Our day on National Geographic Venture begins with a green flash at dawn, a token of good fortunes ahead! Whale spouts are spotted not long after dawn. They are low and angled, and we soon find ourselves in the company of a sperm whales interspersed with bottlenose dolphins. The next two hours are spent sharing the open ocean with these spectacular creatures.
We stretch our legs that afternoon over a hike at the beach and the Playa Bonanza desert-scape on Isla Espiritu Santo. Some walk the white sands, marveling at the assortment of shells washed up by the tides, while others explore an interior absolutely riddled with yellow-buttoned daisies.
Our more inquisitive guests deploy a plankton net on the return trip and examine its contents under the microscope in the ship lounge. Their discoveries are shared with the other guests during evening recap.
In the late afternoon, a spirited group of mobula rays are observed leaping off the bow, showing black backs and white undersides as they rotate and land with an elegant splash. A second green flash at sunset concludes what has surely been a most memorable time upon the Sea of Cortez.
