This morning we dropped our anchor at Los Islotes, some small islands that were just packed with wildlife. I led the Zodiac tours around the island and took this picture of a huge male California sea lion with his harem of females nearby. This male was actively chasing off other males from his territory. We heard him making loud barking calls. Listening to the vocalizations of both the male and female sea lions was an experience I will never forget!

While I led Zodiac tours, other naturalists led some groups of snorkelers. The snorkelers came back with wide eyes and stories of sea lions playing with members of group. One sea lion played a tug-of-war game with a mask; another nibbled playfully on someone's leg; other sea lions swam around with deeper diving swimmers. Being directly in the marine environment and interacting with the sea lions gave snorkelers an incredible appreciation for the curiosity, playfulness, and intelligence of these wonderful mammals.

During the Zodiac ride this morning, some of us got to see the blue-footed booby showing off their feet to a potential mate. Their blue feet are an amazing color not found too often in nature. It certainly was quite a treat to see their courtship dance.