This is a guest post written by Stasia Ferbey of Sidney, BC.

I don’t mean to brag but I think I might have one of the coolest jobs in the world.  I work for a little non-profit Society called Panterra Educational and Cultural Training Society (Panterra for short) and have the pleasure of teaching science to youth and adults on a 110-foot, live-aboard motor yacht on the Sea of Cortez in Baja, Mexico.  If someone had told me this would be my career 7 years ago, I would have laughed in his or her face. Now, I am excited to say that I have been a part of Panterra for almost seven years.

Mobula rays (a type of manta ray) jumping into the sunset

Breaching humpback whale

Panterra offers two main adventures through which our clients can explore two different areas of Baja Mexico.  Our Journey to the Sea of Cortez program has been running for over 25 years now.  It is a 6 to 8 day live aboard adventure on the Sea of Cortez, Baja Mexico.  We motor out of the hustle-bustle of the city of La Paz, Baja California, Sur, to the peace and tranquility of the gulf islands where we get to experience the “wild frontier” of the Sea of Cortez.

Crystal clear waters for snorkeling

Imagine waking up in a quiet sheltered bay, with no other living souls around, waiting for the sea breeze to blow the next adventure toward you. Beautiful thought, right?  What if I told you that a common day occurrence on a Panterra trip is watching humpback whales breaching and dolphins playing only metres from the bow of our ship?  What if I said that you could watch a school of tens of thousands of manta rays swim by, jumping out of the water like popcorn, while the sun’s last light turns the sky purple and pink?  Can you picture nights so clear and dark that billions of twinkling stars reflect their light off the surface of the glassy ocean?  Have I piqued your interest yet? These are just a few of the magical moments that can be experienced while we snorkel, hike, whale watch and visit isolated fishing and goat-herding communities, exploring all the natural wonders of the area.  The trip is full of exciting adventures and plenty of rest and relaxation.  It is a unique expedition where one can experience (taste, touch, smell and see) almost everything that Mother Nature has to offer.

A pod of common dolphins

Island hiking

Our newest expedition, in its second consecutive year, is our Journey to the Whale Lagoon program.  This 6 day expedition takes our groups to the gray whale breeding and birthing lagoon in San Ignacio, Baja California, Sur.  Every February/March, at the peak of their migration, gray whales come into the lagoons to breed and birth their young.  While on this expedition, we will take you by small boat into the shallow waters of the lagoon to see the whales up close.  On the water, it is not uncommon to see a whale breaching in one direction, spyhopping or mating in another direction and a mother and her calf directly under your boat.  If you are really blessed you may even be given an opportunity to touch or kiss the nose of a newborn baby gray whale.

A close encounter with a gray whale

A visit to the California sea lion colony

Manuel the fisherman

It is not a stretch to say that our trips are absolutely life changing. My very first experience with Panterra was without a doubt the greatest adventure of my life.  Whether it is the smell and feel of the salt air, the up close experiences with marine animals, the kindness of the local people, the companionship of new friends or the combination of it all, discovering what Panterra has to offer is unbelievable, unimaginable and absolutely unforgettable!

Stasia the author on the left, Lela, my friend on the right

Photo credit: All photos are those of either Lela Sankerelli or Stasia Ferbey.

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