Snorkeling 18*46.475'N 111*01.698'W
26 February 2019 | Isla Socorro
Sam
Punta Tosca stops all but the longest swells from reaching the shoreline even a mile east of us. It makes for some nice snorkeling with clear water, yet still enough rocks awash to support lots of coral and sea life. But an eye needs to be kept on these long period swells, for minutes of calm can pass, and then, suddenly the water level drops four feet. Followed by the suck can either be a smooth elevator ride up a steep-faced rock wall, or, if the bottom is shallower or incline more gradual, a walloping smash. Both events can be safely navigated while snorkeling if enough distance is kept, and the crashing waves create clouds of sparkling white bubbles that remain suspended near the surface. Garfish often patrol this bubbly boundary, but never pay much attention to us swimmers. Most interested in our presence are the silky sharks, which curiously take repeated, close passes by us in the water and will follow any slow moving vessel, whether Havili, a paddleboard, or dinghy. The white-tipped reef sharks run a shier patrol near the bottom, but can be followed and have lead us to sea turtles and blue-eyed Socorro lobster. All protected here at Parque Nacional Revillagigedo, our appetites for seafood have been dormant, but not forgotten, as we are all looking forward to lands of coconuts, clicking reels, and expeditions ashore.