gulf of California Conservation Fund (GCCF) and place high priority on conservation issues affecting the Gulf. One project at Los Islotes is to educate the local fisher people about how important it is to maintain the health of the marine reserves and protected areas.
As we motored along to our next destination at Bonanza Beach, we participated in an activity that required little effort - enjoying a delightful lunch served on the bridge deck. The sea was flat, perfect conditions for whale watching. The captain’s cry of “Kogias spotted off the bow” sent everyone scurrying forward for a closer look. Indeed, there were at least two Kogia sima or dwarf sperm whales, and they allowed us a fleeting glimpse before they quietly slipped below the surface.
Once ashore at Bonanza Beach, part of the Espiritu Santo complex, our guests kayaked, snorkeled, trekked or joined others in the stationery hike on the endless beach.I grabbed the ship’s underwater camera and housing and set out into the turquoise-colored water to see what I could find. Within minutes of entering the water and descending to the sea floor, I came upon a couple of brown sea urchins nestled closely together. But something odd was occurring here. Great plumes of white and orange “smoke” were being pumped out of the center of the urchin’s body. These animals were spawning! This was truly an unforgettable experience and one that I never witnessed before. The outgoing tide would carry the fertilized eggs to new location to avoid direct competition with the adults. As I looked around, I discovered that I was surrounded by erupting urchins. Could this be why visibility was so limited at this sight?
