Here are some of the many comments we've received from our passengers.4/4/2008
Thank you ALL for a memorable and pleasurable adventure. Every detail planned and executed was done with goodwill, professional skill and expertise. The food was outstanding, tasty, nutritious and well planned. Concern for passengers' safety, well being, and comfort was exemplary. All equipment and the environment related to excursions, travel, and hygiene were maintained with a sound knowledge base, team work, and principles of safety and good seamanship. What an amazing crew you are!
Laughter, good humor, intelligence, and courtesty are your hallmarks!
Thank you again,
Pat Pruden
4/4/2008
Joan and I would like to thank you for giving us the honour of being part of this trip.. We don't believe you or the rest of the crew would have done any more to make this an unbelievable experience and can only forward our grateful thanks.
Thank you,
Tony and Joan Bland
4/4/2008
When you said "trip of a lifetime," you weren't exaggerating. Thanks guys (and Celia, of course)
Tony Eldridge
4/4/2008
You two have been brilliant! Kevin, Kenny, Randy, Aaron, Joe, and Cole all so great, it's hard to explain. We couldn't have been better looked after had it been a cruise liner. Then you gave us Jim and Rob and these guys were so passionate, knowledgeable, and were happy to give us their time. I didn't feel stupid asking questions, and though they will have answered them hundreds of times, they told us or much more than we wanted to know. I learned so much. Every walk, skiff ride, swim was an adventure. Every hour on deck watching for whales treasured.
Thank you,
Byron and Louise Godfrey
3/19/2008
"Good morning whalewatchers! This is your wake-up call!"
My entire time onboard was a wake-up call--to mobulas, fried-egg jellyfish, wavy barrel cactus, sea lions dancing in my face, more blue whales than I ever dreamed of. I'm sad to end the real-life trip, but will continue to stroke the whales when i dream.
3/19/2008
Thank you to every member of the crew, including Art and Celia, for making this a life-changing trip I will never be able to forget. Every person was knowledgable, thoughtful, and worked hard to help make it such a wonderful trip. And in addition, everyone was so kind, truly going beyond anything expected. Thank you, thank yoU!
You do a great service for those who come n these trips, and I hope we will make a difference to help protect these beautiful animals and these places.
3/19/2008
I would recommend this trip to anyone with a love of nature, being outdoors, and a sense of wonder. For anyone interested in visiting Baja, Searcher is the way to go. Every person on the crew is fantastic--their gentle smiles, good humor, attention to our safety, nature knowledge and steadfastness on the boat. We will miss feeling so well-supported.
And a special, grand thanks to Captain Art. You did it all. From daily checks on us for our personal well-being to the insistence of strict methods to ensure safety. You set the tone for entering San Ignacio, and we carried your passionate approach and attention with us as we visited the gray whales. Thank you for sharing your sensitive caring, and thank you for the reminder to take in the experiences through our hearts, not just our cameras and binoculars. With sincere thanks,
Karen and Bob
2/24/2008
Hi Celia
We just wanted to send our thanks for such a fantastic trip - we really did have the most amazing time and learnt so much whilst enjoying ourselves so much. It has definitely inspired us to continue in this vein and go on other such trips in different parts of the world.
Thanks to you and the crew for such great organisation- we were very well looked after and need to go on diets for a while after such good food!!!
We have some unique and wonderful memories, great pictures and made some good friends too, we will be swapping stories and pics for a long time to come.
We would certainly recommend you to several people that we know, who would absolutely adore such a holiday.
Thanks again to everyone for making it such a good trip.
Kind regards
Yvonne and Michael
2/20/2008
Dear Celia, Art and all the crew of 'Searcher',
Just a short note to thank you all for giving us such a wonderful holiday in Baja. We know that we had almost perfect conditions weather wise but none the less our sightings of the whales, birds and stunning scenery more than lived up to our expectations. The time spent in Laguna San Ignacio with the grey whales was much more than a wildlife experience and will be a time we will always remember in our hearts forever, no wonder Art feels so passionate about the place.
A special mention to Paul and Marc for their expertise which gave us much more of an insight to the animals we were watching without ever impinging on our enjoyment of the moment.
The crew were so good you hardly knew they were around, their humour and knowledge added greatly to our whole experience, and the speed and efficiency which they got the skiffs in and out of the water had to be seen to be believed. Thanks to Randy for his fantastic food and for looking after me when the heat got too much for me.
