Isla Espíritu Santo
Today began as all perfect Baja California days should, with calm seas at first light, perhaps 500 bottlenose dolphins playing about the ship, bow riding in front of the Bow Camera and jumping in pairs high out of the water in a beautiful dolphin ballet. Two humpback whales surfaced in front of a beautiful green flash at sunrise as we anchored at Los Islotes to cruise by Zodiac and then snorkel with the wonderfully acrobatic California sea lions.
We left our anchorage just before lunch and sailed south along the beautiful west coast of Isla Espíritu Santo, one of the famous pearl islands of the Gulf. The conditions were perfect for sighting whales—no wind and wonderful light. Soon we saw in the distance a small whale with a very falcate dorsal fin. As we approached the whale, we discussed the possibilities: Bryde’s Whale, Minke Whale, one of the elusive Beaked Whales perhaps. As we approached the whale, we noted that if it were a Minke Whale it might have white markings on its pectoral fins and a very V-shaped head. Suddenly, as the Captain maneuvered for a better look, the whale surfaced right next to the ship. We all saw these two characteristics as clearly as if they had been painted on a canvas. Carlos Navarro, Undersea Specialist, managed to capture the instant perfectly. We all tried to remember when we had previously seen Minke Whales in the Gulf. While they are common in oceans like the North Atlantic, this was a truly rare sighting for the Sea of Cortez, and it served as the perfect end to a perfect week of whale sightings.
Today began as all perfect Baja California days should, with calm seas at first light, perhaps 500 bottlenose dolphins playing about the ship, bow riding in front of the Bow Camera and jumping in pairs high out of the water in a beautiful dolphin ballet. Two humpback whales surfaced in front of a beautiful green flash at sunrise as we anchored at Los Islotes to cruise by Zodiac and then snorkel with the wonderfully acrobatic California sea lions.
We left our anchorage just before lunch and sailed south along the beautiful west coast of Isla Espíritu Santo, one of the famous pearl islands of the Gulf. The conditions were perfect for sighting whales—no wind and wonderful light. Soon we saw in the distance a small whale with a very falcate dorsal fin. As we approached the whale, we discussed the possibilities: Bryde’s Whale, Minke Whale, one of the elusive Beaked Whales perhaps. As we approached the whale, we noted that if it were a Minke Whale it might have white markings on its pectoral fins and a very V-shaped head. Suddenly, as the Captain maneuvered for a better look, the whale surfaced right next to the ship. We all saw these two characteristics as clearly as if they had been painted on a canvas. Carlos Navarro, Undersea Specialist, managed to capture the instant perfectly. We all tried to remember when we had previously seen Minke Whales in the Gulf. While they are common in oceans like the North Atlantic, this was a truly rare sighting for the Sea of Cortez, and it served as the perfect end to a perfect week of whale sightings.
