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Snorkeling & Wildlife Photography.
San Diego, California, USA

“Get closer, get closer!"
In the overwhelming excitement of the moment, I forgot that Loreto, my guide, spoke no English. It didn't matter. In the water directly in front of us was a mature Blue Whale, the largest living creature on Earth, and the first live one I had ever seen in all my decades of diving the oceans of the world. And I was about to slip into the water with it."

Last year I was in an open 28 ft. dingy out of Loreto, Baja California. I had heard that Blue Whales had been spotted migrating to this area to feed on the upwelling of krill and to give birth. As if further confirmation was needed, rising out of the water directly in front of me were a pair of whale flukes that stretched nearly twenty feet across. As we crept in closer, the Blue Whale exhaled, generating a sound like an eighteen-wheeler locking up its brakes at fifty miles an hour.

I was so entranced by the sight I forgot to take a picture.

This year, based on our latest reports from National Geographic and the BBC, we have learned that clusters as good or better as those found off Mexico will be found in the clear waters between San Diego and Coronado Island.  We will dive with the Blue Whales in an area 15 to 40 miles offshore between San Diego and Coronado Island. 

A spotter plane will leave early in the morning and spend 3 to 4 hours performing its search while we leave with our experienced captain aboard his 29', 10 passenger, 350 HP boat toward the same area. If advised by our scouting pilot, we may proceed to a different location where the whales have been discovered.

During this time of year, many different marine animals arrive in Southern California to feed and breed. While we make our way toward our destination, we may have several opportunities to encounter other marine life along the way including Sun Fish, Mola Mola, Blue Sharks, schools of Tuna and more.  We can then free dive into the beautiful blue waters with cameras in hand to capture these extraordinary visions. We will have a ball.

In the event our encounters with the whales are favorable, we stay out until evening. This will allow us to be close to the action, learning more about the whales' behavior and providing quality photography encounters above and below water with the shy Blue Whales.

The largest living things on Earth, with a small but slowly increasing world-wide population estimated at between 1000-3000 individuals, Blue Whales can reach nearly a hundred feet in length and weigh over a hundred tons. During last year's expedition, a magnificent Blue Whale  cruised effortlessly directly in front of our boat. It was a good eighty feet in length - longer than any whale I had ever seen. It's not surprising when you realize that at birth they are twenty feet long and weigh in at two and a half tons.

Blue Whales are also noted for their low frequency moans and calls that are believed to travel over a thousand miles through the ocean depths.

In three weeks of daily searching we are likely to have enjoy the thrill of encountering numerous Blue Whales: not only solitary travelers, but mothers with calves, and sometimes groups of three or four. The trick is to think like a Blue Whale, and seek out the special spots where the richest upwelling of krill occur. An experienced guide, who has lived in the region all his life, is adept enough to read the cold waters and deceptive currents.

Blue Whales are very shy. It took days to learn how best to approach the wary giants with the boat, and to ease into the water with them. After two weeks, our technique had improved enormously. Learning how to anticipate the whale's pattern of swimming is a large part of being able  to successfully interact with them and to photograph the Blues in their habitat. The entire experience contributed to the most challenging and rewarding wildlife encounter I  have experienced to date. Do I plan to encounter the Blues again? Is Moby Dick pale?

Now equipped with the hard-won knowledge of how to locate and approach the Blue Whales, I plan to conduct three 9-day Blue Whale Photo Expeditions in June & July.  Not by myself, of course.  To maximize the exclusivity of this extraordinary opportunity, and to ensure that the whales' tranquility is not disturbed, I have decided to limit each expedition to only 4 guests only .  As mentioned above, in addition to seeking out the Blues on the sea, we will also make use of a chartered spotter plane, performing an aerial search as well as providing a unique photo opportunity for our guests.

Who else in the world would lead such an expedition with only 4 guests only other than a photographer who is absolutely dedicated to wildlife photography?  Be the first to join with me in this unique and unprecedented journey.