Finally to Art: a well run boat depends greatly on its skipper and in Art we had a terrific skipper. He should be very proud of what he has achieved and his views on wildlife reflect our own. Celia, you help with arrangements for us 'none travellers' was excellent,. It was traumatic enough for us arranging this holiday but your help and advice was perfect and made the whole journey much easier than we thought it would be.
So many thanks to you all again and we will recommend 'Searcher' to anyone with a passing interest in whales.
Thank you so very much,
Pam & Arthur Brown
www.discovermull.co.uk
2/19/2008
Very good trip, all the staff are remarkable and help make this trip a time to remember. Unforgettable experiences nearly every day, particularly gray whales, humpbacks, blue whales, and dolphins. Laguna San Ignacio magical. You have an ethical policy to be very proud of.
2/19/2008
Dear Celia and Art,
We would like to thank you both for a wonderful holiday / experience. It was really a trip of a lifetime and way way beyond our expectations. As Nancy says it was "heaven on earth."
The organization (from the very first e-mail, until the last taxi drive) was really perfect. The crew on board were wonderful. We have a few friends who like wildlife too and we surely recommend this trip to them.
It’s hard to express our feelings, but thanks again for this wonderful experience.
With love,
Nancy and Jeroen
Holland
2/19/2008
The trip was superbly planned, staffed and executed. We had some experiences which greatly exceeded our expectations. Contact with the whales was quite extraordinary; equalling our best wildlife experiences anywhere. Onboard facilities, food, and general standards were explemplary. Our guides were fountain of knowledge and we learned much. We shall, of course, be recommending this trip to like-minded friends.
Ronnie and Carrie Wilkie
2/19/2008
Dear Celia,
I thought I'd write to you before the world 'swallows' me again. The trip was wonderful! Art, the crew, the food and -ABOVE ALL- being with and in
nature were absolutely incredible. On a trip like this, everyone has a different experience. However, I have no doubt that ALL truly enjoyed and gained from this journey.
The name "Searcher" is very apt because the trip
becomes (and certainly became for me) a 'search' - it might be a search for whales but it's also an inner search.
Warm regards,
Heidi Mueller
7/1/2007
Stanley Johnson's article:
Reinventing the whale - Guardian UK
Reinventing the whale
By Stanley Johnson. Published in The Guardian, Saturday 28th July 2007
3/21/2007
Dear Capt Art and Celia:
I am still dreaming of the sea, the rocking of the boat, the upwelling of whales. It was a truly glorious time searching with you for the whales. Many thanks to the great crew and naturalists. Each added their indespensible presence to our trip. A time to remember forever!
Barbara Smith
3/21/2007
Excellent trip! Consistently well planned. Crew are great fun and very attentive to all of us--whatever the age. I appreciate everything being kept clean, Watching the whales was like a wonderful safari. Awesome!
3/21/2007
Thank you for a wonderful tour. I felt safe, taken care of, and deliciously fed. The crew was attentive, friendly and warm. Within hours of my arrival, I felt at home.
Eudie Schachter
3/6/2007
Art, Celia, Crew--both Alan and I had a marvelous trip and look forward to doing this again in a year or two. Thank you for making this a very special experience.
Best regards,
Lise and Alan Miller
3/6/2007
Wonderful experience--we enjoyed every minute! The crew, naturalists, and fellow passengers made this incredible trip unique. And thanks, thanks, thanks, to the whales!
Karen and Richard Kolar
3/6/2007
You probably hear this a lot but I will write it anyway. This has been an unforgettable, magical experience. Thank you for all your hard work, dedication, and passion for the sea.
3/6/2007
Your ship and crew are the finest we have had the pleasure of sailing with. To the man they know their jobs and they will bend over backwards to make you comfortable in any way. Both the naturalists were very knowledgable and are highly recommended. And last, Captain Art, thank you for sharing your ship and Baja with us. We are both very impressed and hope to sail with you again.
Van Argabright
3/6/2007
Dear Celia, Captain Art and the entire Searcher team (Randy, Steve, Kenny,Kevin, Joe and Aaron),
I wanted to relay my hearfelt appreciation for the wonderful journey I have had the privilege to share with my fellow nature lovers and the dedicated crew of the Searcher.
