Immerse yourself in adventure, wildlife, and nature with our Stars to Sea program, an unforgettable opportunity to swim alongside whale sharks while participating in genuine community science that contributes to their conservation. This expedition brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds to experience these incredible animals responsibly while helping scientists better understand this threatened species. It’s a chance to swim with whale sharks in an ethical, meaningful way, turning an incredible wildlife encounter into an opportunity to contribute to science and conservation. It’s a vacation with a purpose!

Whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) are the largest fish on Earth, reaching lengths up to 60 feet. Despite their impressive size and growing popularity, much remains unknown about their habitat, movements, and migration patterns. Fortunately, the Vermilion Sea Field Station in Bahía de los Ángeles, Mexico, has been fortunate to host these magnificent animals and a rich diversity of marine life year after year.

Through Stars to Sea, participants become part of the research process. Working alongside our team, you’ll have the opportunity to observe and swim with whale sharks while contributing valuable photo-identification data to the scientific community. These encounters follow responsible wildlife-viewing practices designed to minimize our impact on the animals while maximizing the scientific value of each encounter. Your participation helps us and fellow researchers build long-term knowledge of whale sharks and supports conservation efforts around the world.

Whale sharks are known for their gentle, approachable nature and have become ambassadors for ocean conservation and an important part of the growing ecotourism industry in Bahía de los Ángeles. These majestic animals congregate in the surrounding waters during the summer and fall months, attracting visitors from around the world and serving as an important economic catalyst for the local community.

At VSI, our mission is to forge meaningful connections between marine wildlife, local communities, and you, our valued participants, to work toward a more sustainable future for all. With Stars to Sea, you don’t just get to see and swim with a whale shark, you become part of the effort to understand and protect them.

Please note that space is limited to just 20 participants. Reservations are processed on a first-come, first-served basis and are confirmed only upon receipt of your completed reservation form and payment.

Important Note: While whale sharks have typically visited the waters off Bahía de los Ángeles each summer, we can not predict that the sharks will be present during this program. Therefore, there is no guarantee that participants will see or swim with a whale shark.

No prior research experience is necessary on this trip. You will become a trained community-science researcher, photographing whale sharks and uploading data that are shared collaboratively with researchers all over the world. The distinctive spot patterns of these marine giants are unique to each individual, just like fingerprints are to humans, and can be used to identify and track the sharks we encounter. The Sharkbook for Whale Sharks project uses innovative technology that applies spot pattern recognition algorithms used by astronomers to recognize celestial patterns in the night sky to identify individual whale sharks via these unique, behind-the-gill spots. That’s the inspiration behind the name: Stars to Sea!

This is an educational program. Participants are not required to have previous experience with field studies. Also, participants need not be SCUBA certified, but should be able to swim independently and be comfortable swimming in open water. Finally, given the nature of field-based education programs, a go-with-the-flow attitude is a must!

Location

Situated along the shores of the Gulf of California within the Bahía de los Ángeles Biosphere reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Vermilion Sea Field Station (VSFS) has hosted scientists, conservationists, educators, and students since the 1970’s. Bahía de los Ángeles is a sleepy little town unlike other crowded Mexican tourist destinations. It is primarily known for fishing and was formerly a mining town. It is authentic Mexico at its finest.

Internet/Telephone

We are in one of the rare few spaces left in the world with no or limited cell service. Most visitors to Bahía and the Vermilion Sea Field Station take the rare and special opportunity to embrace being “unplugged” and find they connect more deeply with the incredible local environment because of it. However, if totally disconnecting isn’t possible, there are local restaurants within walking distance with WiFi access.

Lodging

The Vermilion Sea Field Station is first and foremost a field facility for researchers and educators in the environmental sciences with minimalistic and rustic, yet enjoyable accommodations. The field station consists of a central two-story adobe and stone facility with 12 multi-purpose rooms, a large kitchen, outdoor bucket-flush bathrooms and an additional family house.

Most participants at our field station choose to sleep outside under the starry skies, as the nights stay quite warm. This outdoor sleeping option offers a slightly cooler and more immersive experience. However, we understand that weather conditions can be unpredictable, and some individuals may prefer or need indoor accommodations which are available as needed in shared rooms designed for storing participants’ belongings. It’s important to note that the Vermilion Sea Field Station does not have air conditioning.

Please be mindful that fresh water is a precious resource in our desert location. While we do provide an indoor and outdoor shower for rinsing, we actively practice water conservation to ensure sustainability. Additionally, we encourage individuals to utilize the ocean for bathing, using eco-friendly products to minimize environmental impact. 

As a working field station, we emphasize a communal ethos where each visitor is responsible for pitching in to clean up after themselves and help maintain the facility. We encourage everyone to leave it better than they found it, ensuring that the station remains a welcoming and sustainable facility for all who use it.

For additional information such as a suggested packing list and other travel related questions, please review the VSI Stars to Sea Trip Planner which will be provided after registration.

VSI reserves the right to cancel a program if the minimum number of participants has not been reached at least 90 days prior to departure. In the event of cancellation for insufficient enrollment, participants will receive a full refund of all program fees paid to VSI.

VSI also reserves the right to cancel a program at any time, including up to the day of departure, due to unforeseen or extenuating circumstances that may affect the safety of participants. Such circumstances may include, but are not limited to, hurricanes, severe weather, natural disasters, or other conditions beyond VSI’s control. In the event of cancellation for these reasons, participants will receive a full refund of all program fees paid to VSI.

If flexible registration is purchased, participants may cancel up to one week before the trip start date and receive a full refund, including trip extras, excluding the deposit and processing fees.

Depart from San Diego at 6 a.m. sharp for Bahía de los Ángeles (in a 15 passenger van), arriving approx. 7 p.m. Stops on the way will include lunch, stretch breaks and scenic views. The road trip is part of the fun and gives opportunities for making new friends, playing car games, and the occasional carpool karaoke.

Early morning into the afternoon: Explore the bay and channel by panga, enjoying amazing snorkel stops, wildlife spotting and participate in whale shark field research involving locating the whale sharks, in-water observation, taking behind-the-gill photographs for photo identification of individuals, and returning to the field station to upload photographs and potentially identify new or returning sharks. Most evenings you are free to relax, explore the town, participate in a field station “Betterment Project,” enjoy activities with the kids from our local youth program, the Aventureros, or the following optional adventures: kayaking, hiking, exploring wetlands/mangroves, reading, beachcombing, tide-pooling, stargazing, night snorkeling, and more!

Important Note: While whale sharks have typically visited the waters off Bahía de los Ángeles each summer, we can not predict that the sharks will be present during this program. Therefore, there is no guarantee that participants will see or swim with a whale shark.

Depart Bahía de los Ángeles at around 7 a.m. for San Diego, arriving approx. 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. (please do NOT schedule returning flights on Day 6 as arrival time cannot be guaranteed).