Right Whales Trip Report 2026

Puerto Pyramides, Argentina
September 7 - 14, 2026

September 8, 2026. Day One

We headed out for our first day at sea beneath beautiful blue skies, with flat water and whales everywhere. It was the perfect way to begin our expedition.

Sadly, our captain, Boro, told us that a large number of southern right whale calves have died this season, and researchers are still trying to understand why. 

More than 30 calves have reportedly washed ashore near Puerto Pirámides, with over 130 deaths recorded throughout the region this season.

It is horrible news and devastating for a population that remains incredibly precious.

Despite the concern hanging over the season, I was hopeful that we would have a great week of whales and weather for the friends who traveled so far to join us. David and Alice came all the way from Australia, and my bro K traveled from Washington, D.C.

They are all a long way from home, so I want this week to be everything they dreamed it would be.

The week begins!

When we reached the area where we would begin looking for whales to swim with, we slowly approached one to see whether it showed any interest in us. As we did, an imperial cormorant swam past the boat.

This is one of my favorite cormorant species. They are just so beautiful. I am hoping I get the opportunity to photograph one underwater during this trip. With a little luck, we will, and I am feeling lucky!

But back to the whales…

The first whales we entered the water with were a mating pair. They were not the whales we were most interested in, though. It was the juvenile male hanging around in the background whose attention we hoped to catch.

Juvenile males are often the best whales to encounter. Many have already been weaned by their mothers but are still too young to join the adult males. They are curious, playful, and sometimes appear to be looking for companionship, or at least some entertainment from the strange sea monkeys splashing around in their world.

Our juvenile stayed with us for a long time. With the boat sitting still, the sun shining, and almost no wind, it was an amazing morning.

Eventually, the wind arrived and the sea became a little snotty, but the whales continued to be incredible.

We spent nearly our entire day with two enormous whales. Our captain later told us that we had been with them for about five hours. 

Five hours of almost nonstop whale encounters!

It was such a great day.

Even with the visibility was not very good.

 There was so much plankton and debris suspended in the water that photography was a serious challenge. Every once in a while, however, we found a clean-ish patch where the plankton was not quite as thick, and we managed to capture a few photographs that we could get excited about.

Eventually, it was time to finish for the day and begin motoring back toward Puerto Pirámides. Everyone aboard was smiling from ear to ear.

Then, in the distance, we noticed a mob of giant petrels feeding on something at the surface.

We immediately realized what they had.

A freshly dead southern right whale calf.

It was a sobering and heartbreaking way to end an otherwise incredible first day.

I do not know what is happening to our beloved right whales. I can only hope researchers find an answer, and that whatever is causing these deaths comes to an end very soon.

September 9, 2026. Day Two

Another bright, beautiful sky greeted us this morning, but it was much windier than yesterday. The seas were lumpy and rolling, making for a rougher ride as we headed offshore.

Once we reached the search area, we found a few southern right whales and attempted our first jump.

The visibility was terrible. The sun was still low in the sky, which was not helping our cause. Yesterday, once the sun moved overhead, the light improved and we began finding patches of cleaner water to work with. We hoped the same thing would happen today.

But sadly today was not yesterday.

The few right whales we encountered wanted absolutely nothing to do with us. 

It was completely different from yesterday. With so many calves dying this season, it is difficult not to wonder what effect the mass losses are having on these whales.

We kept searching.

Thankfully, the wind eventually began to settle down, allowing us to travel farther and longer.

But today there was a chill in the air… it really felt like a ghost town out here. The whales were just not here.

Then, in the distance, we saw a blow, so we headed in that direction. 

A second one followed, and then two or three smaller blows appeared nearby. 

Those did not look like right whales.

As we moved closer, we realized what we were looking at…

Orcas!

We had found a large pod of orcas.

The entire boat erupted with excitement. 

I threw off my jacket, grabbed Gloria, my underwater camera rig, and started getting her ready in case the orcas decided to swim alongside us.

Thankfully, the orcas were just as curious about us as we were about them.

They came right up to the boat, giving us an absolutely epic encounter. They breached, played around us, swam alongside the boat, and even paused to investigate our cameras in the water.

They were playing with kelp and passing it around.

These orcas are the Patagonia beaching orcas and they are huge.

Massive animals capable of hunting whales, sea lions, and elephant seals. Absolute beasts, and unbelievably beautiful.

Man, I love them.

Photographing orcas underwater here has always been a dream of mine. Today, we got incredibly lucky.

We did not just find them, they came over and interacted with us, we really got some quality time with them. 

It was so much fun. 

There was so much plankton in the water, it made it very tough for photos.

I am hoping a few will come out okay, but the plankton was thick.

Today was a dream day for us. Not the right whales though, but for us… a magical dream.

The right whales had to have know the orcas were around, because most of the whales had completely disappeared. Whether they sensed the predators or simply moved elsewhere, we had no idea where they went.

All we know is we hope they return tomorrow. 

After leaving the orcas, we eventually found one right whale and attempted a jump. It showed no interest in us and quickly swam away, so we left it alone and called it a day.

What a day.

What an epic, epic day!

Thank you, Patagonia.