20 Shearwaters fly by. Their aerodynamic bodies are black on top, and as they bank away synchronized, like acrobatic Blue Angels, they expose their white bellies. It's very foggy. The water temp, even though we are near the equator, is between 19 and 20 c. We are approaching Roca Redondo to dive. This is the area that Master and Commander was filmed. Redondo Rock is 20 juts out of the water 20 meters high. It is the tip of an active volcano. Sulfur bubbles that have made their way up from the bottom are natures way of reminding us that this Volcano still has some life in it.
Now there are about 100 Shearwater birds around us. We anchor in the axis of the strong currents that wrap around both sides of Redondo. one boat length behind us is a group of about 60 sea lions "cooling". They chill out by floating on the surface with one fin in the air, its quite a sight. Simutaniously to port, close enough to touch, a group of about 20 large Bottlenose Dolphin are lolly gagging by in the current axis looking for lunch to come their way. In the surf break off the point of the Roca, Sea Lions float and wait like territorial surfers guarding "their" break. They wait for the big one and then body surf as far as the surf will take them.
Redondo is covered with birds of every type. They swarm the island like pissed off bees after a few mischievous kids played pinyotta on their hive.