wildlife expeditions

Travel Day...The Beautiful Chaos Begins

It always starts the same, early alarms, groggy eyes, last-minute gear checks, and the quiet hum of anticipation.

Today is a travel day… We are Mexico Bound!

The beginning of another adventure into the unknown. 

And while I’ve done this hundreds of times, it never feels routine. 

There’s always a mix of emotion swirling just below the surface.

There’s the excitement, of course, the thrill of what’s ahead. 

The chance to see old animal friends in wild places. 

To meet new people. 

To witness the kind of moments you can’t predict and could never plan.

But there’s also the tug. 

The ache of leaving home.

The heaviness in the chest when you close the door behind you, knowing it’ll be weeks before you open it again.

You say goodbye to the familiar rhythm of daily life, and step into the rush of airports, red-eye flights, and border crossings.

And then… you arrive… Damn, I love Mexico.

The warm air hits you the moment you step outside the airport, thick with ocean and sun and a scent you forgot you missed.

The sounds are different. 

The language dances around you.

People smile in that way only Mexico seems to know; genuine, relaxed, present.

Even the light here feels different, like it’s been touched by salt and time.

Suddenly your body remembers why you came.

Your senses sharpen.

Your soul starts to stretch again.

That’s the magic of travel. 

It shakes the dust off.

 It strips away the predictable and throws you into presence.

You can’t coast on autopilot when everything around you is unfamiliar. 

You have to notice. 

You have to feel.

So yes, travel days can be chaotic.

Yes, they’re exhausting.

Yes, something always goes wrong, flights get delayed, luggage gets lost, you forget something important.

But still… we go.

Because the wild calls.

And something inside us answers.

Hola Mexico… Let’s see what stories you have waiting for us this time.


*New Blogs posted 3–4 times a week. (sometimes more.)
Follow along for fresh stories, trip updates, and raw moments from the wild.

Summer Run Has Begun!

A selfie in Tonga with humpback whales off Tonga.

The summer season has arrived, and for us, that means one thing… it’s time to travel.

Over the next few months, we’ll be on the road (and in the water) almost non-stop. 

From Mexico to Brazil, Canada to Alaska, and all the way to the South Pacific, this stretch of the year is the heartbeat of what we do. 

It’s wild. 

It’s exhausting. 

And it’s the most fulfilling work I could ever imagine doing.

Whale shark off Isla Mujeres, Mexico.

We’ll be diving with whale sharks off Isla Mujeres, tracking river dolphins deep in the Amazon, swimming alongside beluga whales, and spending quiet moments on land watching polar bears roam.

We’ll be heading into Alaska for the first time, a trip I’ve dreamed about for years, to experience brown bears in their element. 

Then it’s back to Brazil for jaguars and anaconda diving, before continuing on to photograph right whales along the coast. 

Jaguar in the Northern Pantanal, Brazil.

We’ll wrap the season in Tonga, for the humpback migration. 

Humpback whale mom and calf off Tonga.

 All these places, all these animals, help remind us why we fell in love with nature in the first place.

It’s a beautiful, relentless stretch of work, and I don’t take a moment of it for granted.

Because yes, we’re photographing wildlife. 

But what we’re really doing is creating space, for people to remember what it feels like to belong to the natural world again.

Polar Bear in Churchill Canada

This season, I’ve set a few personal goals.

The first: I’ll be recording daily vlogs from the field, raw, honest reflections from the wild, captured in real time.

When Wi-Fi allows, I’ll upload them to our YouTube channel and share the journey as it unfolds.

I’ve tried this before and failed, because honestly, the work is physically and emotionally exhausting.

Pink Dolphins in the Amazon River, Brazil

But I’ve always known: these places, these moments, these stories… they deserve to be seen and told the right way. 

Not polished. 

Not curated. 

But real.

We’ll also be updating The Daily’s page with trip reports from each location. 

Those will definitely go up, photos, field notes, and memories from each expedition.

Beluga Whales off Churchill Canada.

So this is your invitation, to follow along with us this summer. Daily trip reports with photos and stories, and if the internet allows… daily videos.

So please subscribe to our YouTube Channel if you haven’t already.

To feel the highs, the lows, the magic, and the grit that makes this life so alive.

I’ll be sharing it all. 

Not for show, but because this world is too wild, too beautiful, and too important to keep to myself.

Let’s begin.


*New Blogs posted 3–4 times a week. (sometimes more.)
Follow along for fresh stories, trip updates, and raw moments from the wild.

The Moment I Realized I Wasn’t Alone Anymore

The Moment I Realized I Wasn’t Alone Anymore

There was a moment, not dramatic, not even that loud, when it finally hit me: I wasn’t doing this alone anymore.

It wasn’t when I hit a certain number on social media. 

It wasn’t when the trips started selling out, or when my work got published. 

