BajaNomad - Need People To Swim With Sharks In Baja

Need People To Swim With Sharks In Baja

CaboRon - 9-26-2009 at 06:09 AM

L.A. nonprofit looking for people to swim with sharks in Baja

A Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization is looking for people willing to swim with sharks.

Iemanya Oceanica is organizing a shark-tagging research expedition to Baja California next month and is seeking up to 20 scuba divers/snorkelers from Southern California to help.

Iemanya -- named after a Brazilian goddess of the sea -- partnering with the CICESE Research Institute in Baja and Dr. Rachel T. Graham, a world- renowned shark scientist, will travel to a known population of whale sharks in Bahia de Los Angeles on the Sea of Cortez side of Baja California.

Their goal is to apply satellite tags to two to three whale sharks during the five-day expedition, departing from the Los Angeles area on Oct. 15.

Iemanya Executive Director Laleh Mohajerani said the expedition has three goals, the first being to track the sharks' feeding, breeding and calving habits.

"The second reason will enable us to add them to the 'family' of sharks that we feature on our AdoptAShark.com Web site to expand consumer knowledge about sharks," she said. "And lastly, these efforts play into a global effort to increase public awareness of the urgent need for protecting our oceans through selecting sustainable seafood in their diets."

Whale sharks are the largest living fish species on the planet. They can grow to up to 40 feet long, weigh up to 15 tons and live up to 70 years. Although they have very large mouths, they are harmless, feeding solely on plankton, which are microscopic marine

plants and animals.
The expedition will be filmed by professionals from Dokument Films in Los Angeles, using their experience at increasing public awareness of nonprofits through the use of professional productions for educational purposes.

Sponsored by Redondo Beach-based Body Glove International, National Scholastic Surfing Association champion Holly Beck will join the team to learn more about preserving the oceans in which she spends most of her time.

Additional details and application forms for the expedition can be found at www.Iemanya.org.

monoloco - 9-26-2009 at 06:57 AM

If it was great whites I'd recommend MrBillM!

Alarm

wessongroup - 9-26-2009 at 07:43 AM

Ahhhh roger that, inbound at my.....

shari - 9-26-2009 at 08:03 AM

Wow...can you imagine what they went through to get the permits to do all that??? Sounds like an interesting project and fun to participate in.

Swimming with Kin ?

MrBillM - 9-26-2009 at 09:58 AM

The only Downside to wishing Baracki Man would be one of those in the school is that they'd simply accept him as one of their own.

However, Sharks DO Eat their Own, White meat and Dark.

Bajahowodd - 9-26-2009 at 11:40 AM

Neatly baited hook, there, mono. Nice to know that some things never change.

airmech - 9-26-2009 at 02:43 PM

Costs $1600 per person and its non-profit. yeah right. what a rip!

shari - 9-27-2009 at 07:40 AM

Gosh Skeet...I understand if you disagree with this project...but what makes you think CISESE and Dr.Rachael would buy dope?
Do you have proof of these criminal allegations?

wessongroup - 9-27-2009 at 08:28 AM

By the way has anybody heard of "ACORN" :lol:

shari - 9-27-2009 at 08:36 AM

skeet...no i would not pay money to this program/scam...whatever

but I do know many fine people who operate non profit organizations who are not on dope.

Ken Bondy - 9-27-2009 at 08:43 AM

It seems to me that, for years now, a group associated with a Mexican university was heavily involved in studying the Bahia whale sharks, including tags and tracking. I discussed their program with Doc about five years ago. He was impressed with it and supported it. As I recall there used to be a link to their website on Doc's Camp Gecko website but I don't see it now.

DENNIS - 9-27-2009 at 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Skeet/Loreto

It is well known that many of the socalled Non profits that deal in this area are and have had Smokin DOPE Parties while leading unsuspecting people to the socalled unprotected Animal.

Oh JEEEEEEZO :lol:

I'm drowning in my own laughter. :lol:

Somebody help me. :lol:

The only thing funnier than Skeet would be a picture of Skeet working on a bong. :lol:

Well known? :lol:

shari - 9-27-2009 at 12:05 PM

well Skeet, Juan's uncle, who is a fishing guide to feed his family..will take out folks who want to see a whale shark in person...and I can guarantee he doesnt smoke dope....please dont paint everyone with your broad brush.

