Our first full day aboard National Geographic Quest offered close encounters with brown boobies (Sula leucogaster) riding updrafts from our ship and diving for fish. Guests took in the seascape as well as several lectures, including our National Geographic Explorer Jenny Gil’s talk on her work studying algae; afterward she led a hands-on activity of algae-inspired ink making.
In the afternoon guests watched A Man, A Plan, A Canal, Panama; afterwards naturalist Christian Moreno gave a talk on the history and context of the Panama Canal.
The suspense of the canal made for an energetic atmosphere during our outdoor cocktail hour. Once we hauled anchor and began our transit, the bow filled with eager observers as Christian and co-naturalist Joshua Hall narrated our entry into the Miraflores locks. The experience of the canal is something many have waited their whole lives for, and their day finally arrived.
