Our morning started with the first rays of light reflecting off of friers rocks which lie at the entrance to the port at Cabo San Lucas. After breakfast approximately thirty-one guests clad in neoprene anxiously awaited departure from the Sea Lion to snorkel at a location known as pelican rock. Double crested cormorants were paddling on the surface looking below the surface for a chance meal. Face masks were donned and emersion into the water column brought smiles as sergeant majors (Abudefduf troschelii), yellowtail surgeonfish (Prionurus punctatus), and scissor tail damselfish (Chromis atrilobata) circled the flotsam that were our guests.
Several of us wanted to gain a different look at the marine fauna, an eye to eye view, and prepared for a dive. Strapping on our false swim bladders know as buoyancy compensation devices we slowly descended to the bottom at a depth of 25 feet. Buried in the sand perfectly camouflaged was this bulls eye stingray (Urolophus concentricus) pictured above. Being confined to the Gulf of California, Urolophus can be found on many types of bottom strata including rocky bottom. With a maximum length of twenty-two inches and a fierce barb on the dorsal side of the tail one can see why shuffling feet while entering sandy bottom beaches is a good idea to avoid the possibility of an inadvertent encounter. The spiracles found behind the eye open and close with each breath and are an adaptation, which allows the ray to lie concealed below the sand avoiding predation.
The day came to a close with spectacular views of humpback whales in a region known as the Gorda banks. Who knows what tomorrow may bring?
