Whale Shark at Clipperton Island

By on April 18th, 2007 in Archive, Captain Mike

I have to report that we haven’t seen many sharks yet. Three hammerheads and a couple of silvertips today and that was it – OH WAIT!! We also saw a nice 25ft whale shark swim by this morning!! We often see whale sharks at Roca Partida (Socorro Island) in November and December, and then they disappear when the water cools down as the cool waters of the California current push southward. The water temperature at Clipperton Island is presently 82˚F and I’m wondering whether the Socorro whale sharks head down this way to stay in nice balmy water?? Hmmm.

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Shark sightings and spawinging urchins at Clipperton Island

By on April 17th, 2007 in Archive, Captain Mike

Far and away the coolest thing we saw on our afternoon dives were spawning sea urchins! Yup, we happened across in-water sexual reproduction as the urchins released sperm into the water column. It looked almost as if the urchins were sending up smoke signals with puffs of white “smoke” (sperm) spiraling up from the top of these amazing echinaderms. You have to think that it is a very long shot that eggs are going to get fertilized this way but that’s what happens.

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Day 1 at Clipperton Island

By on April 15th, 2007 in Archive, Captain Mike

Clipperton Island also has the largest colony of booby birds (gannets) anywhere in the world with 5 different species; browns and masked boobies (very common) as well as Galapagos, red-footed and blues (I think I got that right, I’m not great on my birding). To our surprise we also spotted ducks and even some Canadian geese. I definitely did not expect to find Canadian geese on Clipperton Island!

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Conrad (Connie) Limbaugh and Clipperton Island

By on April 14th, 2007 in Archive, Captain Mike, Socorro

Juvenile Galapagos sharks (carcharhinus galapagensis) were reported as being extremely numerous and aggressive during the 1956 expedition. To the point where scuba diving operations were first limited and then terminated because of the apparent danger from the sharks. The shark cage was the answer on the 1958 expedition. Cool huh?!

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FOAAAA DXpedition to Clipperton Island

By on April 13th, 2007 in Archive, Captain Mike, Socorro

One of our guests brought along a fascinating trip video from the FOOAAA DXpedition to Clipperton Island. DXer’s are very serious ham radio operators who stage arduous and expensive expeditions to very remote places. The beauty of Clipperton Island from their perspective is that it qualifies as a “country.” So sending and receiving a call to station FOOAA on Clipperton is something of note for amateur ham operators (much like a birder’s “life list”).

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San Benedicto enroute Clipperton Island

By on April 12th, 2007 in Archive, Captain Mike, Socorro

Spent the morning at the Canyon on San Benedicto. I splashed in on the first dive which was pleasant with a couple of hammerhead shark sightings plus good ol’ Lumpy, our tame and over friendly leather bass putting in his regular appearance at the inner cleaning station. Dive 2 was GREAT with two friendly giant manta rays showing up as well as silvertip, Galapagos and hammerhead shark sightings.

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Departure for FRANCE!! (Clipperton Island)

By on April 11th, 2007 in Archive, Captain Mike, Socorro

Location: Halfway between San Jose del Cabo (Cabo San Lucas) and San Benedicto Island (Socorro), Islas Revillagigedos Comments: We departed San Jose del Cabo (Cabo San Lucas) last night for FRANCE via San Benedicto Island (Socorro)!!! Yup, Clipperton Atoll is a French territory, and as far as the Mexican authorities are concerned, we are sailing […]

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