Life Aquatic Expeditions

08/14/2024

Absolutely wonderful first couple of days in beautiful Aitutaki, Cook Islands with a fantastic group of new and returning Life Aquatic participants for our whale swim trip expedition.

If you're interested in encounters like this, please reach out to us for your next adventure.

Photos by Life Aquatic Expeditions Owner, Shane Keena &
Dr. Lei Lani Stelle

05/19/2024

Humpback whales are on their way to the Cook Islands and you can join them!

The southern population of humpbacks feed in Antarctica during their summer and then migrate to the South Pacific to mate and care for their calves in the warm, tropical waters.

Life Aquatic Expeditions is offering a unique experience to snorkel with these amazing animals while learning from experts. Each trip is limited to 8 participants for personal interactions.

The trip is led by Lei Lani Stelle, PhD - a marine mammal biologist with over 30 years experience in the field, and Shane Keena, MFA - a professor of art and award-winning photographer. We will provide presentations on the natural history, ecology, and local culture and also photo-document your experience.

You can find more details at
https://www.lifeaquaticexpeditions.com/copy-of-trip-pages

Sign up soon to guarantee your spot!

04/22/2024

Earth Day, 4/22/2024

The 2024 theme for Earth Day is "Planet vs. Plastics" and aims to raise awareness of the harms of plastic pollution for human and planetary health.

Earth Day is a global event which aims to highlight the importance of protecting the environment.
It takes place every year on 22 April.

It was set up in 1970 by Ga***rd Nelson, a US senator and environmentalist, and Denis Hayes, a graduate student at Harvard University.

They came up with Earth Day as a way to engage the public and push green issues to the national agenda.

"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not." The Lorax- Dr.Seuss

Respect and protect.

04/20/2024

Experience a once in a lifetime opportunity to swim and interact with humpback whales in the South Pacific! We are limiting each trip to 8 participants to insure the maximum in water whale encounters for this adventure!

Beyond the amazing southern hemisphere population of Humpback whales, the island of Aitutaki, located in the Cook Islands, offers picturesque white-sand beaches, diverse reefs with cerulean blue waters, and a unique culture for a true South Pacific experience.

Marine biologist, Dr. Lei Lani Stelle, and wildlife photographer, Shane Keena, will lead this expedition. We will provide workshops on humpback whale ecology and photo-document all aspects of the trip, including your underwater whale interactions.

https://www.lifeaquaticexpeditions.com/copy-of-trip-pages/cook-islands-2024

03/23/2024

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL SEAL DAY with this runny nosed fella!

March 22, 2024

"International Seal Day takes place on March 22. It is a day set aside to raise awareness about seal conservation around the world. It's also a day for us seal lovers to honor this amazing sea mammal. Seals are not only adorable and attractive, but their presence in the world today has a significant impact."

03/11/2024

Splitsville.

The water clarity in Guerrero Negro allowed for the opportunity to create some "split" shots by Life Aquatic Expeditions Co-owner and photographer Shane Keena during week #1 of our Baja Gray Whale expedition.
Taken while out with the great folks from Marios Tours

If you are interested in joining us next year, please reach out as spots are already filling.

Gear used: EOS-5D3, 8-15mm USM, , Zen 230 dome port.

03/06/2024

The Soul Window.

Eye to eye with the magnificent Gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) in Ojo De Liebre, Baja California, Sur.

Taken during week 1 of our Grey Whale expedition.

Photo by Life Aquatic Expeditions Co-Owner Shane Keena with the great folks from Marios Tours

EOS-5D3, Nauticam Housing, Zen 230 Dome port.

03/02/2024

A Gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) boop so close to the boat you can even see the barnacles out filter feeding! Very cooperative visibility (by Baja lagoons standards) and the right underwater gear all lined up for a unique boop image of this charismatic megafauna.

Whale barnacles are species of acorn barnacle that belong to the family Coronulidae and typically attach to
baleen whales. Certain barnacles are cetacean species specific, like the Cryptolepas rhachianecti (seen here) which attach themselves specifically to Gray whales.