TRIP ITINERARY & INFORMATION

Tour price includes:

• 7 days of search on board high-speed 35' Motor Vessel, for encounter with Blue whales
• Spotter plane assistance for 7 days of 3 to 4  hours per day
• Snorkeling only
• Lunch and snacks on board
• Only 4 guests only
• Underwater and topside photography instruction

Not included in Tour Price:

• Airfare from home town to San Diego and return
• 8 nights hotel
• Meals which aren't specified above, soft drinks and alcohol
• Transfers. Airport taxes and Car rental
• Independent tour itinerary
• Activities outside of the itinerary
• Items of personal nature (phone calls, tips, drinks)
• Overweight luggage. Airport tax & crew tip
• Items not specifically mentioned above under "Tour Price Includes"
• Insurance – we strongly recommend you buy your own travel, health and diving insurance
• Additional costs incurred due to independent travel arrangements
• Gratuities to the local guides

Payment Policy & Deposit:
When we receive your deposit, we will send you a comprehensive and detailed Trip Preparation Bulletin about the experience and the destination. All flights and trip costs are subject to change without prior notice until confirmed reservation.

• A non-refundable deposit of $4,000 is required to secure a space on the trip
• Full payment is due no later than 90 days before departure.
• We reserve the right to sell any space that is not paid in full by 60 days before departure.
• Refund is made if replacement was found less unrecoverable costs of sales, administration special promotion.
• Cancellation must be made in writing, 90 days before departure.
• No refund is made for unused part of the itinerary.

The following are subject to change:

• Cost of services, which are not included in the expedition price
• Flight time and schedule
• Weather, water temperature and Blue Whale behavior
• I will confirm and update whatever information humanly possible 30 days prior to departure

A general note:
Although we have reported honestly and accurately about our sightings and experiences, we would like to point out that we are working in the wilderness and despite all of our good intentions and utmost preparation, Mother Nature may not cooperate with us everyday to the tee, and the Blue Whales are not under contract with us. When we are at sea we are not at Sea World. It is an effort of wait and see. We trust our previous experiences, and so far our record is receiving high marks. We believe that with good planning and a realistic approach, you will have a successful time with us in the beautiful waters off San Diego and with this magnificent mammal - the Blue Whale.

Information current as of January, 2006. Dates and prices may be subject to change without prior notice.

For Booking and/or further questions, contact Amos:
Phone: (415) 923-9865
Toll free: 877-229-4253
Email: amos@biganimals.com

EXPEDITION PROFILE

Worldwide Blue Whales Experience:
8 years

Where:
San Diego, CA, USA

TRIPS IN 2008:
Date: July 30 - Aug. 7
Duration: 9 days
Cost: $12,500
Max No. of Guests:
4 guests only*
Availability:
SOLD OUT/ Standby Only

* Max No. of Guests:
4 guests only
(We guarantee operating each trip with the maximum number of guests. However, when we do not have the full number of guests required, we maintain the right to add few guests on board from other sources.)

Registration:
Deposit of $4,000
Registration form

Facility:
Local Hotel with Aerial Scouting. 29 ' Scuba II with 350 HP engine.

Activities:
Free diving/ Snorkeling 

VITAL STATISTICS
Latin Name:
Balaenoptera musculus

Length & Weight:
Newborn:18 - 20 feet
2.5 tons.
Adult: 80 - 110 feet
100 -120 tons

Lifetime:
100 Years

World Population:
2,000 Northern Hemisphere
5,000 Southern Hemisphere

Distribution:
Widely distributed worldwide in deep water.

Behavior:
Keeps to open ocean. Preferred depth is 600 - 2,500 feet. Shy and solitaire. Spectacular blow: 15 - 35 ' high. Rarely breach, mostly by young ones. The fluke is large and broad, sometimes lifted above the water. Some individuals are easy to approach.

Diving:
When relaxed, swims slow at 0.5 - 3 knots, blows every 10 - 20 seconds for up to 6 minutes. Dives for 5 - 20 minutes sometimes longer and down to 500 feet and deeper. Can accelerate to a speed of 20 knots.

Group Size:
1-2, during feeding. 5 and more can be seen.

Diet:
Krill
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Day 1:
Arrive San Diego.  The rest of the day to be spent preparing cameras, discussing logistics and strategy.

Day 2 - 8:
For the next seven days, a spotter plane will leave early in the morning and spend 3 to 4 hours searching for Blue Whales in an area 15 to 25 miles offshore between San Diego and Coronado Island.  We will leave by boat each morning toward the same area and proceed to the point when the whales have been spotted or pursue the report from our scouting pilot.  In the meantime, if we come across an encounter with other marine life along the way, we will free dive into the blue waters.
There are so many different marine animals arriving in Southern California waters this time of the year to feed and breed. We will have a ball.

In the event we have good contact with the whales we stay out until evening.  That is in order to be close to the action, to increase our knowledge of the whales' behavior and create quality photography encounters above and below water with the shy Blue Whales.
At the end of the day, we will return to shore.

Day 9:
Depart San Diego for home.