I have traveled a bit around the world ( not as much as I would have like to). It is mostly travel to the so called Old World. I have been to Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Italy, France and Germay. I have admired all the great monuments and museums of these countries. Most of these are testaments to the glory and triumph of man. But I think nothing compares with the grandeur of Mother nature, God’s creations which I beheld all throughout my Baja expedition. I have reviewed pictures taken with my ordinary camera and have shown it to my friends. They have nothing but awe and wonder at all the pictures depicting the raw and pristine beauty of the various islands we visited. I am wistful now that I have finished the trip. I wish that I had imbibed, inhaled and basked more than I think I did all the grandeur that was around me. It seems that when you are surrounded by such beauty all around you, you take everything for granted such as the magnificent sunrises which greeted us each day, the glorious sunsets which usher in the night or even the simple beauty of the rock formations and islands floating on the Pacific and the Sea of Cortez.
I am also grateful for all the wonderful people I met on this trip, kindred spirits with love of nature. I am so inspired by all the adventures of these veteran travelers.
Finally, I would like to extend again my deepest appreciation for all the hard work involved in planning and running this trip. Both Patti and Ron were very informative. I really liked the educational talks offered on most nights. I appreciate all the vigilance of the crew while on the upper deck in watching for wildlife for the passengers to appreciate. I appreciate all the care taken in ensuring the passenger’s safety while disembarking from the boat to the skiffs or monitoring us while we were snorkeling or swimming on the beaches, or even while we are just simply trying to navigate around the salon or outside when we were experiencing rough waters. In chatting with some of the crew, I realized that their dedication to their work springs from their love of the sea and their job.
"I need the sea because it teaches me,"
"I move in the university of the waves."
- Pablo Neruda
Again, thank you so much. I hope to be on another trip soon.
Sincerely,
Isabel Crisostomo
3/6/2007
Hello Searcher
Our target was to see Blue Whales and it was a dream come true. Not only one but a mother and calf - what more could be asked? It was a very emotional moment for both Heather and I to see them, and to be so close to the grey whales, and to have such a show by the humpbacks, and to witness the huges number of birds in the feeding frenzy, and ... and... and ...!
All this was made possible by the dedication, enthusiasm, expertise, friendliness and any other adjective which could be used to praise the crew and backup of Searcher, and the enthusiasm of the naturalists, and we like to thank them yet again for all they did for us (we have already used Randy's enchilada recipe!). Without this crew and support I am in no doubt it would be a much lesser experience.
Once again - many thanks for enabling such a memorable experience!
Regards
Simon & Heather Beesley
2/20/2007
Dear Celia,
My boss could not believe the picture of me touching a porpoise. When I told him it was a baby gray whale, he just looked at me open-mouthed and said "wow." This is what this trip did for me. It was a "Wow."
Julie Miller
2/20/2007
Hi Celia,
I have only just come down to earth after the fantastic holiday I had aboard "Searcher". I really appreciated the efforts of Art and the crew
to maximise our opportunities for whale spotting even though the elements were sometimes against us. The whole holiday exceeded my expectations for the number and variety of species seen (non cetacean as well as cetacean) and I shall treasure many wonderful memories.
I am now trying to lose the added pounds from eating too much lovely food!!
Thanks again,
Sheila Doel
2/19/2007
The Searcher and crew were wonderful--nothing ever too much trouble for anyone. We saw so much and having Paul and Marc to identify the birds and animals was truly remarkable.
Thanks!
Bob and Diana Sanders
2/19/2007
We thought the dedication of the crew for watching out for wildlife was fantastic. We expected one person to be a lookout and to be out there ourselves much of the time. While it was still great to be out, it was good to know nothing would be missed if we had a rest or some shade. Many thanks!
2/19/2007
Much praise for the crew who were unfailingly helpful and attentive. Well designed acitivities. It was good to have choices to suit all ranges or abilities. We appreciated not being rushed at any time--plenty of time to just watch the elephant seals, whales, and take endless photos! Really wonderful trip, don't want it to end!
2/19/2007
I would like to emphasize the kindness and helpfulness as well as their proficiency of the whole crew, not to mention the great meals and fine cooking. Thanks,
Raymond DeBoullouche
2/19/2007
Thoroughly enjoyed the trip. Some wonderful experiences facilitated by crew and overall itinerary. Crew were ready and willing at every turn and very knowledgable. Food was wonderful. Expertise ot naturalists was exeptional.
