Kaimana x Latitude 2025 Trip Report
March is a special month for us because it means a visit from the Kaimana crew. The indomitable due of Kayleigh and Cam run a very similar business to Latitude Encounters in Kona, on the Big Island of Hawaii, called Kaimana Ocean Safari, and we love to collaborate with them on pelagic shark expeditions each year!
Week One brought in almost an entire group of repeat guests from last year; Kayleigh and Cam were joined by Jorge, Paige, Sam, Maddie plus the addition of Steve, Australia, USA and Mexico all represented! The week kicked off with somewhat difficult conditions, but the group was treated with a couple of fiesty makos, some shy blue sharks, and powerfully persevered the cold water (18C/68F 🥶). They were rewarded the last couple days as the climes warmed up and the blue sharks did too, with long swims with 6 blues on day 5 and a whopping 8 blue sharks on day 6!
Kaimana x Latitude Week 1 Group
Maddie mind-melding with a blue shark
Week Two gave us a great group of ladies, including Paige sticking around for more fun, along with Sera, Hannah, Michelle and Dani, representing different corners of the US. We start off with a massive bang, as day one brought the big whale-eating Orca pod back to Cabo! We spent all day observing these amazing animals, including a massive male, as they pestered a group of Gray Whales. It was one of those days that makes you pinch yourself, and we were so happy to share it with this grateful group.
Week 2 group, happy orca faces!
Photo by Nina Moysi of the massive male Orca. This pod is previously unidentified in Mexico, we welcome them! The whales less so…
The rest of the week brought a mix of amazing shark encounters with the trifecta of blue sharks, a silky, and finally a mako on the last day! We also opted for a marine safari day mid-week when we headed to the Pacific for some Humpback and Gray Whale watching, and swam with fevers of Spinetail Mobulas and Cownose Rays. The last day of trip we had a special start of the day to honor Michelle’s mother, and were treated with an adorable breach from a humpback calf! It was a diverse and incredible week for an amazing group of women!
Mako teeth!
Blue shark teeth!
Dr. Katy really committing to the shark experience
The final week we sadly said goodbye to Paige and Cam, but welcomed another group of shark-loving water women from around the US. We were joined by Ronnie, Mackenzie, Isabel, Leah, Olivia, and return guest Tara. This was a shorter 4-day trip but it packed a big punch! To say the water’s are getting sharkier is an understatement, the first two days this group saw 6 sharks per day of all three species, with tough to beautiful conditions! Then luck struck Kaimana not just twice but also a third time, with Orca sightings on the third and also the final day, all three encounters over the two weeks being with three different pods.
Final group final day of Kaimana’s expeditions! Mako, Blue Sharks & Orcas!
Orca smiles on Kaimana’s final day! Photo Nina Moysi from a Latitude Whale Watching Trip.
We loved every moment of the three weeks with our Kaimana Ohana and can’t wait for more ocean adventures together. If you are ever visiting the Big Island of Hawaii be sure to check out Kayleigh and Cam’s operation for ocean safaris in another little corner of the Pacific. Until June for the Mobulas! 🩵
