Hello, 2022!
As our second year kicks into gear, we wanted to recap a little of what this first year has been.
Latitude began as an idea many years ago, it was born from a desire of doing things in the ocean the way I wanted to, and creating a tourism platform to help with scientific research as well as a way of educating people…all while doing what I love the most: Exploring the ocean.
I just love that sensation of exploring, of heading out and not knowing what to expect, and then being surprised by nature. In 2020, when the pandemic hit and everything went a bit crazy we had that feeling of “It's now or never.” You could say that the pandemic was just that little kick we needed to get out there and consolidate this idea that had been brewing for years. We focused on getting everything set up during the lockdown months and then began 2021 with a clean fresh slate…with Latitude Encounters.
When I say ‘we’, I refer to myself (Fer) and my partner Mathias, who -as of this year- is able to work full time in Latitude (yey!). As we take the time to look back, this first year would not have been possible without the amazing boat captains that take us out on the water and know so much about the animals' behavior and how to approach them respectfully. It definitely would not have been the same without the network of friends, coworkers, and extra sets of eyes out on the water that gives us a call when something epic is making an appearance. Oh, and we can’t go on without mentioning Doña Carmen who every morning makes us delicious burritos full of love that fill our tummies in between exciting encounters.
Although it's been an incredible and busy year, it’s also brought a lot of lessons. The hardest part has definitely been finding a balance between our ocean adventures and all the administrative work that comes along. I mean, choosing to answer emails over a day out in the water is hard!
That being said, the absolute best part of this first year (besides some epic encounters), has been feeling so much support from friends and clients…and clients who quickly become friends. It brings us so much joy to hear that people come to us because a friend recommended us. …it’s like an ever-expanding network of ocean and adventure lovers! We are so thankful for everyone who continues to support us in sharing their experience and inviting others to join.
We look forward to 2022 and all the amazing ocean surprises it has in store for us. It will be a year to continue learning about the ocean, its wonderful creatures…and yes, more administrative stuff we need to learn about. This year we look forward to new expeditions, to continue exploring the wonderful terrain of Baja California, and more than anything to continue sharing our passion for the ocean with others…Hope to see you in 2022.
