Nico, our main guide, has worked with whales in Alaska, Australia, the Azores (Portugal), Canada, Ecuador, Peru, the Philippines, Mozambique, and 13 seasons in Mexico! She has a MSc in Marine Science and Management and a BSc in Zoology, and is a PhD student at Murdoch University (Perth, Australia) whilst still being involved in several other research projects worldwide. Her primary research focuses on investigating the risk of vessel collisions with humpback whales in Nayarit, Mexico and in trying to reduce the risk of this anthropogenic threat. For the next two seasons all proceeds from La Orca will go towards her fieldwork in Nayarit.
Additionally, Nico has been working with whales in Mexico for 15 years, she appeared on BBC Blue Planet open the link, she has a international skipper’s license, is certified in marine first aid (RYA 2015), is a qualified MMO and PAM for offshore industries, and speaks English, Spanish, and is trying to learn Portuguese!
Her passion for whales, sense of humor and knowledge has led her to be nominated for several tour guides awards, and although now focusing more on her research, is still our main guide and not ready to hang up the tour guide bandana yet! Happy to be out on the water everyday of the season, she has encountered many of the world’s rarest cetaceans, and is lucky enough to have had many incredible whale encounters including an afternoon with the famous albino humpback whale “Migaloo”.
