Our morning began with yet another spectacular sunrise in Baja California Sur, today it was just off the Cabo Pulmo National Marine Park. This particular marine park is approximately 24 square miles and was designated in 1995. Cabo Pulmo straddles the Tropic of Cancer and is the only hermatypic (reef building) coral reef in the Gulf of California. Our intent was to both snorkel and dive this spectacular reef. We succeeded in accomplishing not only that, but also offering tours for our “dry snorkelers” and an exhilarating walk at Bahia Los Frailes.
Since its designation in 1995 as a marine park, the reef system has made an incredible comeback, with diverse fish and other marine wildlife including massive coral colonies. Many of our guests were treated to sightings of Moorish idols, king angelfish, yellow-tailed surgeons, a variety of terminal phase parrotfish, sharks, and a spattering of Mobula rays. Several of us were also treated to close-up encounters of humpback whales while returning back to the National Geographic Sea Bird. Our divers were amongst bull sharks and schools of thousands of big-eyed jacks (or trevally) on their adventures.
After a fulfilling lunch of posole, a Mexican stew, our guests got together for a group picture on the bow as humpback whales breached in the distance. Our afternoon was spent listening to amazing talks from our special National Geographic grantees, which included: Sea Bird Ecology in the Sea of Cortez, by Dr. Enriquetta Valarde; Humpback Whales of Baja California Sur, by Dr. Jorge Urban; and Conservation of Mexican Islands, by Federico Sanchez. All with wonderful intermissions supplied by yet more humpback whale sightings.
After the completion of our presentations we spent a relaxing afternoon following the coast of Los Cabos, sipping on cocktails and enjoying more interactions with more humpback whales. Another amazing sunset was enjoyed off the coast of Cabo San Lucas, and we retreated to the main deck of the National Geographic Sea Bird for cocktails, guest slideshow, Video Chronicle preview, and Captain Kay’s Farewell Dinner.
