Encountering Gray Whales in San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja California

Part of the Dive Ninjas Divemaster Program is the PADI Whale Defender Distinctive Specialty which provides a great introduction to whale conservation: why whales are important for healthy oceans, the threats they face, and how we can help protect them. It was also in this class I first learned about the gray whales in San Ignacio Lagoon: how these gentle giants come up right next to small fishermen's boats and people get to touch them. I remember thinking out loud, “Touch them? Is that allowed? I thought as divers (and humans, really) we aren’t supposed to make any contact with marine life?”

San Ignacio Lagoon is one of the three places in Baja Mexico where you can interact with whales in the wild. These whales perform one of the longest migrations of any mammal on earth, traveling over 12,000 miles round trip from Alaska to the Mexican coast. In this whale sanctuary, they enjoy the warm, shallow waters to mate, give birth, and nurse.

GETTING TO SAN IGNACIO LAGOON

From Cabo San Lucas, Baja Expeditions provides a shuttle to the local airport where we boarded a private charter aircraft that would take us to their remote campsite at San Ignacio. It’s about a 2-hour flight over Baja Peninsula’s diverse topography of desert, mountain and coast. (Note: The plane is tiny and you will be seated the entire time so make sure to go to the bathroom beforehand!)

MEETING THE WHALES

“Why do the whales come up next to boats? And you get to touch them? Is it safe? But they’re MASSIVE! Aren't you terrified?"

These are some of the reactions I got from people when they saw my Instagram Stories. Honestly, nobody knows why they're friendly towards boats and people and actively seek that interaction themselves. It's what makes them unique compared to other whales (besides being bottom feeders). It makes you wonder what these creatures think about us. We're nothing compared to them yet they're curious and seem to want to get to know us. But what is so special about us humans?

Big thank you to Baja Expeditions and Nautilus Dive Adventures for the hospitality and for the amazing encounters with gray whales.

Though I was hosted on this trip, all opinions and recommendations are my own.