The Sea Bird noses gently into Los Islotes, a small group of rocky islets north of La Paz. The wings of three Blue-footed Boobies fly over in formation and land fifty feet up on one of the white-washed bluffs. Now a guttural barking is heard, and I see movement among the rocks: it's a colony of sea lions directly in front of us! From the Zodiacs we drop into the water near them. They approach curiously, displaying stunning grace; they zoom like high-speed acrobats around us, above and below us as we watch in amazement. Two hours later, after having snorkeled with these big, fast, playful, beautifully streamlined masters of the sea, I feel a marvelous and satisfying connection with this wonderful world we are traveling in, the Sea of Cortez.