So we left a sunny UK and arrived in a very rainy Cabo…..not quite what we had expected! The rain followed us to the boat but the smiles and welcome we received from the crew were the beginnings of a sunny week. This was a much bigger boat than we had ever experienced but the attention to detail was not diminished.
Sunday morning dawned overcast but the lure of sealions ensured everyone was up and ready to go. I’ve always been the sole snorkeler on previous liveaboards so to be joined by another 4 enthusiasts was an unexpected delight. By the close of play on our first day we had experienced some wonderful moments with the sea lions…watching a mum nurse her pup was a personal high, being subjected to a cloudburst of biblical proportions and eating some fabulous food.
The next day, normal service was restored……….the sun shone and the sea glistened. The first stop was a wreck in a fabulous setting with a spaghetti western-type ghost town at the head of the bay. My previous experience of wrecks always meant a glut of divers……this was so different, we all emerged grinning – and that’s the way the week has continued.
People often ask me why I go on these trips as a non-diver, well apart from the snorkeling, I love hearing the stories of our shipmates, listening to the divers burblings, and watching their clips at the end of each dive, the camaraderie is simply wonderful. This boat is truly international, with people from all walks of life, the youngest guest is 12 and the oldest 77 but we all have a story to tell and all want to hear one another’s. Conversations cover just about every subject and hearing different viewpoints and experiences adds so much to the exchanges. These chats are where our next trips are planned, hearing from others and watching their videos are the best ways to get a true insight into new areas….a lot of very favorable Nautilus reports here too.
As we enter the last phase of our trip to the Sea of Cortes my highlights are: stunning scenery, how privileged are we to visit places like this without another boat or even plane in sight? Our day in Baia De Los Angeles searching for whale sharks was simply magical. A day totally enthralled by the sealions of was glorious, to have animals wanting to play and interact with us was an underwater first for me.
We’ve had a couple of rough crossings and Belle Amie has looked after us I wouldn’t have wanted to be on a small boat!!
Each and every crew member has added to our week, nothing is a problem and I genuinely feel I have been brought into the family….thank you one and all.Here’s to the next one…….
Sue – UK
A Week in the Sea of Cortez
