Location: “On the hard”, Gran Peninsula Shipyard, Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico
Comments: One day left for refit 2007 and then we’re away on our maiden voyage to the California Channel Islands. The Nautilus Explorer is still “on the hard” at Gran Peninsula Shipyard in Ensenada with launching scheduled for noon today followed by sea trials in the afternoon and then a celebratory (hopefully) dinner for our hard-working crew this evening.
The Cummins distributor has done a lot of scheduled and precautionary overhaul work on the main engines and gensets and we are just waiting for them to button everything up. The shipyard is right beside the main street in town and the view from my office window is really interesting – it’s not often that I can sit at my desk and watch all the cruise ship tourists wandering up and down the main street!
I often get asked why we don’t offer more night diving at Socorro and San Benedicto Islands (Islas Revillagigedos). Quite frankly, the ever-present silky sharks become overly inquisitive once the sun goes down and switch over into “hunting mode.” Still, I always try to offer at least one snorkelling opportunity after dark. The following video was taken by a snorkeller off the stern of the Nautilus. No chum, no bait, no cages. Just one of the guests with an HD camera and lighting system. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUp8ldnkztU
–Captain Mike
Weather: Clear and sunny, 77°F, light winds from the north.
Water: Water temperature and visibility unknown.