7/14/2006
Celia,
I had such a wonderful time on that trip. The crew, as you know, is so hardworking and dedicated that (aside from me worrying about whether any of them ever got enough sleep) the trip was made nearly seamless by their constant efforts to do everything from cleaning spinach a leaf at a time to cleaning bathrooms, baking cookies, pointing out wildlife and beating me at Scrabble. The two or three that sat tirelessly on the top of the boat looking for marine life added a great deal to the trip -- I think without them and Art keeping vigilant watch, we would have missed about a third of the amazing stuff we got to see. Every one of the crew was friendly and helpful and extremely knowledgeable - I would never have expected to get on a boat where pretty much everyone working on it was a naturalist. As a tour guide, I also have to appreciate the fact that when someone on the crew was asked something about which they didn't know, they responded with "I don't know" instead of floundering about (no pun intended there).
I cannot overstate how much I appreciate everyone's (including yours) hard work, enthusiasm, helpfulness and general coolness.
Thank you.
Darbi Macy
Soon-to-be Repeat Customer
3/10/2006
"Art and Celia:
Just wanted to drop a note on the trip. I had a really wonderful time once again. I continue to get surprised time after time I take the Searcher trip. There is always something new and wonderful.
The Gray whales never never disapoint me and ALWAYS truly amaze me with the trust they instill on us. I again kissed a whale and got to experience a special time with them. We were in a skiff and had about 12 whales around. It felt very very spirtual watching this.
Once again thanks to both you and Art and the crew for providing this wonderful opportunity. I hope to be back again."
Chris Shields
California
3/10/2006
"Dear Celia and Art,
Hope this finds you both well and your later trips were as good or better than the one you took us on. We would like to thank you for a very special experience.
We consider ourselves very lucky to have seen the things we have and as much as we try to tell friends and family, we feel we can not do it justice. We would like to say that along with the natural sights we saw, it really was a treat to watch the reaction of the other passengers and the crew, helping to give a perspective to what we were seeing."
Many thanks to you all,
Debbie and Marvin Ellott
England
3/10/2006
"Thank you Art and Celia for the hard work and planning you put in to making the Searcher trips so enjoyable and rewarding. There are many letters in your customer feedback, all of which echo the experieriences that our Baja journey provided.
Like many of your other travellers, we have over the years, had numerous wildlife encounters, but the close proximity to the Grey Whale calves and their mothers in San Ignacio lagoon must surely rank as one of the most emotional wildlife contacts possible.
The bonus of seeing dozens of jumping mobula's to the sound of classical music and a group of thousands of dolphins chasing a school of fish, all with attendant bird life, within feet of the Searcher, were just two highlights from a memorable trip.
As with all wildlife encounters, every journey will inevitably be different, but the dedication of Art and all the crew made sure that whatever was happening in the seas around us, we got to see it at first hand. Their attention to our comfort and safety contributed immensely to the success of the tour.
A truly wonderful journey which will remain in our memory for the rest of our lives, thank you once again."
Best wishes,
Jean and Tony Parfitt
England
3/1/2006
"Celia and Art
Just a quick line to say thanks for a truly wonderful trip on the Searcher. We had a fantastic time. Big thanks to everyone....especially Art and the crew....not only for the relaxed ambience they created on board...but also for their sensitivity."
Graham Henson
England
2/9/2006
"Dear Celia and Art,
I am finally able to write to you and express what the trip on the Searcher meant to me. I think I had mentioned to you that this was going to be my very first boat trip and I had certain misgivings about how I would take it. I told myself that I would try this and more, because I simply love whales.
The very first day we were cruising along, I realized that I felt very comfortable and this feeling of being in the right place with the right people grew more intense everyday.
Art is instrumental in making life on the Searcher a wonderful experience. You and your crew are not just simply there to take us to gorgeous places, you love it and are moved by what you see. I find that this makes a difference in how we, the passenger, live this soul enriching journey.
The film of the Baja trip is still running in my head and I would have a hard time pointing out one particular great moment: they all were unforgettable. The dawns, the sunsets with the green flash, the moon, the myriad of stars, the boat being "charged" by innumerable dolphins, the mobilus, the seals, the whales, the pelicansŠŠ. I went particularly "overboard" when I got to touch the whales: I could have stayed there for a week, just petting them. What about the evening when all lights were turned off and we simply stood silently on deck listening to the waves and the whales' blows.
