Video taken on the dive that inspired the “Swirling Schools” necklace and earring designs.
Sea Lions Frolicking
We had hoped to be able to see some Sea Lions on the trip to the Loreto National Marine Park in the Sea of Cortez, because we knew they liked to hang out there at least part of the year.
Our dive guide, Rafael from the Dolphin Dive Center gave us the opportunity to watch the sea lions underwater on our very first dive. The video below was taken with my small Sea & Sea 860DXG underwater camera.
Dolphins As Far As the Eyes Could See
The boat ride with the bottlenose dolphins was great. The very next day, on our boat ride out to the dive sites, we saw this ~ 200 member pod of common dolphins. If I turned my head to the left and looked I could see dolphins, and if I turned my head all the way to the right I could still see dolphins. Amazing.
The pod apparently had somewhere they either needed to be, or there was something they were trying to get away from, because they were serious about their travels.
Experiences = Inspiration
Recently I was down in Baja California Sur, Mexico doing a little SCUBA diving. Loreto National Marine Park was chosen for all the endemic species I’d yet to see. The underwater and above ground park sure impressed! I’m glad I took a sketch pad, because I drew some new earrings that I hope to create in the very near future.
In the meantime, I’m sorting through many many underwater videos and photographs; as well as some great photos of two different dolphin species, osprey, blue footed booby birds, and other above water delights. Here are some of the above water delights when they were playing with the boat.
Taking the last picture is what saved my camera. Just as I had finished taking this photo of the amazingly high jump, a huge dolphin did a body slam into the water in front of the boat, drenching us all. Luckily I was turned around facing the back of the boat, so my body shielded the camera!