After sailing through the night, the National Geographic Sea Bird brought us to the area south of Isla del Carmen for sunrise. We spent a relaxed morning on board taking care of a few briefings, attending an introduction to digital photography, and being drawn out to the bow several times for dolphins playing around the boat…the first sighting was common dolphins, the second and third, bottlenose. They didn’t stick around long…seemed they were on their way somewhere but couldn’t resist the attraction of a free ride. Wee!
During lunch, the National Geographic Sea Bird anchored off Isla Danzante at Honeymoon Cove where we spent the rest of the day and evening. Our expedition landing craft zipped us over turquoise blue/green waters to land ashore on a beautiful sandy beach. The naturalists led introductory walks up the steep rocky desert terrain to stunning views overlooking the cove in one direction and the more open water of the Gulf of California in the other. A deliciously welcome breeze helped cool us from the hot sun as we watched shipmates paddle kayaks far below. Those in the kayaks had a delightful time exploring the nooks and crannies of these dusty desert rocks and cliffs. At times I noticed paddlers getting a good workout, and at other times just floating. Some double kayaks had a photographer in the front and a supportive paddling partner providing momentum from behind. In the late afternoon people re-gathered on the beach to don wetsuits, snorkel, masks, and fins and take a look at the marvelous creatures in the waters below. How refreshing!
Just before sunset we moved to an adjacent beach for a tasty barbeque. Let’s hear it for the crew! The bosun made a campfire and one of our deckhands treated us to a special fire dance. What a beautiful first day in this magical place, Baja California.
