Anchor Down at Isla Isabela
27 December 2008 | Known as the Galapagos of Mexico this volcanic island is a naturalists paradise
Capt Rich
It was hard to leave San Blas this morning and the only way we were able to leave without feeling sad was to agree to come back as we continue south from our current adventure at Isla Isabela. Isabela is a small volcanic island located about 40 miles off coast of mainland Mexico that hosts a multitude of breeding frigate, booby, and sea birds on it's rocky landscape. The island is uninhabited except for a small fish camp and ecological observation building that houses scientists from around the world that flock here each year to study the breeding birds. We passed within 6 miles of Isabela when we crossed the Sea of Cortez from Los Muertos heading to San Blas on December 17th, but since it was 0400hrs and still dark, we did not stop for a visit, which we later found out to be a mistake. Every boat that we have spoken with that has stopped at Isabela ranked it a must see, so we decided to make the 40nm trip upwind and swell to see what we have missed.
The trip here was a motorsail, which seems to be our most common mode of travel. The winds seem to be either light or right on our noise requiring us to burn diesel, but at $2.50/gal at least it's not a budget killer. The ocean water around San Blas isn't clear blue, due to the large river flow, which accounts for the area's great shrimp fishery. The hatchling shrimp get washed out of the estuary every year with the rain and making this area of the coast teaming with shrimp and the animals that eat them. We saw a pod of what we think were 6-8 humpback whales feeding on the bounty and we landed a Dorado (Fish No 10 since we left San Diego) which made a nice dinner breaded with corn flakes and fan fried in olive oil and butter.
The anchorage seems to be a bit rolly, but after 10 days in the calm of the San Blas estuary, any boat movement would be noticed since it was like being in a slip in San Blas. There are 3 other boats in the anchorage with us, two sailboats and a powerboat. One of the sailboats is a fellow Ha-ha'er, a Hudson Force 50 Ketch, named Lady Lexi. THIRD DAY looks like a toy boat when compared to that monster, but hey, I bet we have a larger watermaker!
Tomorrow we will take our dingy to shore and hike around the island checking out the bird hatchlings and seeing the sights. There is a salt water lake in the crater of the volcano that formed this island and we are looking forward to checking it out. In the afternoon I'll dive our anchor to check it out and shoot some video of the anchorage bottom for a later DVD project, but really that just gives me a good excuse to make a dive in crystal blue water! When we arrived Dave on Lady Lexi came over after just coming back from a dive and was telling me about the great snorkeling and diving, so we might as well give it a go and try out that new SCUBA tank I drove down from the States during my v-drive repair road trip. The v-drive, by the way, seems to be working great, but each time I check it during my rounds, which I make every few hours while motoring, I open the floorboards slowly, hoping not to see oil spraying out of a 1" hole again because once was enough!! (photos of the Island to be posted when we have internet)