FOLLOWING THE PATHS OF THE WHALES (PART I)
Since our tours are seasonal, many of our staff members take the opportunity to re-unite with family and friends back home, travel and explore new places all over the globe, or to follow the whales wherever they go and work as captains and guides in various other places around the world.
Joséphine (Jo), captain and guide at Gentle Giants since 2022, left Húsavík late last autumn and shortly after, moved to the Pacific Coast of Mexico – to be greeted by the humpback whales calling those waters their home temporarily. While Jo will soon be back with us here in Húsavík, this is her story of last winter’s adventure.
“Some people like to take some time for themselves during winter – I do too. But this winter I got the amazing opportunity to go to Cabo San Lucas in Mexico and work as a whale watching guide there. In the beginning, I wasn’t sure if to go, because although I know how spectacular whale watching can be over there, I didn’t know if the business it is attracting around would suit me.
But two of my colleagues in Gentle Giants were working with a very good company there and they pushed me to at least try. I have been crazy about whales since I am 6 years old, and getting the chance to work in another place (aka Pacific Ocean and Whale Watch Cabo Company) was for me a way to see new species and behaviours. A little bit the same way one will unlock a new Pokémon.
I never worked in a breeding ground for humpback whales before and Cabo didn’t disappoint me. The frequency of good tours there is truly astonishing with jumps, curious behaviours around the boats and of course the magic of hearing singing humpback whales. Which is, in my opinion – together with the craziness of northern lights in the arctic – one of those magical phenomena that remind us that there is still magic in our world.
I also got the opportunity to train my skills as a photographer, which was not an easy task at first, but allowed me to capture some of those incredible moments.
And of course, this place was also for me a way to better understand those whales and see how different they behave from the feeding grounds and to be able to bring that knowledge with me for this summer season in Húsavík.
I am looking forward to see you on our boats this summer.
Joséphine”
Text & Photos: Joséphine Aussage (captain / guide)
