Los Islotes and Ensanada Grande, Isla Partida, Baja California, México
Our captain skillfully maneuvered the Sea Bird over the building seas. Soon, we tucked into the calmer protected waters on the leeward side of Los Islotes and looked out to see the guano covered islet. Located just off the north end of Isla Partida, Los Islotes is an important rookery for the California sea lion. “Lobera” is the Mexican Spanish name for this marine mammal and it is thought that approximately 400 sea lions live here. There are also seabirds found nesting here such as the blue-footed booby and brown booby bird.
Lindblad and the Gulf of California Conservation Fund, (GCCF) have joined hands to support an important local disentanglement program that removes monofilament netting around sea lions and teaches fishermen and their families about the value of seal lion colonies.
After our visit by Zodiac, we donned wetsuits and plunged into the green water for a more intimate experience with these amazing creatures. Surprisingly, the visibility was quite good and the water temperature comfortable. Almost immediately, we were surrounded by at least a dozen juvenile sea lions. They were extremely playful and cavorted and frolicked with us with the energy of a young puppy. Below, a jewel moray eel swayed back and forth in the surge, its yellow body barely visible within the algae. Yellowtail snapper huddled close in the shadows and a lone flag cabrilla grouper darted out into full view and as quickly disappeared again. A large school of herring moved their silver bodies in unison and separated as we swam through them.
After saying goodbye to our playful companions, we continued to head south and dropped anchor off the coast of Ensenada Grande at Espiritu Santo Island. This area was long valued by pre-Colombian Indians and evidence of their past habitation can sometimes still be found in the caves and ledges scattered around.
We made one more exploratory hike up the arroyo and had the opportunity to kayak the calm waters of the protected bay. A spectacular sunset was followed by a recap filled with awe inspiring photographs of our trip and underwater scenes of our last snorkel at Los Islotes. Tomorrow, some of us would rise very early as we continue our sojourn to the Copper Canyon of Mexico.
Our captain skillfully maneuvered the Sea Bird over the building seas. Soon, we tucked into the calmer protected waters on the leeward side of Los Islotes and looked out to see the guano covered islet. Located just off the north end of Isla Partida, Los Islotes is an important rookery for the California sea lion. “Lobera” is the Mexican Spanish name for this marine mammal and it is thought that approximately 400 sea lions live here. There are also seabirds found nesting here such as the blue-footed booby and brown booby bird.
Lindblad and the Gulf of California Conservation Fund, (GCCF) have joined hands to support an important local disentanglement program that removes monofilament netting around sea lions and teaches fishermen and their families about the value of seal lion colonies.
After our visit by Zodiac, we donned wetsuits and plunged into the green water for a more intimate experience with these amazing creatures. Surprisingly, the visibility was quite good and the water temperature comfortable. Almost immediately, we were surrounded by at least a dozen juvenile sea lions. They were extremely playful and cavorted and frolicked with us with the energy of a young puppy. Below, a jewel moray eel swayed back and forth in the surge, its yellow body barely visible within the algae. Yellowtail snapper huddled close in the shadows and a lone flag cabrilla grouper darted out into full view and as quickly disappeared again. A large school of herring moved their silver bodies in unison and separated as we swam through them.
After saying goodbye to our playful companions, we continued to head south and dropped anchor off the coast of Ensenada Grande at Espiritu Santo Island. This area was long valued by pre-Colombian Indians and evidence of their past habitation can sometimes still be found in the caves and ledges scattered around.
We made one more exploratory hike up the arroyo and had the opportunity to kayak the calm waters of the protected bay. A spectacular sunset was followed by a recap filled with awe inspiring photographs of our trip and underwater scenes of our last snorkel at Los Islotes. Tomorrow, some of us would rise very early as we continue our sojourn to the Copper Canyon of Mexico.
