Baja Wildlife Expedition Trip Report 2025

Trip # 6
June 15 - 22, 2025

 June 16, 2025
Day One. A New Week Begins.
The sea wasn’t perfect this morning, but the energy on the boat definitely was. This new group hasn’t spent much time on the ocean, so everything is exciting to them. Flying fish had them cheering. Then an olive Ridley turtle showed up, and they were over the moon.

Their smiles are contagious. I already know this is going to be a fun group to travel with. Getting to experience the ocean through fresh eyes — it’s a reminder of how lucky we are out here. I’m not jaded, but that first-time magic? I don’t feel it the same way anymore… until I see it in someone else. That joy, that wonder — I get to feel it again through them.

It’s going to be a good week.

11:24 AM
As we were leaving the bay, we came across a superpod of pantropical spotted dolphins — full of energy and play. We got in a couple solid jumps before more boats showed up. Rather than crowd the animals, we decided to move on and head for La Reina.

We followed the dolphins for a while so I could grab some topside photos and the guests could soak in the experience.
One of the women on board cried as soon as she saw them — she said it was a lifelong dream coming true.
Moments like that hit deep.

When we arrived at La Reina, the swell was hitting hard — too lumpy to swim with the sea lions safely. We decided to save it for a calmer day.

Now we’re headed north in search of more life — and honestly, the day already feels complete.

We spotted a blow in the distance and gave chase, but couldn’t relocate the whale. Instead, we found the spotted dolphins again, and this time the encounter was next-level.

We jumped in and had an epic, unforgettable session with them. I captured what might be the best photo I’ve ever taken of this species. Just one of those moments where everything lines up — light, water, behavior, composition. Magic.

After that, we kept the momentum going and hugged the shoreline, where we found a large school of mobula rays. We got a couple of jumps in with them, but they were moving fast — hauling ass, honestly — and tough to keep up with.

We stayed with them for a bit, soaking it in, and then called it a day.

What a start.
Epic encounters, emotional moments, great energy, and wildlife right from the jump.
If today is any sign of what’s ahead… we’re in for something special this week.

June 17, 2025
Day Two
We got a report out of Cabo Pulmo that orcas were spotted heading north. Fingers crossed they make it up this way over the next few days and we cross paths soon.

The bay was calm this morning — flat, but with a bit of surface chop. The ocean isn’t glassy, but it’s still smooth enough to explore. Let’s see what the sea has in store for us today.

We started the day with a pod of pantropical spotted dolphins — not the same group from yesterday. This pod was smaller and less interactive, so we stayed for a short while before moving on.

A bit later, we hit the jackpot — a superpod of spinner dolphins. We got in a few solid jumps with them. They gave us a taste of that magic but weren’t really in the mood to hang. Still, it was an awesome encounter while it lasted.

I sent up the drone and grabbed some great clips of the pod from above. I have to say — my drone skills are finally leveling up. Later, Fer flew hers too and got some epic footage as well. It was one of those sessions where everything just looked good from the sky.

We heard another orca report coming from the south, but the source wasn’t all that reliable. Instead of chasing it, we decided to stick with our plan and head north toward an area orcas have frequented in the past. Worth a shot.

We swung by a few buoys along the way — spots that sometimes attract sharks. At the first buoy, our buddy Ewan was already there slapping the water, hoping to call something up.

We left him to it and checked another buoy, where we spotted a lone dolphin circling nearby. Fer jumped in for a better look, and I followed. Turned out to be a rough-toothed dolphin — my first ever!

The dolphin didn’t stick around long, but the excitement was high. We climbed back on the boat, adrenaline pumping, and just as we were about to move on, it returned to the buoy. I was already geared up, so I slipped back in — and I’m glad I did.

The rough-toothed dolphin came right up to me. It circled me a few times, super close, totally calm. It was a dream encounter with a new species. I was on fire.

Nina, from our sister boat, had just arrived and jumped in to film the encounter. We got another jump with the whole group, and I managed to grab some shots of everyone with the dolphin. We tried to find it again for more jumps — I stayed geared up, ready.

Eventually, the dolphin disappeared. I was just about to take off my fins when I spotted a dorsal fin surface nearby. I jumped back in — but this time it was a small pod of spotted dolphins.

Four of them let me catch up, and I swam alongside them, snapping photo after photo. A short while later, more spotteds joined in, and I found myself surrounded — side by side in perfect sync.

I started to run out of gas, slowing down, but the dolphins would loop around and come back to me, giving me a chance to keep swimming with them. It was a surreal, epic encounter. One I won’t forget.

Now we’ve left the dolphins behind after getting another report of orcas in the area. We’re off again — chasing hope.

Let’s see if today’s got one more surprise waiting for us out there…