Von - 9-27-2009 at 01:32 PM

Dam! thought it was free i was going to sign up right now~~

Paulina - 9-27-2009 at 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Skeet/Loreto
shari: My statement on DOPE using was to all People in general who go out and bother the Sharks for the sake of making Money. Or any other thing..

Skeet,

We go out to see the Whale Sharks almost daily during the summer. Sometimes we take our friends with us. When my friend and I were swimming with the whale shark in the photo below, we weren't using DOPE then, nor did we before or after our encounter.

To the best of my knowledge the Pangueros in Bahia who take tourists out for "the sake of making money" as you put it, aren't high either.

That is quite a broad statement you are making there.

No Dope on Dern here either...

airmech - 9-27-2009 at 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Von
Dam! thought it was free i was going to sign up right now~~

Yeah, I thought it was free too until I went to the website and saw the 1600 dollar price tag! I wonder if they received grant money from the government to do this study and then turn around and charge people twice the cost of actually doing it.

That is unless the dope is included. lol. or better yet; I want to try whatever skeets on.

MikeLikeBaja - 9-27-2009 at 04:11 PM

Your all on dope, mary j juana, reefer, smoke, weed, green, puff the magic dragon, cannabis, cheech, chong, rips, and plants

Baja&Back - 9-27-2009 at 11:21 PM

Sure glad we saved $1638 each last year in La Paz. Gas money & beer seems a MUCH more reasonable price to snuggle up with whalesharks!

Whaleshark excursion

Mulegena - 9-28-2009 at 01:59 AM

I think this idea is fine. No problem.

I'm a scuba diver and have never, ever had the privilege of an encounter with a whale shark-- yet!

Bahia de Los Angeles is on my list. This brings tourism to Baja and will help with research into the migratory patterns and life cycles of these fabulous creatures.

Diving has taken me to far-away lands and the experiences with large pelagics such as the Giant Manta Ray of Yap are among my most treasured memories. And about the price? It costs. Ain't cheap, and its worth every penny!

I give 'em a Thumbs Up.

[Edited on 9-28-2009 by Mulegena]

Von - 9-28-2009 at 03:58 PM

Paulina, Awesome pictures and experience!

Ken Bondy - 9-28-2009 at 06:00 PM

Like Mulegena, I don't think there is anything inherently wrong with this, my "scam" antennas are not up, and I don't smell any dope. For your $1600 you get roundrip bus transportation from Los Angeles to Bahia; hotel lodging; all meals, and the snorkeling/tagging boat trip every day. That's sounds a little high for only five days, two of which are travel days, but it is not outrageous. That's about what Baja Expeditions charges for a 7-day liveaboard dive trip on the Don Jose out of La Paz, and that does not include transportation to and from La Paz. And those trips are full every summer.

Something is worth what someone is willing to pay for it. If someone wants to be "babysat" on a guided trip to play with whale sharks in Bahia, this could be a bargain. But I don't understand the quick allegations that this is a "scam" or that the operators will use the income to buy dope. What's that all about?

Paulina - 9-28-2009 at 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ken Bondy
... But I don't understand the quick allegations that this is a "scam" or that the operators will use the income to buy dope. What's that all about?

Ken,

In my opinion, it's all about the typical knee jerk reaction that unfortunately has become so prevalent on the Nomad board. It is reactions such as these that turn people off from posting here because of the fear of being slammed just as this operation was.

Some people will never have an opportunity to see a whale shark in person other than this adventure. Sure, maybe they can save up for a trip to Atlanta to go to the aquarium. Add up the cost of that vacation; airfare, hotel, food, tips, all the extras that come along with it, I would bet that the $ amount would come close. Even then they'd only be able to look at the Whale shark through the glass and take blurry photos.

It may seem expensive to some, but for the adventure of traveling in Baja, swimming with the Whale Sharks first hand, having to remind themselves to breathe when they get up close and personal with the gentle giants, experiencing the town of Bahia, perhaps take a trip around the islands, see dolphins, sea lions, whales. It sounds like a good deal to me, for those who will only do this once in a life time.

It's too bad that some are so quick to judge.

