BajaNomad

Paddleboard where grey whales are

lewmt - 2-3-2024 at 10:24 AM

Is it ok to paddleboard or kayak in places like San Ignacio lagoon, Mag Bay, or Ojo de Libre when the grey whales are present? I enjoy fishing from my paddleboad but have only done it in places that there weren't whales. Admittedly it would be cool to see the whales from a paddle board also but didn't know if doing so would anger locals, or cross a legal line? I've done this in Hawaii with humpbacks around and there's no issues there.

Salsa - 2-3-2024 at 02:51 PM

Don't know about regulations, but a guy I knew of took a surf board ride about 12 feet up when he got between a mama and her baby.

Don

wilderone - 2-3-2024 at 04:59 PM

No, not allowed. The pangueros who take people out are trained and licensed. But if you go out to the mouth of Laguna Manuela, sometimes whales hang around there.

Lee - 2-4-2024 at 05:47 PM

Few years ago, a couple paddled out at Cerritos beach, S. of Pescadero, to whale watch. Think I read about it in Gringo Gazette. Think the whale breached and came down on top of them. Anyone remember this? Bob?

BajaMama - 2-4-2024 at 06:11 PM

First, you need a National Park wristband pass to go to the protected areas where the whales are. You get those from your guide/boat captain. Second, the number of boats/people allowed in at any one time is highly regulated in the national preserves. So you could do it, you would just risk a fine and whatever else is imposed upon those who don't follow the regulations. Mexico is trying very hard to make sure this environmental / tourism resource is protected.

lewmt - 2-5-2024 at 05:55 AM

When I did this before in Hawaii I kept plenty of distance between myself and the humpbacks, definitely fearing a breach - too close. It is eerily cool to slip into the water with a snorkel and just listen. From a distance. Sounds like Baja grey whale lagoons are Not the place to do it though....thanks.

Maderita - 2-5-2024 at 02:23 PM

Short answer: I wouldn't even consider the idea.
Long answer, here's why:

Way back in the 1970's, I was with two friends on Mag Bay. Tent camped on Isla Magdelena with a small aluminum boat and 5HP outboard. On the third or fourth day, we were arrested by the Mexican Navy. A large panga rapidly approached, automatic rifles pointed at us, and the jefe with his .45 sidearm.

We had our papers in order, giving permission to be there, boat and fishing permits in order, etc. The jefe said that we lacked a "permit for photography", which was new information to us.

With some pleading, they agreed to let us go with the promise that we would be packed up and gone within the hour.

Other friends on Mag Bay at the time, on a large vessel providing ecotourism and cetacean research, were not so lucky. They were arrested and escorted to Puerto San Carlos, where they were detained for several days at the Navy dock.

Apparently, there was some sort of a crackdown that season. And it has become increasingly more regulated over the decades.

I did manage to have a memorable, magical night experience at Mag Bay. The tidal flow in and out is somewhat rapid in the miles-long bay. With a wetsuit for warmth and flotation, I laid motionless in the water with several whales resting on the surface. Timed so that I drifted with the whales on an incoming tide for a couple miles and returned on the outgoing tide. The whales were floating nearly motionless on the surface, breathing frequently and rhythmically. But, without snoring, haha.

They say whales don't really sleep. Whales enter USWS (unhemispheric slow wave sleep) where half of their brain sleeps while the other half maintains some consciousness. Then they trade hemispheres to rest the other side of the brain.

I believe that the whales were aware of my very near presence, but gave no indication whatsoever that I disturbed their "sleep". I made sure that there were no calves around, as that would likely have disturbed the mamas. At that time, there had been no "friendly encounters" (petting) at Mag Bay that I'm aware of. The first "friendlies" were at Laguna San Ignacio, around that period of time.

cwsMTK - 2-16-2024 at 02:33 PM

Ive been out in a kayak in laguna san ignacio and observed the whales but not that close. Keep in mind the tide rips in these lagoons especially the outgoing. we had a really hard time getting back to the beach and its possible if you get too far out you'll go for a ride never to be seen again

elgatoloco - 2-18-2024 at 05:44 PM

WOW! What an incredible experience that must have been. :dudette:
Quote: Originally posted by Maderita  
Short answer: I wouldn't

I did manage to have a memorable, magical night experience at Mag Bay. The tidal flow in and out is somewhat rapid in the miles-long bay. With a wetsuit for warmth and flotation, I laid motionless in the water with several whales resting on the surface. Timed so that I drifted with the whales on an incoming tide for a couple miles and returned on the outgoing tide. The whales were floating nearly motionless on the surface, breathing frequently and rhythmically. But, without snoring, haha.

They say whales don't really sleep. Whales enter USWS (unhemispheric slow wave sleep) where half of their brain sleeps while the other half maintains some consciousness. Then they trade hemispheres to rest the other side of the brain.

I believe that the whales were aware of my very near presence, but gave no indication whatsoever that I disturbed their "sleep". I made sure that there were no calves around, as that would likely have disturbed the mamas. At that time, there had been no "friendly encounters" (petting) at Mag Bay that I'm aware of. The first "friendlies" were at Laguna San Ignacio, around that period of time.

elgatoloco - 2-18-2024 at 06:08 PM

My BIL is a long time marine biologist and avid fisherman. He told me of a trip to Laguna Manuela in early 90's where he and other campers
woke up in the early morning during whale season and saw whale spouts just off shore near entrance to lagoon. They all scrambled into their yaks and paddled out. They found themselves surrounded by 3 or 4 grey whales and everyone just stood still. As they floated a whale slowly came up under another paddlers yak and slowly lifted the kayaker out of the water to the point where the guy was clear of the water teetering on the back of the whale. Just as slowly, he was set back on the water and the whales silently slipped away while the 7 or 8 paddlers just looked at each other in silence.

Its a story that was corroborated by others on the trip, some of whom I have subsequently camped in Baja with and became friends, or I almost wouldn't have believed it. At the time he was not yet my BIL but for two years I bugged him about going on a camping trip to Baja that included Manuela. In February 1997 we did that. My plan was to ask his sister to marry me when we encountered gray whales in our kayaks. We did see spouts and we did paddle out but the whales took off and it was two more years before I proposed. In October we will celebrate 25 years of wedded bliss-ters. :lol:

My advice would be to head for Laguna Manuela because you never know. :saint:

David K - 2-18-2024 at 07:45 PM

Congratulations Matt and Barb! We met in 2000, on the San Clemente Pier get-together, you guys were newlyweds!

sanclemente2000001a.jpg - 88kB

lewmt - 2-21-2024 at 06:37 AM

Thanks for the replies! It was worth the question just to get to read these 2 stories....thanks El Gato & Maderita! Great examples of why we all get drawn to Baja. Things happen there that probably just aren't possible anywhere else.

I'm sure we'll skip the paddle board adventure. The last thing I want to have happen is have my wife get"lifted" or far worse get involved in a law enforcement situation.

The experience I had in Hawii was on a trip without her and it was incredible. I've talked about it ever since & thought this might give her an opportunity to experience something similar. She's very experienced and comfortable on a paddle board but not worth the potential problems.

Not sure if the grey whales communicate as much as the humpbacks but the snorkel(from a safe distance) and just listening to them was the highlight.

elgatoloco - 2-22-2024 at 05:05 PM

Quote: Originally posted by David K  
Congratulations Matt and Barb! We met in 2000, on the San Clemente Pier get-together, you guys were newlyweds!



Ha! We no longer look like newlyweds but we still act like newlyweds. :saint:
Thanks.