Right Whale Diving Trip Report 2025

Puerto Pyramides, Argentina
September 8 - 15, 2025

September 8, 2025. Arrival Day.
After leaving Brazil and a full day of travel, I finally made it to Trelew, Argentina at 2 a.m. Collected my bags, jumped into a taxi, and got to my hotel. By the time I settled in, it was closer to 3 a.m.

At 7:15 a.m., the hotel front desk called to say our driver had arrived.

I was hoping for another 30 minutes of sleep, but that’s travel life… time to go.

Everyone made it safely. Ernesto and Antonio were picked up at the airport, and the rest of the group stayed at the same hotel as me. Bags loaded, we hit the road to Puerto Pirámides.

Since it was too early to check into the hotel, our driver Juan Carlos took us to Puerto Madryn to look for Chilean flamingos. Always nice to see those beautiful, goofy looking birds.

Unfortunately, there weren’t any flamingos in their usual spots, so Juan Carlos brought us to a lookout point instead. 

From the cliffs, we could see whales swimming below in the ocean. Quite a few were around, and our driver mentioned that when whales gather like that, it’s often because orcas might still be in the bay off Puerto Pyramides hunting them.

As we photographed the whales from up high, burrowing parrots flew around the cliffs where they nest in huge colonies. Beautiful, fast flyers, tough to photograph in the air, but I managed a few shots.

From there we continued to Puerto Pirámides to check into our hotel and prep gear for tomorrow.

The road from Puerto Madryn to Pirámides is always good for wildlife, especially guanacos, which are often spotted near the roadside.

The adventure has begun!

 September 9, 2025 — Day One

We set out to sea this morning under a drizzle, with heavy clouds, wind, and cold air. 

A perfectly normal day in Patagonia. lol

There are so many whales here right now, a crazy amount. We searched for a good spot with playful individuals, hoping for an encounter.

This season has already brought some dramatic changes. 

For the first time ever recorded here, orcas have begun hunting southern right whale calves. Last season, avian flu devastated the elephant seal population, wiping out around 95% of the newborn pups. 

With fewer seals this year, the orcas have adjusted, and so far, at least three right whale calves have been killed. These are the same orcas known for their unique hunting strategy of taking seal pups directly off the beach.

Today, though, we found whales that wanted to play. 

Angiolo went in first, then Thomas, and soon we were surrounded, whales all around us. The sound of them blowing was like thunder, echoing across the water. 

So loud, so powerful. Patagonia is a truly special place.

The whales were extremely playful, which was a gift given the recent reports of orcas in the area.

One by one, we took turns entering the water. At the end of the rotation, I finally got my chance, with a calm, friendly whale resting on the sandy bottom. 

Sharing the water with these guys is just the best. Easily my favorite whales. Why? Because they are the friendliest whales I have ever encountered. 

When you get in the water with most whales, they will swim away. They want nothing to do with you. 

With right whales, a big percentage of them are extremely curious and some of them are very, very playful. Some of them are too playful. 

I shot a few images before my time ran out and I had to return to the boat.

By then, the winds were picking up fast. 

As the next round of encounters with the group, the weather turned rough, and we had to call it a day.

So much magic out here. They are all absolutely fired up for tomorrow, this place has exceeded their expectations. Makes me super happy.

All images of the whales captured under Government Permits. 

September 10, 2025 — Day two

Woke to beautiful conditions, clear skies, sunshine, and just a touch of wind. So damn beautiful.

The forecast says the winds will pick up later in the day, but for now it’s amazing out here. I wish it were flat calm, but the sea is a bit lumpy. 

We take what we’re given.

We returned to yesterday’s area. Still lots of whales around, though not as many as yesterday. 

That likely has to do with the orcas, they were spotted in the area, so the whales, especially moms and calves, were more cautious. Still, plenty of whales remained.

Marisa went in first today, the day begins.

Visibility has dropped since yesterday. The water is murky, making it hard to see animals deeper down. Thankfully, the bright sunshine helps. 

To try and improve conditions, we moved to a shallower area where the sandy bottom would reflect more light and help the whales stand out.

Soon we found some players. At first, it was a mom with an overly excited calf. The calf was too friendly, so we had to get out of the water and move the boat away. 

These whales are very different from most species, they’re big, extremely friendly, and sometimes too playful. 

It’s not unusual for our captain to pull us out when the whales become overly curious, because while their intentions are innocent, their sheer size can be dangerous.

