Scuba diving and wildlife photography with the world’s greatest game fish
ON THIS EXPEDITION, you’ll experience another of Amos’s trailblazing concepts, that of observing a magnificent game fish in its natural environment, while just down the coast, people only think of the marlin as the focus of the largest sport-fishing tournament in the world. On this trip, you’ll see that our way of encountering the striped marlin is far superior.
You’ll be one of only four guests venturing out to swim among these powerful and beautiful animals as they pursue their prey, in competition with the 40-foot Bryde’s Whale, which can swallow an entire bait ball in one gulp, and the acrobatic California sea lion, which swoops and dances among the swirling mackeral that the marlins have herded into place.
Over the years, Amos has developed relationships with Mexican fishermen and boat captains that allow us access to a world unknown to the ordinary adventurer. It starts in Todos Santos, the charming, unspoiled Mexican village where we’ll operate from an elegant world-class resort, the Posada La Poza. We’ve basically moved a whole dive shop operation into town for the duration of the expedition, with compressors, a fuel depot, our dive boat, and a superb support team. Each morning, we’ll head out to sea right next to the Mexican fishing boats, to sea mounts only Amos and his boat captain know, where the marlin go searching for their mackeral feast, and we go searching for them.
General Itinerary
Day 1: DEPART your hometown for Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. We’ll arrange your transport from the airport to Todos Santos, 40 miles north.
Days 2-8: Early each morning, we depart about 7AM. Depending on wind and water conditions, the skipper decides if we head out to sea or wait until the wind dies down.
Providing weather conditions are safe, we’ll race out anywhere between 10-30 miles offshore looking for frigatebirds hovering over the water. The birds are our eyes in the sky — if the frigatebirds hover over the water in a funnel or V shape, that’s a good sign that sardines are below and that marlins, Bryde’s whales and California sea lions are after them. While on the search, we suit up in our snorkeling gear and get our cameras ready. The point is to be prepared for the opportunity, because when it comes, the action is fast and unpredictable.
When we spot what looks like marlin activity, the skipper will maneuver the vessel to give us the best position according to his estimated movement of the bait ball. Once the skipper gives the word, two guests plus Amos jump into the water, and swim as quickly as possible to get close to the action. If the action moves closer to the vessel and away from the first two divers, the divers on board should be ready to enter the water as well.
The sardine bait ball is moving, and the marlins are chasing the bait ball. This is a very dynamic and fast-moving encounter. Sometimes we’ll be in the water five minutes and it will be all over, and sometimes, if we can stay with them and we’re positioned right, we’ll get 30 minutes observing the hunt. When one team returns to the vessel, the second team is ready and waiting for the skipper’s next set of instructions. That is how each day will take place. We have lunch boxes on board as well as water and soft drinks.
The day ends around 3 or 4pm — by that time the water becomes cloudy and is not as clear and blue as in the morning. On returning to shore, we head back to our hotel. With enough time on hand, and if you’re not too tired from swimming with marlins, the charms of Todos Santos village life are there for you to enjoy. Some evening we will meet for sunset drinks on the beach and have dinner in town.
On board the vessel we will have small scuba tanks and a harness for each person, plus a refill tank and a weight belt. Amos recommends swimming with no BC — all our dives will be at 20 feet or less, and mostly at 10 feet. However, this means that each diver must be a strong enough swimmer to be able to stay afloat with camera and weight belt throughout the encounter until the vessel comes around to pick us up. Most of the encounters can be done with snorkeling gear only and no scuba gear at all.
Day 9: DEPART from the hotel according to your flight schedule back home. We’ll provide your transportation from the hotel back to Cabo San Lucas.
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Tour price includes:
- Seven days of striped marlin encounters and diving activities
- Eight nights accommodation at double occupancy
- Transfers to and from Cabo San Lucas airport
- Photo coaching by Amos Nachoum
- Lunch onboard the boat
- 30CUF, harness and 80CUF tanks, weights & belts
Not included in Tour Price:
- Airfare to and from Cabo San Lucas
- Excess baggage charges on flight
- Meals not specified above. Breakfast and dinner while at the hotel Posada La Poza.
- Personal charges such as laundry, bar, and telecommunication charges
- Loss of dive gear and equipment
- Insurance – we strongly recommend you buy your own travel, health, and diving insurance
- Gratuities
Payment Policy & Deposit:
When we receive your deposit, with your confirmation we will send you a comprehensive and detailed Trip Preparation Bulletin about the experience and the destination. All trip costs are subject to change without prior notice until your reservation is confirmed.
- A non-refundable deposit of $3,000 is required to secure a place on the trip.
- Full payment is due no later than 90 days before departure.
- We reserve the right to sell any space that is not paid in full 60 days before departure.
- A refund will be made if the space can be filled in time, less unrecoverable costs of sales, administration, or special promotion.
- Cancellation must be made in writing. Deposits are non-refundable if cancellation is made 180 days or less before departure.
- No refunds for unused part of the itinerary.
For payment, please mail your check to:
Big Animals Expeditions
2000 Broadway, Suite #1204
San Francisco, CA 94115
A note on preparation
We’ll be in semi-tropical waters but it sometimes gets cloudy, rainy, and windy. Do bring a windbreaker coat that can go over your wetsuit. Bring casual clothing, a long-sleeve shirt in light colors, plus ahat, sunglasses, and sunblock cream. Bring a hard waterproof case no larger than 21”x13”x9” for your topside camera, and a waterproof soft bag for dry clothes to carry onboard. Be sure to bring all medicines you take on a regular basis. Bring your passport and a credit card.
Diving equipment
We recommend a 3mm wetsuit or Lycra lightweight body protection. Bring your mask plus an extra strap, snorkel and fins (plus extra straps — spring-loaded straps are highly recommended). Ankle weights (to keep your fins in the water for maximum efficiency while snorkeling). A BC & regulator.
A general note
Although we’re confident about what you’ll experience in Baja California, we’d like to remind you that we’re in the wilderness and despite all our careful preparation, Mother Nature may not cooperate with us exactly as we’d wish. Remember, the marlin are not on contract with us. When we’re at sea, we’re not at Sea World. We trust our previous experiences, and so far our record is excellent. We believe that with good planning and a realistic approach, you’ll have a wonderful time with us in the Pacific and with the most noble game fish, the striped marlin.
All information is current as of January 2011. Dates and prices are subject to change without prior notice.
For Booking and/or further questions, please contact Amos:
Phone: (415) 923-9865
Toll free: 877-229-4253
Email: phototrips@biganimals.com
amos@biganimals.com
We look forward to your joining us on this adventure of a lifetime!
To join us, please complete the Registration Form
