When Belgian marine biologist Dr. Joëlle De Weerdt follows "her" humpback whales from Nicaragua's warm breeding waters to California's feeding grounds, magic happens. We assembled our crew from LA and San Francisco to join her on an unforgettable research expedition off Monterey Bay.

The Call of the Giants

Picture this: You're cruising the Pacific on what looks like a decommissioned military raft, feeling like you're on some covert marine operation.

That's exactly how our morning started when we met up with the legendary Captain Kate with Fast Raft Ocean Safaris at Moss Landing at 8 AM sharp. Her boat, a beast of maritime engineering, would be our vessel into the feeding grounds where some of the ocean's most magnificent creatures come to feast.

But we weren't just tourists on this ride. We were joining Dr. Joëlle De Weerdt, a 35-year-old Belgian marine mammalogist who's basically the Indiana Jones of whale research. This woman didn't just stumble into studying whales, she created her own path, literally funding her own PhD and building her conservation empire, Association Eli-S in Nicaragua.

Meet the Whale Whisperer

Dr. Joëlle isn't your typical academic. After completing internships across four countries (Madagascar, Great Britain, Slovenia, and Mexico), she realized something was missing from marine conservation: genuine community connection.

So she did what a dedicated scientist would do… she moved to Nicaragua, founded her own NGO, and started revolutionizing how we approach whale conservation.

*Dr. Joëlle sharing her mission and compassionate efforts for the Nicaraguan whales.*

Her mission? Protecting two distinct humpback whale populations that call Nicaragua home, including one endangered group of just 500-600 individuals.

Through her Cetacean Conservation Project of Nicaragua, she's not just collecting data, she's educating fishermen, inspiring kids, and creating sustainable solutions that benefit both whales and local communities.

"We are all actors in change," Dr. Joëlle believes, "but first, we must change our inner world to make things happen."

The Search Begins

Also joining our expedition was Lauren, a PhD from UC Santa Cruz who normally chases whales in Antarctica but couldn't resist the chance to support Dr. Joëlle's work and witness some Bay Area whale magic.

As we powered out of the bay, the morning was calm and crisp. Perfect conditions for what we hoped would be an epic encounter. Then Captain Kate's radio crackled to life: massive feeding activity spotted 30 minutes out, multiple whales breaching.

Game on.

That military raft absolutely flew across the water. When Captain Kate said this thing could move, she wasn't kidding. We were cutting through swells like a hot knife through butter, everyone gripping tight as we raced toward what promised to be the encounter of a lifetime.

Surrounded by Giants

Nothing prepares you for what we witnessed next.

We arrived to find hundreds of seals swarming a massive krill buffet, the water literally alive with feeding frenzy. And then, as if orchestrated by some cosmic director, the stars of the show arrived.

Humpback whales. Many of them.

These 40-ton giants emerged from the depths with an elegance that defies physics. They'd glide to the surface, release a spectacular blow from their blowholes, as if their way of saying hello, then gracefully arch their massive bodies and disappear back into the blue with a farewell flip of their iconic tails.

We were surrounded. Completely, utterly surrounded by raw, primal beauty.

Ancient Mariners

Watching these magnificent creatures, Dr. Joëlle shared mind-blowing facts about the very whales she follows between California and Nicaragua. These humpbacks are among the ocean's greatest travelers, making one of the longest migrations of any mammal of up to 16,000 miles annually.

They can live 80-90 years, and each whale has a unique tail pattern, like a fingerprint.

*A humpback whale breaching off the coast of northern California*

The Nicaragua connection runs deep. These same whales we were watching feed in the nutrient-rich California waters would soon begin their epic journey south to Nicaragua's warm tropical waters to mate and give birth. It's a cycle that's been happening for millennia, connecting two worlds. The abundant feeding grounds of California and the protected breeding waters of Central America.

For hours, we were mesmerized by this synchronized ballet of giants, each breach and dive a reminder of just how small we are in this vast blue world.

*Seals waiting for us back at the Moss Landing Dock*

A Mission Worth Supporting

As we headed back to port, Dr. Joëlle had to rush off to her California office to continue analyzing the day's findings. This woman works tirelessly, splitting her time between fieldwork, research, fundraising, and community education, all to protect these incredible creatures and the communities that depend on them.

But here's the coolest part: you can be part of this mission.

Dr. Joëlle offers incredible opportunities for travelers to join her research expeditions in Nicaragua, where you can witness these same whales in their breeding grounds while contributing to real conservation efforts. Imagine joining the crystal-clear Caribbean waters, learning from local communities, and playing a direct role in protecting one of the ocean's most endangered whale populations.

Ready for Your Own Whale Adventure?

Whether you're a seasoned marine enthusiast or someone who just wants to experience the magic of connecting with these ocean giants, Dr. Joëlle's Nicaragua expeditions offer a truly special chance to travel with purpose, learn from an incredible scientist, and create memories that will last a lifetime.

Ready to answer the call of the whales? Get in touch with Dr. Joëlle and her team to book your own Nicaragua whale conservation adventure. Trust us, once you've looked into the eye of a humpback whale, you'll never see the ocean the same way again.

Contact Dr. Joëlle De Weerdt and Nica Aventura to learn more about joining a research expedition in Nicaragua's pristine waters.

Adventure, science, and conservation await.

GET IN TOUCH

Special thanks to Captain Kate for an unforgettable ride, Lauren for sharing her Antarctic whale wisdom, and Dr. Joëlle De Weerdt for dedicating her life to protecting these incredible creatures.

This is what happens when passion meets purpose.

Chasing Giants: A Bay Area Whale Adventure with Dr. Joëlle De Weerdt