Hello whalewatchers: We observed an interesting blue whale today for a very long time. It stayed with us and and swam just under the surface. Great photography! Check out “Rob-servations” for more details about blue whales. After we left that magical animal we found a pod of short-beaked common dolphins. They were getting some air–very acrobatic!
Capt Aaron and the Searcher crew
Many thanks to Rob Nawojchik for the photo use.
Hello whalewatchers! We started the day with a wonderful sunrise on the red cliffs of Punta Colorado. Shortly after we went ashore for a walk and then cooled off with a snorkel. Once we got the anchor up, we found a small group of pilot whales. Now we’re on the move looking for more wildlife. Wish us luck!
Capt Aaron and the Searcher crew
Hello whalewatchers: We are enjoying wonderful weather this afternoon. We found a group of pilot whales again, around 50 of them, with some large males in the group. They were very curious around the boat. A couple even breached a few times. There were also 15 or so bottlenose dolphin mixed in with the pilot whales. We’re headed to Isla Santa Catalina to go ashore and go for a snorkel. Then we’ll blast off around lunch to go look for some more whales.
Capt Aaron and the Searcher crew
Hello whalewatchers: All the people that went in the water today had amazing looks at a whale sharks. And the people that just went as viewers had great looks as well from the pangas! We’re headed north to Los Islotes to finish the day with a snorkel and observing sea lions.
Capt Aaron and Searcher crew
Some frigatebirds took a ride on Searcher today!
This afternoon we enjoyed good weather and found a large school of mobulas. It was possible to see the school underwater and then see them jump. So we finished our day at Los Isolotes with a skiff ride around the small island, and then a snorkel with seal lions. A Guadalupe fur seal was spotted on the rocks as well. We are moving north to Isla San Jose to be at Punta Colorado in the morning.
Capt Aaron and the Searcher crew
Hello whalewatchers: We watched some humpback whales today that were very active– fluking and breaching. (Many thanks to Rob Nawojchik for the photo used here.) We went ashore at Los Frailes for a nice hike and finished the day with a snorkel there. Snorkelers reported seeing lots of fish. We’re heading up into the Sea of Cortez tonight to be in a area to snorkel with whale sharks.
Capt Aaron and the Searcher crew
Hello whalewatchers: We had a great morning here on the ocean off Bahia Magdalena. We saw a few masked boobies to start the day, and we found a juvenile humpback that was breaching, tail lobbing and flipper flapping right next to the boat for us. We watched that for a while and then found another humpback that breached once for us and then stopped. the weather is getting nicer and nicer down and we’re still looking around for wildlife
Capt Aaron and the Searcher crew
Hello whalewatchers: We are enjoying a very nice morning here in the lagoon. Our first two trips had great weather and everyone in the pangas had a friendly encounter with a whale. 
The wind has picked up here, but as I am typing this report, I hear the reports from the pangas. More great encounters! We’re hoping for a great afternoon.
Good afternoon! What a amazing day here in Laguna San Ignacio! We had contact with whales all day long. And we’re gonna try to do it again tomorrow!
Capt Aaron and the Searcher crew
Hello whalewatchers: We had a great day on San Benito Island and saw lots of elephant seals.
Passengers got to see humpback whales and a blue whale while they were walking on the island, and a sperm whale had washed up on the beach. Everyone had an opportunity to see all the whale’s features up close at this sad encounter. We left the island and then had great looks at a blue whale at very close distance. Lots of great photography this afternoon! We’re headed south to San Ignacio Lagoon tonight and will be there in the mid-morning. Wish us luck!
Capt Aaron and Searcher crew
The census workers counted 29 single and 88 mother/calf pairs on 3 March in Laguna San Ignacio for a total of 205 gray whales!
(Photo by Rob Nawojchik)
Hello whalewatchers: We’ve had very good birding this morning, including several laysan and black-footed albatross, sooty shearwaters, Bonaparte’s gulls, and common dolphin (both long- and short-beaked). We have some swell and a little wind so viewing was a bit difficult, but the weather seems to be getting better as the day goes on. Stay tuned for more action from our afternoon.
Capt Aaron and Searcher crew
For the afternoon: The weather is getting better and better! We had lots of common dolphin all day and had amazing looks at abatrosses. We did manage to find a blue whale but he was long-winded or left us behind as we only got to see the whale for a couple of breaths.
We’re headed to Islas San Benito island for a nice day on the island.
Capt Aaron and Searcher crew