Photographed by Life Aquatic Expeditions co-owner Shane Keena in Laguna Ojo de Liebre, Guerro Negro, Baja California Sur during week one of our Life Aquatic Expeditions gray whale trip and with the great folks from .

EOS 5D3, 8-15mm USM, , Zen 230 dome port.

03/02/2024

Exciting final day with the gray whales. Lots of courtship behaving including the infamous "Pink Floyd" (x2)! Ended with a friendly calf!
Beautiful sunset from Pachico's Eco Tours - San Ignacio Lagoon
Whale images by Life Aquatic Expeditions guest naturalist Eric Austin Yee

03/01/2024

Wonderful start to our San Ignacio expedition with a friendly calf, first of the season!
Beautiful location right on the lagoon and great folks all dedicated to whale conservation

Photos by our good friend and Life Aquatic Expeditions guest naturalist Eric Austin Yee.

02/27/2024

Our Baja adventures are continuing with a wonderful group for our 2nd week.
We had gorgeous glassy conditions in the bay yesterday and observed 10+ blue whales along with humpbacks and mobula rays! Today we snorkeled with curious sea lions, saw blue footed bo***es, turkey vultures and even more whales.
Excited to head to San Ignacio lagoon tomorrow :)

02/24/2024

Fantastic final day in Laguna Ojo de Liebre with even more friendly gray whales and lots of courtship behavior. At one point a gray whale actually porpoised next to our panga while we were traveling to stop us for some attention, something I have never seen before.
We also enjoyed exploring the salt mines, viewing osprey, and climbing the sand dunes. Next up, snorkeling with sea lions

02/22/2024

Just when we thought it couldn't get any better ;)
More friendlies today with so many close views and interaction. Observed extensive courtship behavior and the whales chased us down when we tried to leave!

02/21/2024

Incredible day in Guerrero Negro
So many friendly gray whales it was hard to keep track!
Everyone had the chance to pet and kiss a whale ❤️
Just a few teaser photos, more to come after Shane has time to edit

02/20/2024

Great start to our Baja trip!
We have a wonderful group of friends, new and old, all excited for this adventure 😀

Our first whale excursion in the Sea of Cortez provided beautiful conditions to observe a Blue whale feeding in the area for hours along with 2 fin whales. The glassy calm water, sun, and gorgeous mountains surrounding the bay made for a picture perfect backdrop
(Video in comments)

02/05/2024

Want to swim with humpback whales in the South Pacific?
We are excited to lead 2 trips to the beautiful Cook Islands in August for this unique and amazing experience!
Now, easier to reach with new direct flights from Honolulu.
Please reach out soon to guarantee your space.
https://www.lifeaquaticexpeditions.com/copy-of-trip-pages/cook-islands-2024

11/04/2023

BAJA 2024; Reserve your spot before it's gone!

JOIN LIFE AQUATIC EXPEDITIONS IN BAJA Experience the wonders of Baja, where "friendly" gray whales are just as curious about us as we are of them! Explore the raw nature of the Sea of Cortez looking for Blue whales (and other cetaceans), snorkel with playful sea lions, then cross to the Pacific ocea...

10/30/2023

Do you want to experience the wonders of Baja, where "friendly" gray whales are just as curious about us as we are of them?

Explore the raw nature of the Sea of Cortez looking for Blue whales (and other cetaceans) and snorkel with playful sea lions, then cross to the Pacific ocean to interact with gray whales in the stunning protected lagoons. Gray whale expert, Dr. Lei Lani Stelle, wildlife photographer, Shane Keena, and naturalist/photographer, Eric Austin Yee will lead these expeditions.

You may have the opportunity to actually touch a whale, while learning about the unique marine life and conservation efforts in an experience of a lifetime!

More details at
https://www.lifeaquaticexpeditions.com/baja

10/15/2023

https://phys.org/news/2023-10-gray-whales-major-population-result.html?fbclid=IwAR1M0-fqKbGOIPGzCZQEwtHMMoIzIg_wX5vgUJDym4LD_N7A-aO4sYUVIH8

New study links multiple unusual mortality events of gray whales to changes in ice levels in the Arctic.
"The researchers found that years with less summer sea ice in the gray whales' Arctic feeding areas provided increased foraging opportunities that benefited the population. However, in the long term, decreasing sea ice cover, a result of rapid and accelerating climate change, most likely will not be beneficial to gray whales."

