Gray whale season in Baja is officially over! It’s always a bittersweet time of year to see the whales leave: we will not see them until next year, but they’re migrating back to Alaska where they will be eating 1.2 tons of food every day to get strong and be able to come back to Baja next year. They have the longest migration of any mammal on Earth!
This season has been outstanding! We had a 100% sighting success during our daily expeditions, and we witnessed some incredible behaviors. The most unforgettable moment to me was to watch the gray whales courtship and mate! We were able to see a male following the female, showing us the pectoral fins, twirling around and even saw the 2m (6 ft) penis! The most beautiful part was when they were belly to belly mating.
If you’ve come to our expeditions, you know that it is much more than whale watching. As a marine biologist, I love educating people who come onboard about gray whale biology, behavior, reproduction, ecology, conservation and pretty much anything I know. I take data of weather conditions and sightings every day, to be able to understand the whales in a deeper way. However, the captain, José knows the gray whales like his own family. He knows what time of month and day is best according to the moon and the tides. He runs a family business, where his fisherman dad provides the food that we eat on the tour, and his wife or sister cooks it for us. Best scallop you’ll ever try!
I also like to show the diverse ecosystems that Baja California Peninsula has to offer. On tours, we often visit the frigate bird colony in the mangroves, or wonder in the sand dunes next to hundreds or thousands of pelicans, cormorants and seagulls.
This Gray Whale season we were very happy to see moms with calfs, and very young whales (around 1 or 2 years old) which makes me so happy to see them healthy, meaning they have survived the most critical part of their lifetime!
We can’t be grateful enough to nature and to the Gray Whales for being so generous and friendly! They made us cry tears of joy, laugh and smile. They’re presence fills us with joy and we can’t wait to see them again next season starting January 15th 2023! If you’d like more information about our daily or multiple-day expeditions, we organize tailored expeditions to fit your desires. Thank you whales and thanks to all of you who help make this happen!
Now it’s time to say goodbye to the Gray Whales, and hello to the Mobula Rays! The largest schools in the World can be found here in Baja, and it’s one of nature’s most spectacular events. Mobulas are famous for their high jumps and acrobatics in the air. Freediving with hundreds or thousands of them is a unique experience that you can’t miss. Check out our Mobula Ray Expedition on May 15-19, only 4 spots available. Email us to book your spot 🙂
In this post you will find all the information you need about the Freediving Beginner Course.
The AIDA 2 Freediving Course can technically be completed in three days. However, we believe that squeezing all the necessary information and practice into such a short timeframe can be challenging. That’s why we have chosen to teach our AIDA 2 course over four days. This allows us to cover the same topics and exercises without rushing, giving you ample time to absorb the material.
One of the things that sets us apart from other schools is our emphasis on optimal conditions, especially for beginner freedivers. That’s why we exclusively offer Freediving Courses from May through November, as these months provide the best weather and conditions in La Paz and its surrounding areas. During this time, the wind is typically calm, the water is warmer, and visibility is significantly improved.
In addition to prioritizing favorable conditions, we differentiate ourselves by offering two days of boat-based training. While many schools conduct their courses from the shore or mix, we believe that going out on the boat enhances the experience and allows us to find the best diving spots. Furthermore, on the final day of the course, we usually teach in La Ventana, where after our freediving session, we make the most of our time by engaging in fun dives, where you can apply your training without the use of a line.
We strive to create an enriching and enjoyable learning environment, optimizing your freediving experience with us.
9am-12pm – We’ll meet at the classroom, fill out paperwork and start the theory lesson.
12:00-12:30 – Breathing session
12:30-2pm – Static Apnea Session
9am-12pm – Theory session and equalization workshop
12:30-2:30pm – Dynamic Apnea Session
8:30am- Lunch stretching session
9am – Depth Session
2pm – Finish
8am – Meet and transport to La Ventana
9am – Depth Session and fun dives
2pm – Drive back to La Paz
3pm – Finish
The location of the depth sessions may change according to the weather and the logistics.
The exact time and schedule may change due to logistics.
The exam will be online.
$8,950 pesos per person
Includes: theory manuals, pool fees, AIDA certification, boat fees, transportation from La Paz, freediving retal gear.
10% de descuento para mexicanos al presentar INE
To fully enjoy this course, we recommend that you are confortable in the water. Prior freediving experience is not required, but definitely being able to comfortably swim and/or snorkel. If you don’t have any experience swimming and/or snorkeling we recommend that you take the AIDA 1 Discover Freediving Course.
We recommend that if you have your own gear to bring it in order to asure that you have a perfect fit. If you don’t have your own gear we will provide it for you. At time of booking please send us your height, weight and show size (eu).
We hope to see you underwater! If you have any doubts please contact us at apneafreefallacademy@gmail.com and we will be happy to assist you.
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