Isla San Pedro Martir
It is not how many breaths we take, but how many moments take our breath away.
San Pedro Martir, one of the most isolated islands, nestled between the peninsula and the mainland in the upper gulf, provided a lee and a most amazing encounter with curious dolphins.
We launched our fleet of Zodiacs on the National Geographic Sea Bird, and while cruising the guano-rich cliffs of Isla San Pedro Martir, watching blue-footed and brown boobies come and go, foraging for small fish, and red-billed tropicbirds high overhead, splashing caught our eyes.
Bottlenose dolphins swam in tight to the southeastern bite of the island and engaged with us for over two hours. Dolphins were riding our Zodiac bows, leaping more than ten feet out of the water, and surfing our wake as we shared our joy.
An encounter of this length and mutual intensity is very special and to be held with privilege, moments to be remembered.
The bow of our ship was the gathering place in the afternoon to scan for other species of whales. A mother fin whale with her calf slowed their nine-and-a-half-knot directional swim to mill near us.
Captain George Coughlin’s professional and experienced maneuvering allowed us to have an intimate look at fin whales, known as the greyhounds of the sea. Captain shared that this was his first sighting of a fin whale this season.
Moments like when a mother whale shows her trust, and gently lifts her calf on her rostrum for us to enjoy, these are the ones that take our breath away.
Hotel Manager Erasmo Estripeaut and his staff made sure we enjoyed the colors at sunset among old and new friends with fresh margaritas and ceviche on the sun deck. As the sun slipped beneath the Baja Peninsula, each of us was left with the memories of the moments that took our breath away.