A very touching moment was the morning we were risen from our slumber by the delicate sound of the whales songs.
I get shivers down by spines just thinking about it. Thank you Art.
I think that by now you have a fairly good idea how deeply this trip has touched me. I am very grateful to you for having led us through such a wondrous path: it will remain in me forever."
Sonja Buzzolini
Switzerland
2/1/2006
"Hi Celia and Art
I just felt compelled to write and thank you all for such a great trip. You should be very proud of all of your crew, a group of men who went out of their way to make all of your gues ts feel so welcome. Their enthusiasm and "can do" attitude turned a fantastic trip into the time of our lives.
After leaving San Ignacio bay I think we were a bit downhearted thinking that nothing could match a place of such wonder. This was soon dispelled as every day brought new and stunning experiences. I will never consider this to have been a just a vacation as it goes so far beyond, that i am still stuck for words to express my feelings. Please pass on our thanks to everyone."
Frank McDonagh
England
2/1/2004
"Even though this was my fourth year in a row going on Searcher, like each trip, there were new things to see. I feel very, very special that the gray whales let me get so close to them and that a 35-ton mother would let me touch her calf, kiss her calf, and play with it. I know that I will do whatever I can forever to protect these wonderful creatures."
Christine Shields
2/1/2004
"I had expected the trip to be good, but it way surpassed my expectations.
The crew was terrific. Art and Kevin appeared to have an unerring instinct for knowing exactly where the whales were going to surface. Our excitement when they idled the engines and listening to the click of the sonar is something I remember with relish, especially when it preceded a close encounter with these great mammals--awesome.
The humor and friendliness from Art and the crew left us feeling that we had found new friends. I was profoundly moved by Art's obvious love of the whales.
I can't fault the itinerary, we saw so many extraordinary things that it almost seems impossible to have done all that in one trip. In short, it was magical."
Carole and Peter Leigh
2/1/2004
"We have done a fair amount of wildlife trips around the world, and have seen many rare and spectacular sights but we both feel that the experience with the gray whales in San Ignacio Lagoon must sit there with the best. But that was just the best of an extremely exciting and intensely interesting cruise. We passengers got along so well together from the start, because we were all of similar mind and inclination with regard to the wonderful world out there, but also to the atmostphere created by you and the Searcher crew, and the friendly way the naturalists imparted their considerable knowledge and experience."
Gwen and Ken Bond
2/1/2004
"Where can I start? I have had the most amazing trip of a lifetime. I can't explain how amazing it was to get so close, fufill my dreams and other dreams I didn't think possible. To be able to touch and look into the eye of a whale was just something I couldn't even have imagined. The entire trip is made even better (if that's possible) by the crew; they are so aware of everyone and everything."
Bev Longsden
4/1/2003
"The Baja "worm" is already inside me and the Searcher is responsible for it. Any developments or medications to cure it will be greatly appreciated! No tengo palabras...Mil gracias!"
Kike Calvo
4/1/2003
"Everything was superb. I just wish the days were longer and the nights shorter. I'd recommend this Searcher trip to anybody who inquired or wants a superb adventure."
David Sullivan
3/1/2003
"I'll have the pleasure of seeing you again next year. I can never become blasé in seeing these magnificent gray whales and their calves. I never cease to wonder at their friendliness toward us. I loved the opportunities of exploring San Ignacio's salt marshes. There's a special wildness there that draws one to them again and again."
Beryl Thompson
3/1/2003
"Each event of each day stripped away the problems of our modern life. The absolutely fine food nourished and fattened us as our minds were forever changed and expanded. You might just save and protect this end of the world. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!"
3/1/2003
"The world is a better place with you and your crew in it. Thanks for the adventure of a lifetime."
Tom and Kathy Miller
2/1/2003
"Dear Art and friends,
Thank you all for making our holiday such an enjoyable experience over the last two weeks. The wildlife contacts were beyond our dreams, and added to the warmth and friendly atmosphere of the ship, made the whole package a wonderful success.
Thanks once again, Art and we can see now why the places we visited and the things we experienced mean so much to you."
Bob and Alex (Green)