The youngsters don’t realize how massive they are. To them, we’re just new “toys” floating at the surface.

So we left the mom and calf and soon found a pair of juvenile whales, friendly, mellow, and perfect to spend time with. And it was magic.

Even though the visibility wasn’t the greatest, we managed by positioning ourselves with the sun behind us. 

With a little effort, we captured somenice images. The whales constantly moved, circling us, diving and returning, weaving around the boat. 

They’d swim off for a bit, then come right back. Epic moments, every one of them.

We spent the entire morning and into the afternoon with them before heading back to port.

On the way in, we cruised slowly past the coastal cliffs to photograph the cormorants. Two species nest here: the imperial cormorant and the rock cormorant. Both are stunning birds.

Tomorrow is forecasted to be even better, great weather and hopefully flat calm seas. 

Can’t wait.

September 11, 2025 — Day Three

Woke to clear blue skies this morning. Beautiful, but cold.

There was still some swell on the water, though the wind had dropped, making for a nicer ride. Jackets were definitely needed today, unlike yesterday when we motored out in comfort.

The morning started slow. Researchers were out tagging whales and collecting DNA samples. 

The whales definitely don’t enjoy it, and many left the area. 

I’m not a fan of that kind of work, though I respect its importance. Still, they could have chosen a different area instead of working right around us. Just my two cents. 

So the search for players continued…

Early on, we had a mom and calf, but the calf became too playful, and we had to leave them.

It was a slow start in our search for responsive whales, but that’s nature. You never know what the ocean will give you, and it’s why you treasure the magic when it arrives.

And in the afternoon, magic finally happened.

The seas flattened, the sun came out in full force, and we found whales in relatively clean water. 

A massive grey-colored whale stayed with us for the rest of the day, offering intimate, unforgettable encounters. 

Another huge whale would come and go, swimming off only to return again and again.

The day was perfection. 

The water was pretty murky, but there was a few pockets of decently clearer water, and we were able to capture some nice images.

Our main whale seemed fascinated with us as we rotated in and out of the boat. Each time a diver climbed in and another climbed out, it swam up to the boat and watched us with curiosity. 

It was amazing to feel observed by the whale, as if it was trying to figure us out.

The other whale dropped down deeper at times, and once opened its mouth, something I’ve never seen before. 

I tried to snap a few images and hope at least one came out.

We ended the day by saying goodbye to our incredible whale companions,. 

On the way back, were treated to a young whale breaching repeatedly right beside the boat. 

Over and over again.

What a day.

September 12, 2025 — Day Four

Weather day… the winds arrived, too strong to get out to sea. So we shifted plans and set out for a land day.

9:15 a.m. The van picked us up, and we headed off in search of roadside wildlife, bound for the penguin colony.

Along the way we spotted plenty of guanacos scattered across the landscape.

 They’re shy, bolting whenever vehicles stop.

Sadly, some locals still hunt them, which might explain their nervousness around people.

One of our target animals today was the mara, and we found a family not far along the road. They’re shy too, so no perfect photos yet, but definitely proof of life.

After about an hour’s drive, we arrived at the penguin colony with our government representative, Paula. 

Our permit covers access to the right whales, but it also opens a few areas closed to the general public, essentially backstage passes to some of Patagonia’s best wildlife hotspots. 

Love it so much.

We had been warned that the penguins weren’t back yet, maybe only 4 or 5 individuals had arrived. 

But when we got there, there were thousands. 

The birds are returning in huge numbers.

Once the season is in full swing, more than 250,000 will gather here to mate and raise chicks, and eventually nearly half a million will head back to sea.

The colony was alive with energy… friendly birds, plenty of sunshine, a cool breeze. 

We all snapped dozens of images.

What I really wanted were shots of penguins emerging from the surf, with the swell crashing onto the shoreline. 

I didn’t quite capture the images I wanted. Right now those photos are living in my camera, just waiting to be born. 

From there, we visited Punta Norte and the “attack channel,” the famous hunting ground of Patagonia’s beach-stranding orcas. 

Yesterday they hit the beach and killed a seal.

Today the winds were high, which usually isn’t favorable for that behavior, but we still set up to watch. Even without orcas, it’s a win, sea lions and elephant seals are everywhere.

We spent about an hour observing them. The sea lions were piled together, sleeping and squabbling over space. 

Two juvenile males kept trying to sneak into the harem, but the dominant male, a massive bull,  chased them off again and again. 