It was much quieter than that.

It was on the water. Early morning in the fog. Freezing cold. 

The water was flat calm…

That kind of silence that only exists when everyone’s watching nature with the same reverence you are feeling. 

We had a group of return guests, people who had seen me at my best and my worst, who’d followed me to different corners of the world not just for the wildlife, but because something in them trusted something in me.

I remember turning around on the boat to say something, and I caught this moment, one guest handing another a lens cloth, a quiet laugh between two people who’d only met days before. 

And it hit me… this is a tribe.

Not a fan base. Not clients. A Tribe.

People who show up raw. 

People who know that discomfort is part of the reward. 

People who wake up at 4am, sit for hours in silence, get sunburned and salt-soaked, all for the chance at seeing something wild.

Over the years, that tribe has grown. 

Some join once. 

Some return again and again. 

Some send me photos of their kids wearing SDM gear. 

Some email just to say “hi and how are you doing.”

I didn’t build this tribe by being perfect. 

I built it by showing up and loving what I do everyday. 

By chasing something I couldn’t fully explain, and sharing it with the world. 

And somewhere along the way, others started chasing it too.

So if you’ve ever joined me on a trip, sent a message, shared a photo, told a friend, you’re part of it.

And if you’re still looking for your people… we’re out there, waiting for you.

In the salt. In the silence. In the stories we tell when the trip is over.

Let’s go share an adventure together!


*New Blogs posted 3–4 times a week. (sometimes more.)
Follow along for fresh stories, trip updates, and raw moments from the wild.

Expect the Unexpected: The Real Magic of Wildlife Expeditions

I get asked all the time: “What’s the best time of year to guarantee orca sightings?” or “Are we definitely going to see jaguars?”

And while I get the excitement, and I share it, there’s something every wildlife traveler needs to understand before they pack their bags:

Wildlife doesn’t follow scripts.

No matter how much planning we do, how perfect the timing is, or how dialed-in the location may be… wildlife does what it wants.

That’s the magic.
And…
that’s also the challenge.

I’ve led trips where we didn’t see any orcas, even though they were there the day before we arrived, and then watched guests lose their minds with excitement over a Bryde’s whale feeding on a baitball, changing the entire vibe of the trip.

I’ve had guests disappointed for the first half of a journey, only to witness something they never expected, something more meaningful than what they came for.

We’ve missed giant anteaters and found jaguars instead.
We’ve searched for sperm whales and been surprised by a five hour session with pilot whales.
We’ve gone looking for orangutans… and ended up face-to-face with a herd of 100+ pygmy forest elephants.

So always be ready for the wild card.

When You Travel for Wildlife, Travel for Wonder… Not Control

If you come on one of our trips expecting to check boxes or recreate something you saw in a photo or documentary, you might be setting yourself up for disappointment.

But if you arrive with your heart wide open, curious, patient, and willing to embrace the unexpected, you’ll almost always walk away with something that stays with you forever.

What You Can Control

Your attitude. Be flexible. The weather might shift. The animals might not show up on cue. But the adventure is still out there.

Your presence. Let go of pressure. Be in the moment. Sometimes the best encounter is the one you almost miss because you’re too focused on what should happen.

Your ability to roll with it. When things go sideways, and they occasionally do, that’s often when the best stories are born.

So next time you pack your gear for a wildlife trip, pack a little extra space, for whatever wild card nature decides to throw your way.

And…

My Best Advice?

Don’t chase the highlight reel.
Chase the feeling. The spontaneous moments. The beautiful surprises.
Chase the way the ocean breathes when the animals finally show up.
Chase the way the jungle holds its breath just before something appears.

Because out there, in the middle of nowhere, with the wind in your face and your expectations left behind…That’s when the magic finds you.

Thank you for reading.


*New Blogs posted 3–4 times a week. (sometimes more.)
Follow along for fresh stories, trip updates, and raw moments from the wild.

SO WILD… The Final Adventures of the Year.

As I prepare to wrap up the 2024 season, I am on the boat, motoring out to Tiger Beach as I write this.

The familiar sight of the open ocean and the anticipation of seeing my old friends (the tigers), fills me with excitement and gratitude.

This year has been nothing short of extraordinary. From unforgettable wildlife encounters to the incredible people I’ve shared these adventures with… 2024 has been a season to remember.

I’m deeply grateful for the moments that made it so special—the wildlife, the people, and the experiences that stay with you long after the trips are over.

These final two trips are my chance to soak in every last bit of the magic this year has to offer.

I’m looking forward to sharing what we see out here with all of you—I love bringing a little piece of the wild back to everyone following along.

While I’m excited about the possibilities of a new year and all the adventures to come, right now, I’m focused on savoring these last moments of the season.

Here’s to making the most of 2024’s final days, and to saying goodbye to an unforgettable year.

