Trip Reports

Hello whalewatchers: After a great sunrise trip into the mangroves at Isla San Jose, we headed towards Los Islotes for a skiff ride and a snorkel session. We came across two large male sperm whales. We were able to get close to one of them and everyone had a great look. We also saw multiple dwarf sperm whales and some more pilot whales in the distance as well. It was a “toothed whale” morning.
The conditions were tremendous with calm seas and no wind. The best weather day of the trip for the finale. Everyone enjoyed the sea lions too!
Today’s photo is of the sperm whale on the surface.

Team Searcher

Hello whalewatchers,: This has to be one of the more interesting seasons with the amount of rain we have seen in Baja. It’ll make for very green conditions on the islands, but we never need rain gear here!  When the rain quit today and the skies cleared,, we found two blue whale cow calf pairs. We spent 3.5 hours with them and had great looks at both cows and calves. The adults were very large whales. We left the blue whales and headed south towards the area we saw the sperm whales with hopes of a repeat with a little more time. The rain continued off and on and we didn’t see any. We did see two Bryde’s whales, and we got great looks at one of these whales. We are anchored for Margarita night and the back deck buffet. Today’s photo is one of the blue whale cows on the surface. Team 

Hello whalewatchers: We had a wondeful day at Isla Santa Catalina. Everyone enjoyed the walk with the highlight being 2 rattleless rattlesnakes. Two skiffs full of snorkellers with a skiff entry came back raving about all the fish seen. One skiff returned from Kaptain Kenny’s Krazy Koastal Kruise and all were very happy.
We went offshore in glaswy conditions. We saw two Brydes whales, a big group of common dolphins, and a group of pilot whales in the distance. We also saw lots of storm petrels, red phalropes and rays jumping. We are headed for Bahia Agua Verde for tomorrow.
Team Searcher

Hello whalewatchers: We enjoyed a great sunrise at Punta Colorado this morning. Then we had a  great walk and snorkel session. We left Punta Colorado and went offshore looking for wildlife. It didn’t take long to find some long-beaked common dolphin. A little further west, we came across a large area of smooth-tailed mobulas jumping. They covered about a 2 mile area. This is somethig that we hope to see on our trips, and when we do, it is such a treat. We still don’t have a clear picture as to what they are doing but it is fun to watch.
We left them and found an area of pilot whales, a big group spread out over a mile. We had some great looks. A little while after those pilot whales, we came across another big group.
To finish the day off we saw two sperm whales in the distance we didn’t get close to them before they dove but it was great to see.
Today’s photo is of the distinctive dorsal fin on a pilot whale.
Team Searcher

Hello whalewatchers: We enjoyed excellent whalewatching today! We observed lots and lots of humpback whales all day. We followed several groups of multiple whales and had great viewing, including lots of fluke shots, which is always a crowd pleaser. There was plenty of breaching, including cows and calves. I think everyone had fun today–I know I did. Today’s photo is of one of our passengers and a group of humpbacks.
Team Searcher

Hello whalewatchers: We had an incredible humpback whale show this afternoon with two whales breaching , flipper flapping, tail lobbing and more. There were other whales in the area but these two whales were great. It will be hard to beat tomorrow around the Gorda Banks, but we’ll try.
In addition to the humpbacks we saw loads of common dolphin and sea birds. All the action this afternoon was just south of Mag Bay. We hadood conditions with light winds and seas. We are looking forward to tomorrow.
Today’s photo is of a humpback whale on the surface. Note the white pectoral flippers.
Team Searcher

Hello whalewatchers: We had a visitor before daylight this morning–a gray whale cow with her calf hung out at  Searcher for over an hour and most everyone got to see them. It was like the Searcher was a big panga. It is always nice when this occurs, the view from the deck is great. You can see the entire whale which can be difficult from the pangas.
It turns out that the first panga trip had a close encounter with these whales as the calf had some of the Searcher‘s bottom paint on it’s nose. the pangas had a great session.
Everyone had a great morning and they are right back out there after lunch in great conditions–just light winds from the southwest and clear skies.
Last night we had lights out with the generator off for 30 minutes. It was a little windy but the skies were clear and the star gazing was great.
Team Searcher

Hello whalewatchers: Our first day in Laguna San Ignacio was great with good conditions, light winds out of the north for the majority of the day and clear skies. There are lots of whales here with the cow and calf numbers higher than 2 weeks ago. The latest census had 151 cows with calves! Numbers like this haven’t been seen since 1987, according to Steven Swartz.
Everyone had a great day with good whalewatching in the pangas. Today’s photo is a panga and a breaching calf next to it close to Searcher.
Team Searcher

Hello whalewatchers: Today at Islas San Benito we had clear skies and breezy conditions all day. The island is still in bloom with lots of flowers. There is a change happening with the northern elephant seals with a lot of the females leaving. Their pups need to fend for themselves now. It doesn’t seem fair to only have your mom for a few months and then it’s up to them but that is how it goes for elephant seal pups. There are still several males on the beach.
The group got to see all four pinnipeds hauled out in one spot which is rare: elephant seal, CA sea lion, harbor seal and Guadalupe fur seal. There are ospreys on the nest now so some good photo opportunities there. Everyone had a good walk and enjoyed the island. We are grateful we are headed south with the wind.
Team Searcher