Grey Whale Photography Expedition
February 2022
This was our second trip of the 2022 season. Grey whales off of Magdalena Bay, Mexico. This trip is so special and we feel truly privileged that we get to show and share this place to people each year. Having a grey whale swim up to a boat, asking for a face scratch is one of the most magical experiences you can ever have.
We have been visiting this spot for a few years now and love every second of it, it is so great. However watching your friends enjoy an encounter with a whale and knowing you helped make that happen for them… that reward and feeling is beyond words.
We spent four days experiencing, not only the grey whales, but also the rest of the wildlife that is unique to the Mag Bay area; super pods of dolphins, the sea lions, diverse whale species, the birds, turtles, it is all amazing, and makes for one hell of a wildlife trip.
We even spent some time off shore seeking out wildlife to swim with. Yes, on this trip we also try and get in some water time. We spent almost an hour swimming with sea lions hunting a baitball.
This trip, this place, the wildlife and the beautiful people we share time with makes for just pure awesomeness. Here are a few images from this year’s trip… I hope you enjoy!
Grey whale off Magdalena Bay. I love this type of photography, a great way to get extremely up close and personal with these very shy animals. Of course they are only shy when you are in the water with them. Not when you are on the boat. The cover image is by our buddy LB Helfrich. Below; our buddy Jay getting creative with his shots. Our morning view as we motor out into the Bay. Sunrise off Mag Bay are almost always amazing. Sometimes the clouds will hade them, but when they don’t… they are Just Damn.
Hunting brown pelicans. The pelicans were diving on a baitball. It is always fun watching them hunt, they hover about 20 feet in the air and then plunge down angling their heads to try and hit the unsuspecting fish below the surface just right.
Common dolphin porposing. This is difficult photography when there are thousands of dolphins swimming by, you have a hard time trying to predict where they will jump out at. I took about a thousand images before I got lucky with this shot. Below; our friends Eva and Lori are new to the wildlife world, but super addicted. Love it. Spy hoping grey whale.
Sea lion hunting sardines off shore. We spent a couple of days out at sea searching for wildlife to swim with. We found a static baitball with around 7 sea lions feeding on it. It was a hell of a show.
Breaching grey whale. Below; the mornings were always chilly and sometimes the fog was thick. Once the sun came up though, and burned off the clouds, it was just perfection out on the sea.
Bald eagle pair hunting by the shore line.
Momma and a shy baby. Below; Eva learning how to use the Red camera (she needs a lot of work.) lol kidding Eva, and our mascot for the trip…. Milo the wonder dog, chilling in the ultimate dive camera companion, the Square Grouper, from Cinebags. Images by Markus Davids.
Some photography on the Dunes. Al and LB. Below; dinner with our friends after amazing days at sea. The whale action everyday was so damn good. Love this place.
Olive ridley sea turtle - pretty friendly little lady. Below… Some fun on dunes and fun with the pelicans.
Die with memories, not dreams… Damn Right! Our buddy Jeff doing a little modeling for us.
That eye!
sealion hunting baitballs off shore. Below; snapping images of sealions on the bouy. We also visited a frigate bird rookery, which was an amazing sight. Thousands of frigate birds, courting, mating, taking care of chicks. It is an amazing place to see.
A super pod of common dolphins we encountered. The sound of tens of thousands of dolphins speeding by, is an amazing view and a hauntingly beautiful sound.
Grey whale tail swimming off into the green murk.
Thank you to our friends who joined us out there. It was an amazing adventure and so much fun. A huge hug and miss you guys dearly. Until the next one.