The first thing I noticed when I stepped onto the paddle board was the silence.
Not the empty kind of silence, but the living kind — broken only by the soft drip of water from my paddle and the distant call of seabirds. The sun had just begun to rise over Espíritu Santo Island, painting the sea in pale gold and turquoise. The water was so clear it felt like I was floating in the air, suspended above a hidden world.
I pushed off gently from the beach, careful not to disturb the stillness. With each stroke, the board glided effortlessly across the calm surface. Espíritu Santo has a way of slowing time, and out there on the water, it felt like the rest of the world simply paused.
As I paddled along the rocky shoreline, I could see schools of fish moving beneath me, their shadows darting between coral and stone. Every now and then, a ray would glide past, its wings moving gracefully as if it barely noticed my presence. I stopped paddling and let the board drift, realizing how quiet my mind had become. There was no rush, no schedule — just the rhythm of the sea.
Rounding a small cove, the cliffs rose dramatically from the water, their reds and browns glowing in the early light. Pelicans skimmed the surface nearby, diving with sudden splashes before taking off again. I felt incredibly small, but in the best possible way — like a guest in a place that had existed long before me and would continue long after.
At one point, I lay down on the board and looked straight through the water. The visibility was unbelievable. I could see rocks, fish, and shifting patterns of sunlight dancing across the seafloor. Floating there, I understood why Espíritu Santo is considered sacred by so many who visit. It isn’t just beautiful — it’s calming, grounding, and humbling.
Eventually, I turned back toward shore, the sun now higher in the sky and the water shimmering in brighter blues. My arms were tired, but my spirit felt light. As my board touched the sand, I realized how rare moments like that are — moments where adventure and peace exist together.
Paddle boarding at Espíritu Santo Island wasn’t about distance or speed. It was about presence. About moving quietly through one of the most pristine places in the Sea of Cortez and letting it remind me how powerful simplicity can be.
Some experiences stay with you long after they end. That morning on a paddle board, surrounded by clear water and endless calm, is one I’ll carry with me forever.
Long after we left the island behind, I could still feel the joy of that encounter. It’s a memory that resurfaces whenever I think of the Sea of Cortez—a place where wild moments like this still exist, waiting quietly beneath the surface.
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