Stay tuned for updates from the field, and thank you for being part of this journey!

Life Will Not Wait For You!

There is a sad reality on how many people go through life stuck in a routine. They wake up every day, go to work, come home, feed the kids (if you have kids), walk a dog, eat, then go to bed. 

Wash, then repeat. 

Don’t get me wrong. There is nothing wrong with routine; we all need them. I have mine. But if this is your whole life, without any twists and turns in it - no adventures, no fears, then yes, there is a problem.

I knew a guy who was fifty-five years old, and lived his whole life in my home town, as a freelance carpenter. He was terrified of driving 40 miles out of town to get to a potential job, so he wouldn’t take it if he had to go by himself. 

I have trouble understanding that mindset. But hey, the guy seemed happy, always had a smile when I saw him. So, if this is how you want to spend your life, good for you. You know what you want... and that is all that matters, knowing what you want and living the life YOU want to live. 

But if you are reading my blog, or subscribe to my newsletters, you probably want something more out of life, because that is what I write about... Travel, adventure, the magical world filled with wildlife, and the total unexpected.

I always wonder how many people live out their lives wishing they were doing something else with their lives? Or living somewhere else? Or just traveling more. I will be bold and say 90-95% of us do. 

So it leaves me thinking... Why are we slaves to routine? 

Why are we afraid to step out our doors without the certainty that we are coming back? Why are we all afraid to do something new or totally out of character?

This a harsh truth for some people to hear, I know and I am sorry. But sadly life will not wait for your "one day, I am gonna..."

Life will pass you by.

I know this is deep for a Tuesday morning, but I was thinking about this over the weekend, and I realize that people sometimes need a wake-up call - this one is yours.

Have an amazing week my friends!

The Final Two Days at Sea!

breach 2.jpg

May 29, 2021 - What an exhausting, amazing, and surprising trip this was for our guests and me. No words to express how grateful I am for having the privilege of bringing people out into nature and showing them the beauty of the natural world.

This trip was not perfect, but it was a great trip. The O’s sadly never arrived for us. They were always a bit too far, showing up in other areas that were many miles away. However, the ocean did provide an abundance of wildlife for us to enjoy, and if you were only here for the O’s, then you are missing the forest for the trees.

The Sea of Cortez is a magical place - we encountered three different species of whales, including the biggest of them all, the blue whale. Along with two species of dolphins, tens of thousands of Mobula rays, baitballs, sea lions - it was so much fun. The ocean just kept surprising us and bringing us gifts.

On our final two days in the water, we spent an hour with a friendly pair of juvenile humpback whales. One of them was breaching over and over again. It would breach, then flipper slap the surface, right next to our boat. We stayed with them for about an hour and left them to try and find the O’s. Reports came back that they kept playing for over three hours after we left. Insane.

Breaching right next to our boat, I did not have the right lens.

Breaching right next to our boat, I did not have the right lens.

bottlenose 3.jpg

We also encountered a super pod of coastal bottlenose dolphins. We got to jump in and play with this pod as they swam around us, some of them coming in close to see what we were. It was a lot of fun. After we were done with our time in the water, we watched them breaching and jumping in our boat’s wake—many opportunities for stills and video. What was unique about these dolphins was their size and color. They are massive dolphins, and their skin is a charcoal grey, and when the sun touches them, they look black—such beautiful dolphins.

dolphins.jpg

On our final day, we had flat calm seas and found a mating group of mobulas. Easily over ten thousand mobulas were in this mating ball, and it was a sight to see.

They kept popcorning all around - even when we were in the water, a fantastic way to end the trip.

mobulas 3.jpg

THE FOLLOWING DAY…

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I dropped off Mark, Parag, and Boud at the airport, said goodbye, and then dropped off our trusty steed Alice at the rental shop. Garin, Sara, and I went to Cabo to jump on an afternoon session with my buddy Jacob and Cabo Shark Tours to try and find some sharks.

The conditions were horrible, absolutely horrible. When we jumped in the water, we spent most of our time chasing the boat being pushed by the wind in giant swells. It was worth it; we ended up swimming with four silky sharks, including one that was heavy with pilot fish.

silky 2.jpg

Finally, I asked Jacobo to untie the baitbox from the boat and let it float free. We no longer had the swells pushing us around and the ocean, despite the rising swells was nice and calm. It was nice!

After that, the silkies were a bit shy but still stayed around. We also had a small school of young mahi-mahi hanging around - behind them, a seawolf came in. A huge marlin swam by us. It was magic and a hell of a great way to end this epic two weeks here off Baja.

Mahi-mahis.

Mahi-mahis.

A huge thanks to our friends who joined us these past two weeks - and to my buddies who helped me out in Baja during our time at sea. Thank you for sharing this adventure with me - these amazing experiences are forever engrained in my soul. Until the next one!!!