Home > Amos Nachoum > Big Animals Expeditions

Blue Whale

Big Animals Expedition, Costa Rica Dome

Blue Whale - Big Animals Expedition
Blue Whale research & photography experience	14 years
where	Costa Rica Dome
max no. of guests	14 guests
departure	2016
duration	15 days
pricing	$12,900 per person - prices exclude airfare and are based on double occupancy - prices are subject to change
vessel	The Argo, 130 ft. diving vessel w/ premium staterooms; state of art GPS and communication systems; complete boat, crew and passenger safety gear
activities	Free diving / snorkeling
temperature	In Water: 72 - 76°F;   Air: 78 - 82°F

Note: dates and prices subject to change without prior notice

Pioneers Meet At The Blue Whale Cafe

Biodiverse and rich in plankton blooms, the Costa Rica Dome is the winter home of the blue whale, the earth's SuperGiant, measuring an impressive 70 to 90 feet long. Between the months of January and March, whales gather at the dome to eat, play, mate, and most importantly birth and nurse their calves. This makes the Dome the only place in the ocean where blue whales can be observed in all stages of their lives. For this reason we call the Costa Rica Dome the "Blue Whale Cafe," the ultimate gathering place for the sea's SuperGiants.

Just 500 miles west of Costa Rica, the Costa Rica Dome's nourishing habitat has been a place of scientific interest since the 1950s. However, there have been very few onsite studies of the area. No professional scientist, diver or photojournalist has ever explored Costa Rica Dome before with the exception of the BBC and National Geographic 5 years ago.

Big Animals Expeditions, the world leader in blue whale expeditions in California and Sri Lanka, is excited to be the first to offer an exclusive and first of it's kind journey to the Costa Rica Dome. In partnership with dive operators Undersea Hunter Group on the dive vessel ARGO, and world leading blue whale research Richard Sears, 14 adventurers will dive into the dome to experience and record the most complete picture of the blue whale's life.

At Home At The Costa Rica Dome

According to scientific studies, the Costa Rica Dome may be critical to the future of the endangered blue whale. The Dome serves as a feeding ground for the blue whale through winter months and all year round. Additionally, blue whales found at the Dome are the healthiest of the species.

A Premium Journey On The ARGO

Our journey begins on the 130-foot ARGO, a luxury diving vessel, provided by preeminent dive operators Undersea Hunter Group. ARGO was redesigned and refitted in 2008 to pamper its passengers with spacious quarters and is equipped with the finest diving gear and state-of-the art deep-diving technology including navigation and communication systems.

Onboard Education With Richard Sears

Blue whale education will be provided by Richard Sears, founder, researcher, and head of the Mingan Island Cetacean Study (MICS), one of the first organizations in the world to conduct long-term studies on whales.

After studying biology at the university, Sears joined the Woods Hole Oceanographic institute where he shared privileged moments with the whales of baie de Moisie. "I could do this the rest of my life," he said while contemplating these giants from his inflatable raft. Richards later became a naturalist onboard whale-watching vessels in Massachusetts and worked alongside the pioneers of whale research including David Sergeant, Steven Katona and Roger Payne - all his greatest sources of inspiration.

General Itinerary

Day 1: ARRIVE San Jose Costa Rica. Please provide Big Animals Expeditions with your arrival information. Transfer on you own to the hotel we suggest in town for an overnight stay and welcome dinner.

Day 2-14: DEPART San Jose to Puntarenas by bus transfer about four hours drive and board the Argo. Go to sea.

12 full days on the high sea reaching the Costa Rica Dome after two days.

Upon arrival will launch all of the three skiffs with only four people per skiff searching for Blue whale.

We will have plenty of water lunch will be served on board. You will need to bring only snorkeling gear. SCUBA gear will not be used as it is likely to scare the Blues away, it is heavy and will slow you down. We will spend at least 8 hours to 10 hours per day on board and long distance cruising and searching.

Evening on board - Ricard Sears will lead with presentation on Blue whale research that he has been leading for many years.

Amos will be leading photography presentations, workshop and coaching.

Day 14: Returning to Puntarenas at mid day, transfer to San Jose. Check in to the hotel for the last overnight and farewell dinner.

Day 15: Return home according to your flight itinerary.

******

Tour price includes:

• 2-night stay at San Jose Hotel
• Transportation between San Jose and Puntarenas
• 13 nights, 14 days on board the Argo
• All meals on board the ship
• Ricard Sears and Amos - presentations and coaching

Not included in tour price:

• International airfare
• Meals and drinks not specified
• VISA fee
• Personal expenses such as phone calls, laundry, etc.
• Customary gratuity at the end of the voyage for stewards and other service personnel aboard (guidelines will be provided)
• Additional costs incurred due to independent travel arrangements

TRAVEL DOCUMENTS:

US citizens are required to have a valid passport, and round-trip air ticket.

For more information
Contact:
Dive Discovery
@
1 800 886-7321
(415) 444-5100
or
Request Info