Picture

Baja, February 2012

The waters of Baja California are a refuge for blue, gray, fin, humpback and Bryde's whales, as well as several species of dolphins.

San Ignacio Lagoon - one of the major gray whale calving lagoons of Baja - is known to host large numbers of gray whales including cow-calf pairs, courting whales and friendly whales like those in the video.

If you wish to get up close and personal with whales it does't
get any better than this.

There are several lagoons along the Baja California coast where the Grey Whales come to give
birth to their calves in the protected waters.  The Mexican government has established strict 
guidelines to protect them yet allow fantastic chances to interact with them for the public.
The lagoons are huge and the areas where interaction is allowed are only a part of the lagoons.
This means that if the whales wish to avoid we humans they could easily do so except for passing
into and out of the lagoon. The local fishermen can not fish while the whales are present but have
developed a tourist industry out of whale watching from their skiffs.The number of skiffs allowed
into areas is strictly regulated as is the time and duration they may stay in the areas.
Tfhis short video starts in the crystal clear waters of the southern Seychelles and then switches to the Sea of Cortez. A playful humpback whale , bow riding dolphins, some manta rays and then a wonderful time watching sea lions,dolphins and a humpback whale hanging out together. Again we were blessed with superb weather.