He was impressive, though clearly exhausted. His half-hearted attempts showed he knows the young ones aren’t a real threat this year. 

Next season, though, they’ll be strong enough to challenge his throne.

After leaving the colony, we climbed back into the van and started the ride to Puerto Pirámides. Calling it a day… unless, of course, we cross paths with an armadillo or a burrowing owl on the way.

September 13, 2025. Day Five

We motored out this morning under blah conditions. The weather sucked, cloudy skies, strong winds, and sloppy seas. 

But with the wind blowing from the north, our captain said it was a good direction, so off we went.

Our first destination was the sea lion colony for some water time. We did this last season and it was awesome… playful, interactive animals we didn’t want to leave. Last year we even spotted an elephant seal hanging around (rare for this spot), though we couldn’t get close. We were hoping for the same kind of luck again.

And wow, the ocean delivered.

When we arrived, a large group of juvenile sea lions was already waiting in the water for us. 

The moment we slipped into the water, it was nonstop action: friendly young sea lions surrounding us, bumping our cameras, nibbling fins, nudging masks. Pure chaos, pure joy. For an hour straight they played with us, curious and fearless.

The nibbles weren’t aggressive, they didn’t hurt. Just playful youngsters testing their new “toys.”

Visibility wasn’t the greatest, but it didn’t matter. We laughed, we swam, we soaked it all in until finally saying goodbye to the kids.

At one point, a massive male was chasing a female, and she darted behind me for cover. He slammed into me hard… wham! The hit stung a bit and surprised the hell out of me. But other than that, the encounters were pure magic.

Before leaving, we photographed the colony lounging on the rocks. A big male was mating with a couple of females, not at the same time, but one after the other. Hard to document with all the other sea lions blocking the view, but still fascinating to watch.

From there, we shifted focus back to whales. Marisa got in first with a group of three,  and witnessed them mating right in front of her.

The followed one group of mating whales. And stayed with them, the show was too good to pass up.

We originally tried to get in the water with them, but it was too dangerous. So we watched from the boat.

For more than an hour, we watched a female being pursued by four males, each fighting for position. The chase went on and on, an extraordinary display of energy and determination. It felt like watching a live nature documentary, the raw, unscripted power of the wild.

Angiolo flew the drone and captured incredible footage of the entire scene.

Later, we tried a few more jumps and got some nice encounters. I stayed out, making sure everyone else had their chance. And they did, right up until we ran out of time.

I’m okay with that. 

The day was epic, from playful sea lions to the spectacle of whales in their mating frenzy.

What a privilege today was.

September 14, 2025 — Day Six

Our final day at sea, and it was magic, magic, magic!

We woke to a perfect morning: blue skies, no wind, warm sunshine, and flat calm seas. 

Absolute perfection.

In high spirits, our captain asked what we wanted today. We shouted, “A white whale!” Ernesto added, “Warm water!” and our safety diver Juan laughed, “Yes… me too please!”

Minutes later, the first whale we saw was a beautiful young white whale breaching.

What an incredible way to start the day. I got my white whale. I would have preferred it underwater, but I’ll take a breaching baby any day.

Not long after, we came upon our first group of whales, mating. Since I hadn’t gotten in the water yesterday, today I was fortunate to go first. 

I was treated to something I’d never witnessed before: two whales fully mating. I’ve seen plenty of flirting, plenty of hopeful suitors showing off, but never the actual act.

Visibility wasn’t great, but I captured proof of life shots, behavior images I’d been hoping for. Not perfect, but I’ll take them.

12:00 p.m. We’re sitting in glassy calm water while Antonio and Ernesto swim with a very relaxed juvenile whale. 

The conditions are amazing here, the whale mellow, putting on a show for us. What a sight.

The day just kept delivering. While motoring slowly, we spotted a mom and calf, and the calf was white!

My heart was racing. We jumped in quickly. The mom was not happy with our presence and took her baby away, but not before we managed a few precious images.

It wasn’t the perfect encounter, not like the other whales who sometimes do allow us  to get close, but to see a white calf underwater was still a dream come true.

We’re down to our last hour on the water sadly. 

I’m simply soaking it in, watching my friends enjoy their final encounters. 

Puerto Pirámides is a truly special place.

This has been a dream week. 

A huge thanks to the beautiful people who helped us organize this trip, to the Argentina government for their protection of these whales, and to Romina and our captain and support crew for making this expedition possible.

And to my friends who joined us this season… love you guys. 

Thank you for making this trip so special.

Until next season, Argentina.