Ocean Safari Scuba

San Ignacio Gray Whale Watching and Glamping Adventure

During the last week of March, we headed to San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja California Sur for a gray whale encounter and glamping adventure.

We first flew to San Jose del Cabo. After a briefing at the dive center, we had time to go out for tacos before heading out on a complimentary humpback whale watching boat tour arranged by Nautilus. Then we checked into the hotel and relaxed. Some of us went on a leisurely walk to the nearby San Jose estuary before dinner. We could have gone to the trendy looking restaurants near the hotel, but we opted for a more authentic experience at a taco place about 15 minutes away.

Next morning, we flew to San Ignacio Lagoon, where we stayed in insulated and windproof tents that had heaters, ensuite bathrooms and showers, hot and cold running water, power, and real beds. We enjoyed encounters with gray whales in the lagoon, kayaking, walking on the beach and the sand dunes, stargazing, and hanging out around the camp.

The gray whales in this breeding and birthing lagoon choose to swim over to the pangas to be caressed, stroked, and rubbed. Most of the whales we encountered were mothers with their calves. It was amazing to see the mother whales approach with their calves and allow us to touch them. Some of us got to hug and even kiss the whales! It was such a fun trip.

Trip report by Megumi

Diving Triton Bay - by Judy Ho Orange

We (John and I ) made some memorable and amazing dives on a recent trip aboard the Arenui in Feb 2023. When I first approached Gabe at Ocean Safari about his charter boat trip, it was full, sadly for us. But Gabe said he would look around and find something, and surely he did, the best option for us being on the repositioning trip after his charter, i.e., an 11 day trip from Sorong to Kaimana, so it would have the reverse route, from Kaimana to Sorong. It was a most amazing trip and we are so glad we went!

Near Kaimana, at the beginning of our trip, is Triton Bay, known for the baby whale sharks that would come around, sometimes in droves, to feed on the fish set up in nets by the local fishermen on floating platforms called "bagans". On the day of our Triton Bay dive, we got up at 4:45am, had a light breakfast, and then suited up, ready to dive. Peering into the dark along the horizon we could see two bagans all lit up. But no whale sharks came. So we waited and waited, until just before 7am, the cruise director decided that, to increase our chance of seeing the fish, we should get into the two small dive boats and move closer to one of the bagans. It was already daylight, and we continued to wait for another 15 minutes, all suited up, on the two dive boats. Then suddenly the cruise director shouted "Get ready! One, two, three, go !" Having repeatedly checked our gear, yes, we were ready to go! We all back rolled into the water and immediately I could see a whale shark swimming towards us at about 20 feet deep. Size is relative, and this whale shark, if it is a "baby", still looks pretty big next to us divers.

As I was still adjusting my buoyancy, all of a sudden the whale shark made a big swoop and came charging at me! All I could do was back off as fast as I could as we were told NOT to touch wild life. Chasing me almost to the surface, the giant fish turned around and dove down. Just as I was debating whether to follow the fish, it turned and came right at me again! This happened at least three times. I finally got my camera ready and started shooting; however, I turned the strobe off as I did not want the flash to hurt the eyes of the fish; yes, we were that close. I kept mumbling through the regulator to the fish: "I'm not supposed to touch you! Don't get so close! Open your mouth! I want to see if you have any teeth?" Later, I wondered if the funny noises I made was the attraction.

In the end, every diver enjoyed a great encounter with the whale shark. We were told by the fishermen that the whale shark was not hungry at all, as it spit out all the fish they threw at it, so it was just playing with us.

When the dive trip came to a close, the boat held a photo contest with only one winner. I sent one entry, reluctantly, as my TG6 is no match for other divers' big rigs. I even disabled my strobe! But this trip is full of surprises. The final surprise is that I won !

Judy Ho Orange

Ocean Safari 30th Anniversary Party

2023 is a special year for Ocean Safari. It's our 30th year in business and we are going to have a party!

Saturday, February 26, 2023, 6pm - 9pm

Republik Coffee Lounge

Space is limited. Please reserve your spot by February 20, 2023
Dress Code: semi-formal (shirt & pants, dress)
Cost: $88 per person
(includes live music, gourmet meal wine, beer, and soft drinks)
Raffle Prizes ($600 value):
Three $100 Ocean Safari Gift Certificates
Two $100 Marina Restaurant Gift Certificates
One fine wine specially selected by Sommelier, Nader Kaiser

30th Annual OSDT New Year Party

It's Our 30th Annual New Year Party!

Dear OSDT Divers, Family, and Friends,

You are cordially invited to our New Year Party on Saturday, January 7, 2023.

2023 is a very special year for Ocean Safari. This is our 30th year in business! We have been serving the Los Angeles & San Gabriel Valley community since 1993. We have had our ups and downs over the years, but through it all we trained a lot of divers. Many of these divers stayed with us and brought their children to us to get trained. We are looking forward to seeing these second generation divers tot bring their children to us for training!

Let's welcome in the new year together!! Bring your family, and friends. We will have food & drinks, slide/video shows, and prize drawing. There is no charge for our party. Rain or shine, let's welcome in the new year together!

Time: Saturday, January 7, 2022 from 11am - 3pm
Location: Ocean Safari Parking Lot

This event is a pot luck, so please bring one dish or BBQ meat and/or vegetable of your choice sufficient for 4 people (max 4 servings, otherwise we'll have too much food).

BYOB - bring your own beverage/booz.

We will provide BBQ grill and ice chest.

Hang out with fellow divers and exchange diving stories.

We will have filtered water, so we encourage you to bring your reusable canteens. Please do not bring bottled water as a potluck item.

Prize Drawing - we will be giving away prizes totaling over $1000 in value (donated by Ocean Safari and various manufacturers).

Important:

To help us meet ocean safari's initiative to be eco-conscious divers, please bring your own reusable plate, cup, and utensils to use for eating and drinking. Please do not bring disposable items.

I like this kind of school :)

Most of us have spent a significant chunk of our life in school. Some of us go on to earn college degrees… Some of us become diving professionals. I found a great sense of relief, when I had no more obligation to return to school. Summer break would be the rest of my life.

However, on my trip to dive the Sea of Cortez, I found myself in a school once again

Seeing hundreds of Barracuda organizing themselves into different shapes and patterns as we cruised along the sand surrounding San Franscisquito in northern La Paz was definitely one of the most mesmerizing experiences of our journey. Between the lighting and my excitement, I struggled to capture the enormity of the school with my lens, as they swarmed in and out of our path. I noticed that without a diver in the image, it was difficult to show the relative size of the school. Instead of being in the school myself, I decided to hang back and wait for my model to present themselves.

Eventually I was able to capture this image of my friend (and diving super model), Andy Moore, enjoying the view from within the eye of the cyclone.

In the school of barracuda I learned that sometimes it’s good to slow down, take a step back, and appreciate the bigger picture.

Ocean Safari Blog

San Ignacio Gray Whale Watching and Glamping Adventure

Diving Triton Bay - by Judy Ho Orange

Ocean Safari 30th Anniversary Party

30th Annual OSDT New Year Party

I like this kind of school :)