Whale-watching and Isla San Marcos, Sea of Cortez
“Where the Desert Meets the Sea” is an appropriate name for this voyage. Today was replete with explorations of these two juxtaposed biomes – so different yet so connected.
Our 'cetaceous' morning commenced when the Sea Voyager passed near a large group of feeding common dolphins. We were cruising in the vicinity of Isla Tortuga (Turtle Island), an oceanic island that is known for its high density of rattlesnakes. A landing here was neither on our itinerary nor on our permit, but the surrounding water proved to be rich in marine life. During breakfast the “greyhound of the sea,” also known as the fin or finback whale was sighted. This sleek, fast-swimming whale is the second-largest of all whales, regularly attaining lengths of 70 feet. Three of these massive animals came close and remained near the surface for excellent observation of the characteristics of this whale, which include a prominent dorsal fin, a whitish chevron on the back, and asymmetrical coloration of the lower jaw. In other words, the right lower jaw is white, while the left lower jaw is black in all fin whales. This is thought to aid the whale in feeding. The whales swam close together in a pattern around the ship and it was speculated that this trio might have been a courting group, containing one female and two males who were interested in her affections. There were a number of other spouts in the area, most of which also proved to be fin whales. As we turned back toward our destination, however, another whale was breaching out of the water! It was a lone humpback whale – our third marine mammal species of the day and only occasionally seen in the Sea of Cortez. After about three breaches it played at the surface, lob-tailing, rolling, and slapping its characteristic long, narrow pectoral flippers, before showing the underside of its fluke in a sounding dive.
At last we continued on our way and had some time for a lecture by Lee Moll. After having explored a few islands as well as part of the peninsula we have an idea of the diversity of plants that exist in this part of the Sonoran Desert. Lee explained about what makes a desert, where and how they form, and some of the amazing adaptations that the plants and animals have evolved in order to survive in the harsh desert environment. Cacti and reptiles are well-represented in the Sonoran Desert and are examples of quintessential desert-dwellers, able to deal with shortages of water and extreme temperature differentials.
We spent the afternoon on the east side of Isla San Marcos. Here we had a chance to snorkel, kayak, and hike. The water was warmer today and Victoria took the scuba divers down for a look at a depth of about 40 feet where they were excited to see a moray eel, Cortez angelfish, and a stingray.
San Marcos is a colorful island that is close to the peninsula and has deposits of gypsum that is mined on the island. One group of hikers encountered a large red diamondback rattlesnake, which rattled at us and retreated back under a rock as we approached. We decided that this would be a good turn-around point and returned to the beach and the ship.
Today is Cinco de Mayo – the fifth of May. It commemorates the 1862 victory of the Battle of Puebla when Mexico triumphed over the French Army, sent by Napoleon III. On board the Sea Voyager we celebrated with a complementary margarita party during the cocktail hour and a Mexican feast dinner buffet.
“Where the Desert Meets the Sea” is an appropriate name for this voyage. Today was replete with explorations of these two juxtaposed biomes – so different yet so connected.
Our 'cetaceous' morning commenced when the Sea Voyager passed near a large group of feeding common dolphins. We were cruising in the vicinity of Isla Tortuga (Turtle Island), an oceanic island that is known for its high density of rattlesnakes. A landing here was neither on our itinerary nor on our permit, but the surrounding water proved to be rich in marine life. During breakfast the “greyhound of the sea,” also known as the fin or finback whale was sighted. This sleek, fast-swimming whale is the second-largest of all whales, regularly attaining lengths of 70 feet. Three of these massive animals came close and remained near the surface for excellent observation of the characteristics of this whale, which include a prominent dorsal fin, a whitish chevron on the back, and asymmetrical coloration of the lower jaw. In other words, the right lower jaw is white, while the left lower jaw is black in all fin whales. This is thought to aid the whale in feeding. The whales swam close together in a pattern around the ship and it was speculated that this trio might have been a courting group, containing one female and two males who were interested in her affections. There were a number of other spouts in the area, most of which also proved to be fin whales. As we turned back toward our destination, however, another whale was breaching out of the water! It was a lone humpback whale – our third marine mammal species of the day and only occasionally seen in the Sea of Cortez. After about three breaches it played at the surface, lob-tailing, rolling, and slapping its characteristic long, narrow pectoral flippers, before showing the underside of its fluke in a sounding dive.
At last we continued on our way and had some time for a lecture by Lee Moll. After having explored a few islands as well as part of the peninsula we have an idea of the diversity of plants that exist in this part of the Sonoran Desert. Lee explained about what makes a desert, where and how they form, and some of the amazing adaptations that the plants and animals have evolved in order to survive in the harsh desert environment. Cacti and reptiles are well-represented in the Sonoran Desert and are examples of quintessential desert-dwellers, able to deal with shortages of water and extreme temperature differentials.
We spent the afternoon on the east side of Isla San Marcos. Here we had a chance to snorkel, kayak, and hike. The water was warmer today and Victoria took the scuba divers down for a look at a depth of about 40 feet where they were excited to see a moray eel, Cortez angelfish, and a stingray.
San Marcos is a colorful island that is close to the peninsula and has deposits of gypsum that is mined on the island. One group of hikers encountered a large red diamondback rattlesnake, which rattled at us and retreated back under a rock as we approached. We decided that this would be a good turn-around point and returned to the beach and the ship.
Today is Cinco de Mayo – the fifth of May. It commemorates the 1862 victory of the Battle of Puebla when Mexico triumphed over the French Army, sent by Napoleon III. On board the Sea Voyager we celebrated with a complementary margarita party during the cocktail hour and a Mexican feast dinner buffet.
