A Fascinating Encounter Between a Naturalist Guide and the Marine World in Baja, Mexico
Finding what you are passionate about and pursuing it every day, knowing that your contribution has an impact on your community and the world, is inspiring. At Nautilus Liveaboards, we are delighted to know that we have a team that loves what they do and continues to be amazed every day by everything that nature has to offer us, from a day with perfect weather to a magical and unexpected encounter with marine creatures.
Captivating Quests with Nature: A Man’s Journey
Hello everybody, I’m Ranulfo Mayoral, a naturalist guide at San Ignacio Lagoon, specifically focusing on gray whales and birds with Nautilus Liveaboards. This time, I had the opportunity to see marine life from a different perspective; now I’m an air observer on a plane (Citabria). It’s been a fantastic experience, observing whales, dolphins, and more from a different vantage point in the air.
Today, September 26th, 2023, we took off from La Paz airport with a route from La Paz to Loreto to support our boats (Nautilus Belle Amie and Nautilus Gallant Lady). We departed at 8:13 am heading north in search of marine life. One hour later, we spotted a school of dolphins in the San José channel, comprising around 150 to 200 dolphins in a 600-meter diameter school. We saw a pair of mobulas in the same area three minutes later. Just 11 minutes later, in the northern part of the San José channel, we encountered a pair of sperm whales, which was incredibly exciting for me.
We flew for another hour in Loreto Bay and then headed to Loreto airport to refuel. At 11:48 a.m., we took off from Loreto and flew north of Carmen Island, heading south. Just southwest of Monserrat Island, we spotted six Bryde’s whales, and 36 minutes south, we found three orcas, two adults, situated between Santa Cruz Island and Tambabiche. Today was a highly productive day as one of our boats (Nautilus Gallant Lady) located the Bryde’s whales. It’s gratifying to hear that we did a good job.
I’m thrilled to be a plane observer, and I want to express my gratitude to Nautilus Liveaboards for giving me the chance to have these experiences. It’s incredible to see different kinds of whales and dolphins. I worked with gray whales for a long time, and this is fantastic too.
