sei whale Argentina, Patagonia sei whales, swim with sei whales, Argentina whale expedition, Patagonia whale watching, rare whale species, sei whale photography, baleen whale encounters, Argentina wildlife expedition, Patagonia marine wildlife, swim with whales Argentina, sei whale behavior, krill feeding whales, South Atlantic whales, wildlife photography expedition Argentina, ocean safari Patagonia, marine wildlife Argentina, sei whale trip report, Patagonia wildlife tours, Argentina ocean wildlife

 

Sei Whale Trip Report 2026

Patagonia, Argentina
March 20 - 31, 2026

*This was an exploratory expedition, carried out under government permit, giving us rare access to these waters and the opportunity to document what we found.

March 20, 2026. Day One (Sort Of)

Today was supposed to be a travel day.

But the weather has other plans.

A storm is moving in, and it looks like we’re going to lose a couple of days this week… so we go now.

Last night, around 8pm, the guys picked me up at the airport and laid out the plan.

“We’re starting tomorrow.”

I’m all for it.

But I’m wrecked.

Three flights.
One of them ten hours.

I was ready for a slow morning today… maybe sleep in a bit.

Definitely not happening.

I put my gear together, prepped my underwater camera Gloria, and then caught a few hours of needed sleep.

8:00am
The ocean is calling… Let’s Gooo!!!

We are sitting at the airport waiting for Antonio and Ernesto to land. Marisa doesn’t arrive until late tonight, so she will miss today unfortunately.

They are all such great friends and guests on this trip.

From here, we go straight to the marina.

No easing into this one.

11:00am
We’re heading out.

Reports of sei whales feeding just six miles off the coast.

Time to see these whales and find out what this area is all about.

And then…

We find them.

I’m in the water with a sei whale.

A sei whale!

It is a new species for me.

And for a moment, I’m not a guide. Not a photographer.

Just… a kid again.

I am on fire inside.

Okay.

Starstruck moment is over.

Back to reality.

The water sucks.

It is murky and green. 

Thick with plankton.

The kind of visibility that makes everything harder.

But maybe that’s part of it.

Part of why they’re still so unknown.

Big, beautiful baleen whales… living in water that hides them.

But I have seen the footage of them here in crystal clear blue water, so I know the water here cleans up.

But right now it’s horrible.

And everywhere… these tiny red crustaceans.

They are in the lower ten feet of the water column.

They are small, clawed, lobster-like creatures. Likely Munida… squat lobsters. 

Whatever they are, they’re the reason the whales are here.

The reason we’re here.

I jumped in a lot today.

The water is very cold but tolerable. I am not using gloves and I am fine.

Chasing those moments.

I got two good passes.

Just two.

But the vis is bad.

I got a proof of life shot and a decent tail shot today, but that was it.

And that’s the game.

I’m exhausted.

Going to finish this tomorrow.