Gorda Banks
The morning began with the obligatory beautiful sunrise over the Gulf of California, complete with the green flash. Following breakfast, the ship cruised between Punta Los Frailles and Cabo San Lucas to search for those ocean going "milk givers" some humans commonly refer to as whales, dolphins and porpoises. Our patience was quickly rewarded with sightings of humpback whales and dolphins in the highly productive waters of the Gorda Banks.
This region is an undersea ridge where nutrient-rich bottom waters come to the surface, enhancing primary productivity in the plankton. A rich planktonic community is supported by this marine "fertilizer" including krill and the other large planktonic organisms the baleen whales feed on. Higher plankton levels also enhance the food chains for fishes which in turn offer the dolphins and porpoises a rich buffet to feast on.
Dolphins riding the MV Sea Lion's bow wake were a wonderful "warm-up act" for the featured event of the day. The humpback whales were in excellent form and offered quite a treat. Several were sighted surfacing, blowing and then sinking back into the water showing their unique, individualized tale flukes. Not content with this presentation, several proceeded to breach... landing with a 40-ton belly flop on the ocean surface. Others waved their elongated pectoral fins in the air, slapping them down on the water.
Following an outstanding morning of whale watching, Dr. William Lopez-Forment gave an extremely humorous talk on the botany, and economics, of tequila and the Agave plant from which it is made. Following the talk, guests were given an opportunity to sample the various grades of tequila on board after removing the tiny sombreros on each bottle neck.
Following lunch the ship arrived in Cabo San Lucas for an afternoon of sightseeing, nature walks and a SCUBA dive at Land's End with the undersea specialist and guests who were certified divers. The dive spot, southernmost on the Baja Peninsula, included a number of more tropical species not seen in the regions of the Gulf between La Paz and Loreto.
Our departure from Cabo was timed to give all an excellent view of the steep, vertical Friar's Rocks that make up the geologic formations at Land's End. Many sea birds, including a large number of magnificent frigatebirds, circled above the rocks. We were now on the Pacific Ocean coast heading up to Magdalena Bay.
Following recap and dinner, the undersea specialist gave a video presentation on the marine life seen earlier at Isla Santa Catalina in the Gulf. Guests then retired to their cabins to get a good night's sleep before our adventure with the gray whales in Magdalena Bay tomorrow morning.
