There were several species of starfish. This is a Tanned Seastar.

A school of young Blue and Gold Snapper.

(A Sargent Major swims above)

We head off to the California Sea Lion habitat, Los Isolotes.

(the one to the right is one of dominant males)






 


Hanging out taking in the warmth of the sun.

Day 1 - Our first day started very early. While most of our school friends were still sleeping, we were preparing to meet everyone at the airport. By 5:00 am the group had gone through security, received their tickets, and were still half asleep while we waited for the plane. Once aboard the plane it was a short, one-hour flight to the Seattle Airport. It was a two-hour wait until we boarded our next plane.  Our last flight was the longest being around four hours. By the second hour everyone was beginning to get anxious. Afterwards, we disembarked, found our luggage, and were welcomed by many Mexican folks. Mr. Haggerty divided the group into two. Both groups took vans and embarked on a three hour drive. At the two hour mark, we all stopped for some snacks and a break. Once again we began driving towards our destination. 

Upon our arrival, Lela greeted us and took us on a stroll towards the boat. Right away she played a joke on us by telling us we were staying on a boat that looked very, very small. It was the Special K boat. Once we arrived on the right boat we were introduced to the crew. We then left for supper at a small Mexican restaurant. We had three soft tacos: cheese, chicken and what Lela and Stasia told us was donkey, but actually it was really beef. Of course, another joke. After supper we walked back to the boat and went over safety and expectations. That put an end to our first day in Mexico.

Day 2 - In the morning we were allowed to get up whenever. Breakfast was a 8:00 am (it was delicious) after that we were allowed to lounge for a bit and we were given time to get fitted for our snorkeling gear and put on our sunscreen. We then got into the Pangas and went to shore. It was beautiful out and we were exposed to a true Mexican sun and there was no one but us on the beach. We put on our snorkeling gear and started off looking at the diverse underwater wildlife. Those of us who had never snorkeled before were given lessons and eventually joined the rest overtop the reef. When we had seen all there was to see we went back to shore to relax and tan (and re-apply the sunscreen). Once the Panga came back to get us, we went back to the Fiesta (the ship which is our current home) and had a succulent lunch. After which we had time to tan and relax while we took off to reach our new destination... the rock of sea lions. We once again boarded the Pangas and went around the tiny island observing not just the sea lions, but the crabs, blue-footed boobies, the brown boobies, and the frigate birds as well. Also noting first hand how birds really do have excrement missiles. When we got back to the Fiesta we had free time until supper. Afterwards, the gift shop was opened to us and we were allowed to purchase various hand made items, and then we worked on our Panterra Logbooks, and hit the hay early at about 10:00pm.

Nous nous sommes réveillés ce matin au port de La Paz très tôt pour certaines, qui voulaient voir le lever de soleil, qui était des plus magnifiques. Déjeuner succulent à 8h00, juste avant notre départ pour Lela’s beach. Sur la route, nous avons reçu notre équipement de plongée, que nous utiliserons pendant la semaine à venir. Arrivée à Lela’s beach vers 10h00, cours de plongée pour ceux qui n’en ont jamais fait, et c’est le grand départ pour notre première excursion! Nous avons vu plusieurs organismes, dont une variété d’étoiles de mer, de poissons et de corail... À peine le temps de bronzer et nous voilà appellés pour l’heure du diner. Au menu : riz, légumes et boeuf... Un pur délice! Quelques instants nous sont accordés au bronzage, avant de nous diriger vers l’île des lions de mer. Nous faisons le tour de la petite île au son des aboiements des lions de mer, des cris des oiseaux et du moteur de la panga. Nous sommes entourés de magnifiques oiseaux, dont des pélicans, des frégates, et des boobies. Retour à la Fiesta, ou nous relaxons jusqu’à l’heure du souper, ou nous avons mangé des spaghettis à la Norma et Esther. Introduction aux cahiers de « devoirs » suit cet excellent repas. La boutique est par la suite installée, ou nous avons pu acheter des couvertures, des sacs, des bracelets et des colliers faits à la main pour nous, et pour nos mères car, coïncidence, c’était la fête des mères ici au Mexique. Les lumières furent éteintes aux alentours de 22h00... Bref, une journée magnifique pour commencer une aventure telle que celle de Panterra...