Ensenada Grande & Los Islotes
Just before sunrise, strong southwest winds howled at the Sea Voyager. But we weren’t too concerned because in the distance lay the calm protected water of the picturesque bay of Ensenada Grande. The air was cool and seemed just right for a brisk hike over the tumble of rocks that filled the arroyo we planned to explore. We discovered the endemic antelope ground squirrel seemingly unaware of our presence as it bounced casually from rock to rock. Reptiles such as the speckled rattlesnake and chuckwalla lizard can also be found inhabiting this large island.
Once anchored, the scuba divers donned their equipment and rolled into the water from the Zodiac. As we settled down to the sandy seafloor, it took a moment or two for our eyes to adjust to our alien environment. A couple of weird but beautiful creatures occupying this realm were the odd-shaped balloonfish with it’s long spines, and a fleshy, bizarre-colored snail without a shell (nudibranch). There are no coral reefs in this area but our “reef” consisted of large boulder-like rocks which fell from the ledge above. This made the perfect habitat for many of the species of fishes that we saw.
By early afternoon, the wind had dropped substantially and we were graced with a perfect “Baja blue” sky. We had repositioned to Los Islotes, a small islet off the north tip of Isla Partida. California sea lions can be found here in large numbers especially during the breeding season. They looked so comfy, stretched out on top of the sharp hot rocks. It was a real thrill to snorkel in the company of these underwater acrobats. They seemed fascinated with us, probably because we seemed so slow and awkward.
Back on board our ship, we relaxed and recounted our experiences of a day well spent in Baja California.
Just before sunrise, strong southwest winds howled at the Sea Voyager. But we weren’t too concerned because in the distance lay the calm protected water of the picturesque bay of Ensenada Grande. The air was cool and seemed just right for a brisk hike over the tumble of rocks that filled the arroyo we planned to explore. We discovered the endemic antelope ground squirrel seemingly unaware of our presence as it bounced casually from rock to rock. Reptiles such as the speckled rattlesnake and chuckwalla lizard can also be found inhabiting this large island.
Once anchored, the scuba divers donned their equipment and rolled into the water from the Zodiac. As we settled down to the sandy seafloor, it took a moment or two for our eyes to adjust to our alien environment. A couple of weird but beautiful creatures occupying this realm were the odd-shaped balloonfish with it’s long spines, and a fleshy, bizarre-colored snail without a shell (nudibranch). There are no coral reefs in this area but our “reef” consisted of large boulder-like rocks which fell from the ledge above. This made the perfect habitat for many of the species of fishes that we saw.
By early afternoon, the wind had dropped substantially and we were graced with a perfect “Baja blue” sky. We had repositioned to Los Islotes, a small islet off the north tip of Isla Partida. California sea lions can be found here in large numbers especially during the breeding season. They looked so comfy, stretched out on top of the sharp hot rocks. It was a real thrill to snorkel in the company of these underwater acrobats. They seemed fascinated with us, probably because we seemed so slow and awkward.
Back on board our ship, we relaxed and recounted our experiences of a day well spent in Baja California.