P<*)))>{

Ken Bondy - 9-28-2009 at 07:34 PM

Paulina I wish I had said it as eloquently as you did. You are a voice of reason in a sea of lunacy. Saludos, ++Ken++

PS where are you?

Paulina - 9-28-2009 at 07:38 PM

Thank you Ken.
We're home. Thanks for the last email. Superior photos. Let us know when you're up here next. If it's a weekend we'd love to meet for coffee.
I was also hoping you'd post some of your whale shark photos for this post....

hint hint

As always,
P.

Ken Bondy - 9-28-2009 at 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Paulina
I was also hoping you'd post some of your whale shark photos for this post....

Aw shucks, since you insist. These animals are so magnificent:

[Edited on 9-29-2009 by Ken Bondy]

airmech - 9-28-2009 at 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ken Bondy
Like Mulegena, I don't think there is anything inherently wrong with this, my "scam" antennas are not up, and I don't smell any dope. For your $1600 you get roundrip bus transportation from Los Angeles to Bahia; hotel lodging; all meals, and the snorkeling/tagging boat trip every day. That's sounds a little high for only five days, two of which are travel days, but it is not outrageous. That's about what Baja Expeditions charges for a 7-day liveaboard dive trip on the Don Jose out of La Paz, and that does not include transportation to and from La Paz. And those trips are full every summer.

Something is worth what someone is willing to pay for it. If someone wants to be "babysat" on a guided trip to play with whale sharks in Bahia, this could be a bargain. But I don't understand the quick allegations that this is a "scam" or that the operators will use the income to buy dope. What's that all about?

I'm all for trips like the 7 day liveaboards and the price they charge but those excursions that you mention above don't advertise as a "non-profit" organization like this one. At $1600 a pop and you can probably put at least 20 people on the motorcoach. It adds up. And those of us that go to LA Bay know the prices of what food,drinks and hotel cost for 3 days (assuming they are taking 2 days to travel) know they are making some profit.

I don't think they are on drugs I just think they should advertise honestly. And if they aren't advertising honestly then it should be considered a scam.

Ken Bondy - 9-28-2009 at 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by airmechI'm all for trips like the 7 day liveaboards and the price they charge but those excursions that you mention above don't advertise as a "non-profit" organization like this one. At $1600 a pop and you can probably put at least 20 people on the motorcoach. It adds up. And those of us that go to LA Bay know the prices of what food,drinks and hotel cost for 3 days (assuming they are taking 2 days to travel) know they are making some profit.

I don't think they are on drugs I just think they should advertise honestly. And if they aren't advertising honestly then it should be considered a scam.

I understand your point airmech. Their website says that their customers can claim $750 as a tax deduction. Is it possible that they got "non-profit" corporation status to offer that benefit? In any event, they aren't forcing anyone to do it; you can take it or leave it. Like I said, something is worth what someone is willing to pay for it. If someone evaluates what they are offering, and finds it to be worth it, why not? Swimming with these sharks is, after all, a life-changing experience and this might be the only way some people could experience it. ++Ken++

airmech - 9-28-2009 at 09:04 PM

Ok, I can see your point. But I still have a hard time believing that is a non-profit situation. If they weren't advertising that way I wouldn't have a problem with it. I just feel advertising it that way could take advantage of people that don't realize what they are paying for.
The other thing is I tend to wonder how many "grants" they get to to scientific research for stuff like this ( and I'm not saying they do) and then charge people for a profit. They do mention "sponsors" on their website.

It's just their "angle" rubs me the wrong way.

Ken Bondy - 9-28-2009 at 09:09 PM

To me it just boils down to this: if they really come through with what they offer, and if someone is willing to cough up the $1600 for that, then it doesn't matter if they claim to be non-profit or for-profit. They can do whatever they want with the proceeds. But I do get the issue with the advertising.

PS I love your avatar. Where is that?

airmech - 9-28-2009 at 09:11 PM

Los frailes

airmech - 9-28-2009 at 09:15 PM

BTW, Ken I would consider giving up my avatar for yours. I've been enthralled with great whites since I was a little kid.

Paulina - 9-28-2009 at 09:17 PM

I'm going to brag here that I have an autographed photo of that avatar on the wall of my office.

airmech - 9-28-2009 at 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Paulina
I'm going to brag here that I have an autographed photo of that avatar on the wall of my office.

