Isla Isabel

Above photo of Mona Menor just off of Isls Isabel

We happily said good-by to Mazatálan and headed for the World Heritage site of Isla Isabel.  We left early and planned on making a 24 hour, overnight passage to the island in order to arrive there in the morning.  Isabel doesn’t have what’s considered a safe harbor, just a couple of iffy anchorages that are considered good for calm weather with precautions; a anchor trip line and provisions for emergency rode cutaway if necessary.  That’s the price of admission to this amazing place; preparedness and the chance loosing one’s primary anchor & ground tackle in order to save one’s boat if it’s came to that.



We were fortunate with our visit.  Whales and dolphins escorted us to the islands.  The first thing one notices upon nearing the islands are the birds.  Hundreds of them are in the air at any one moment.  Frigate birds seem to own the sky.  These amazing flyers are in constant, effortless, motion gliding over the island and near by rocks.  Boobys and pelicans also abound too.  

We arrived at the perfect hour that was early in the day but late enough that the sun was hight’s allow us to discern the rocky areas on the bottom from the sandy spots that are good to anchor in.  Based on the recommendations of another cruiser we chose the eastern anchorage, just south of Islea Mona Menor, one of two prominent and striking sea stacks on the eastern side of the island.  

Once our anchor was set and setup with anchor weight and trip line we jumped in with our snorkeling gear to cool off and explore what was reported to be excellent snorkeling.  I’m happy to report that were not disappointed.  



The first thing I did underwater was to check out our anchor.  We had dropped the hook in 4 fathoms and it landed in a sandy spot with what I would estimate as half the normal bite that we usually get which from reading the cruising guide, it as good as we could expect to get here.  

With the anchor settled we swam over to the near by Mona Menor where we saw lots of tropical fish, sting rays, leopard rays, needle fish, parrot fish and a couple of turtles.  While I was swimming I could feel tiny little fish nibble on my legs.  I’ve eaten enough fish myself, so it’s only right that they should dine on me a bit and it’s was probably only dead skin that they were nibbling upon.  

After snorkeling we were both looking forward to exploring the island so we launched our SUP boards and paddled ashore.  



Birds, who knows what they’re thinking?  I’m looking at them wondering that very thought and I see them looking back at me too, wondering…  This place has a beautiful energy that feels more than tranquil to me.  I sense a strong healing energy here.  The birds in this place are indicative of that good energy.  There are no predators on the island so that probably contributes to peaceful feeling of the place.  The birds certainly don’t seem to be afraid of humans.  They seem comfortable and at ease as we wander through their numerous midst.  They own and enjoy the sky.  There are consonantly several hundred birds in the air at any give time.  



The whole time we were at the island whales went back and forth just a couple of hundred yards from Malo.  There is something special about whales, I always love being near them.  Usually it’s just sporadic and brief visits that we enjoy so it was a special treat to spend the day in the presence of those incredible creatures.  



Isla Isabel is such a truly amazing place!  Nature living in harmony and not threatened by people and the most amazing thing is that there are no park rangers patrolling and protecting this incredible precious place.  I wonder how that can be in spite of seeing with my own eyes.