Isla Tiburon and San Pedro Martir, Gulf of California, Mexico
As we approached the rocky shoreline of Isla San Esteban, we noticed that the crashing waves against the beach might make it difficult for a landing. After a quick check by Zodiac, we decided that Isla Tiburon to the north would be a better option given the choppy sea state.
Isla Tiburon, the largest island in the Gulf, is a very desert-like island with very few water sources and is separated from the mainland by a narrow, shallow channel. The protected west side of Punta Willard was just what we were looking for as it offered us a chance to explore once more and also a little much needed water sports opportunity for the younger members of our group. Some of the youngsters wrestled with each other in the warm water while others meandered up the windy arroyo. It is known that bighorn sheep and mule deer roam this arid island though we did not see any; however, we did see the long-nose leopard lizard and the endemic species of jack rabbit.
As we continued south towards our next stop, we kept a lookout for marine mammals. A group of energetic bottlenose dolphin could be seen leaping and splashing in the distance. Soon, they were surfing along side in the waves as they caught up to our ship. By late afternoon, we were positioned off the island of San Pedro Mártir and ready for Zodiac cruises. Of volcanic origin, it formed as an indirect result of rifting in the center of the Gulf. It is now home to thousands of birds such as the blue-footed and brown boobies, brown pelicans and red-billed tropicbirds, and Heerman’s and yellow-footed gulls. In years past, guano was collected for the fertilizer industry and we could see it in the stone walls built by the Indians and Mexican workers. It was thought that these walls caught the guano chipped off by a man working above them.
Later, as we sat in the spacious lounge of the Sea Voyager and gazed out her large windows, we could easily see the exposed layers of ash of San Pedro Mártir and watched as the colors changed with the setting sun. Even after dinner was announced, many of us continued to sit in the company of our new friends, enjoying our final evening together.
As we approached the rocky shoreline of Isla San Esteban, we noticed that the crashing waves against the beach might make it difficult for a landing. After a quick check by Zodiac, we decided that Isla Tiburon to the north would be a better option given the choppy sea state.
Isla Tiburon, the largest island in the Gulf, is a very desert-like island with very few water sources and is separated from the mainland by a narrow, shallow channel. The protected west side of Punta Willard was just what we were looking for as it offered us a chance to explore once more and also a little much needed water sports opportunity for the younger members of our group. Some of the youngsters wrestled with each other in the warm water while others meandered up the windy arroyo. It is known that bighorn sheep and mule deer roam this arid island though we did not see any; however, we did see the long-nose leopard lizard and the endemic species of jack rabbit.
As we continued south towards our next stop, we kept a lookout for marine mammals. A group of energetic bottlenose dolphin could be seen leaping and splashing in the distance. Soon, they were surfing along side in the waves as they caught up to our ship. By late afternoon, we were positioned off the island of San Pedro Mártir and ready for Zodiac cruises. Of volcanic origin, it formed as an indirect result of rifting in the center of the Gulf. It is now home to thousands of birds such as the blue-footed and brown boobies, brown pelicans and red-billed tropicbirds, and Heerman’s and yellow-footed gulls. In years past, guano was collected for the fertilizer industry and we could see it in the stone walls built by the Indians and Mexican workers. It was thought that these walls caught the guano chipped off by a man working above them.
Later, as we sat in the spacious lounge of the Sea Voyager and gazed out her large windows, we could easily see the exposed layers of ash of San Pedro Mártir and watched as the colors changed with the setting sun. Even after dinner was announced, many of us continued to sit in the company of our new friends, enjoying our final evening together.