Damn, how do I get one? Now that I argued with him; hope i didn't cross the line. At least Ken is a mature debater.

Skeet/Loreto - 9-29-2009 at 10:27 AM

I hope that I have not offended anyone on this Board.

I thank you for your response, it is just that everything points to a Scam when i read the first Post.
I know this is tied in with the Save The Whales Group and I strongly disagree with those who dwell on Peoples Feelings about animals to Make Money.

If you have a chance, go to a meeting of one of the "Save" bunch, sniff the Air, watch the actions of people.

Have Fun.

that's the best way

wessongroup - 9-29-2009 at 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Skeet/Loreto
I hope that I have not offended anyone on this Board.

I thank you for your response, it is just that everything points to a Scam when i read the first Post.
I know this is tied in with the Save The Whales Group and I strongly disagree with those who dwell on Peoples Feelings about animals to Make Money.

If you have a chance, go to a meeting of one of the "Save" bunch, sniff the Air, watch the actions of people.

Have Fun.

On the head...

Mulegena - 9-29-2009 at 01:42 PM

About tourism in general:
I'm single and having a group to travel with has advantages.

About eco-tourism: I personally have no problem supporting a non-profit organization that is concerned with nature. Their mission statement and financial report should be available for disclosure upon request. I've never gone on an eco-tour but might choose to some day. That my money would be supporting such a program while I gain in experience and enjoyment of nature is a good thing. That I have a partial tax write-off is a plus, and knowing that a portion of the fees I have paid will continue in service is good enough for me.

I have traveled in-group to scuba dive locales around the globe which offer earth-friendly vacations. The organizers and operators are out to make a living, not a killing, but none offer a tax incentive.

About tourism in Baja:
This wild land is mine! and I really don't need to have a group experience... but you're welcome to tag along.

Skeet/Loreto - 9-29-2009 at 03:40 PM

Mulegena:

Suggest: Go to San Nicholas contact Terry, Chewy, Chico or one of the pangeros, have him take you to Delfonso Ilsand about 5 miles out. You can see and engage in a new Adventure of Birds and Fish and Sharks, that will blow your mind.

Spend your Money with the Mexicanos!! Afterall it is their Country and Their Fish, and Their Sharks!!

Be careful off of the North Point of the island, there is a residend HammerHead that might get close before you know it.

Skeet/Loreto

DENNIS - 9-29-2009 at 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Skeet/Loreto

If you have a chance, go to a meeting of one of the "Save" bunch, sniff the Air, watch the actions of people.

I did that once, Skeet. Big sign over a meeting hall said, "Save The Pot-Roast." Wasn't sure what to expect but, I went inside, looked around at people writhing in ecstasy on the couches and at the large dinner table. What a sight.
I filled my lungs and held it in as long as I could, then exhaled. All I could utter was, "Wow Man."
Skeet..I gotta tell you, I was hooked. My entire life changed at that moment. Pot Roast had become my reason for living and everything I did was to fulfill my need for another helping of the Yankee Delite.
I'm in a Twelve Step program now to break the hold Pot Roast has on me but, I don't think it will work. My habit was strongly formed from that first moment and, just as other addicts have been drawn into the cult of other intoxicants, the first plate was free.
Ohhh....these evil chefs. They do know the weakness of the human spirit.

pascuale - 9-30-2009 at 12:17 PM

Hmmm drive down there get a panga, go catch some Jellotails, swim with the whale sharks, eat some scallops at guillermos, bring 3 others, cost.......... $200 max per person.

$1600 is a bit much but I guess were paying for the tags and researchers as well. No thanks.

San Ildefonso

Mulegena - 9-30-2009 at 02:10 PM

Thanks, Skeetz. Its something I've wished to do for several years now. How's the road in to San Nico post-Jimena, anyone?

toneart - 9-30-2009 at 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS

Quote:

Originally posted by Skeet/Loreto

If you have a chance, go to a meeting of one of the "Save" bunch, sniff the Air, watch the actions of people.

Now you've done it, Dennis. I gotta go to La Paz and have Jesse hook me up. :tumble:

Wiles - 9-30-2009 at 06:41 PM

Paulina, thank you.

Ken, I always enjoy your photography.