Cruising & Isla del Carmen
Our first full day of exploring the Gulf of California was a good reminder of the reason why we love this place. We cruised through the early morning in the proximity of Isla del Carmen. Several groups of bottlenose dolphins joined us to play with the ship's bow and wake. Shortly after breakfast, a group of about 25 pilot whales was seen in the distance. As we approached we realized that most of the individuals of the group were females and young, mature males being absent. The whales approached the ship and we had amazing looks at these unusual looking cetaceans. We deployed our hydrophone to see if we could detect any of their submarine communication sound waves. Most times, pilot whales prove to be quite silent, but today innumerable screeches and high pitched whistles could be heard.
Shortly after, taller columnar blows broke the horizon. As we got closer we noticed we were amongst the largest animals that ever inhabited the earth: blue whales. These leviathans were possibly feeding in these productive waters. Two blue whales would surface and after a series of breaths they will disappear back into the mysterious depths.
For the afternoon, we landed on the North side of Isla del Carmen. This is the perfect place for water activities, and we spent the afternoon snorkeling, kayaking and exploring the steep shorelines by Zodiac.
The conditions were perfect today for everything we did, including kayaking through the dramatic cliffs and enjoying the peace and silence as our paddles gently splashed the water. Snorkelers could explore the caves and find shy fish who prefer the night to become active.
We had a great day, enjoying the majesty and uniqueness of the Gulf of California.