Dynamic and changing Arctic Ocean conditions likely caused three major mortality events in the eastern North Pacific gray whale population since the 1980s, a new study has found.

09/30/2023

So proud of Life Aquatic Expeditions co-founder and photographer, Shane Keena, for being selected as the Winner of the Animal Antics category in the Nature's Best Photography International Awards!

His burrowing owl image was selected out of more than 15,000 amazing submissions from photographers in 58 countries. new.express.adobe.com/webpage/SqC8I6ye9sRhd

08/24/2023

Join Dr. Lei Lani Stelle on the ACS all day whale watching trip out of Santa Barbara this Saturday.

She is volunteering as a guest naturalist to help support the great work done by the American Cetacean Society.

Looking forward to amazing whale & dolphin sightings!

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/acsla-summertime-whale-watching-adventure-2023-tickets-638773246977?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl&fbclid=IwAR2Sl9lOocpxyoOBTTi58j7S8ptYTYjwqNz6H8YyTMDQwquCJBQtccCToSg

Approximately 1/3 of the cetacean species found worldwide can be seen right here in our own backyard, the Santa Barbara Channel. Join us!

08/13/2023

Finishing up week 2 of our Life Aquatic Expeditions trip to beautiful Ha’apai in the Kingdom of Tonga to swim with these magnificent creatures.
🇹🇴

With the great folks at Matafonua & Sandy Beach Resorts Tonga

07/31/2023

So excited to be back in Tonga with a wonderful group! We were greeted by breaching humpbacks just off shore when we arrived today. Looking forward to our swims tomorrow!

07/18/2023

https://www.redlands.edu/bulldog-blog/2023/july-2023/student-science-research-program-splashes-insight-into-californias-marine-mammals/

Life Aquatic Expeditions co-founder, Lei Lani Stelle, has been leading an active research group at the University of Redlands for over a decade, providing many students with the opportunity to do hands-on research focused on marine mammal ecology

Student Science Research program splashes insight into California’s marine mammals July 17, 2023 by Katharina Napoletano '24 Off the coasts of Southern California, a diverse profusion of aquatic life ranging from anemones to whales can be found. With global sea temperatures on the rise, increased ...

04/22/2023

"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot,
Nothing is going to get better. It's not."

Dr. Seuss, The Lorax

Happy Earth Day from the LAE team.

This 🌍 , let us continue to be better stewards of this amazing place we all call home.

Our impact is far reaching, even when it's out of site, out of mind. We can do better...we MUST do better.

Respect, Protect, and Conserve.
♻️🌎♻️🌍♻️🌏

03/02/2023

03/02/2023

Tonga is such an amazing experience and we are fortunate to stay at a gorgeous beachfront resort!

More details:
https://www.lifeaquaticexpeditions.com/tonga

02/19/2023

Happy 🐋 🐋 2023

HISTORY OF WORLD WHALE DAY

“Our big blue oceans are home to some of the most fascinating creatures, and for centuries they have been hunted for varying reasons. Now they face another challenge, which is the loss of habitat.

To this effect, in the year 1980, World Whale Day began in Maui, Hawaii, to honor the humpback whales, which used to swim off the coast of the tropical island. This day was born out of an idea by Greg Kauffman, the founder of the Pacific Whale Foundation. He wanted to raise awareness about the threat of extinction faced by humpback whales.

What started with raising awareness for humpback whales in Hawaii has gone beyond that now. It also seeks to promote awareness of the oceans that are not as healthy as they once used to be. There needs to be a serious call to action to make the homes of whales a safe place for them to live.

Thus on this day, we must all take cognizance of this rising concern and take collection action to preserve their natural habitat.”

Respect and protect.

If you would like to experience the soul changing experience of being eye to eye with these majestic leviathans in the picturesque Kingdom of Tonga please reach out to the Life Aquatic Expeditions team for for information. We have just few open spots remaining for 2023!

https://www.lifeaquaticexpeditions.com/tonga

Images taken with EOS-1DX, EOS-5D3, Canon lenses,

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