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Baja California Sur · Mexico
Freediving Courses & Wildlife Encounters in Baja
Small-group wildlife expeditions and freediving courses led by marine biologists. Ethical encounters with mobulas, dolphins, whales, and marlins — in one of the most biodiverse seas on the planet.
6 days across Baja’s three most incredible locations. Train with a certified instructor, earn your AIDA 1 if you’ve never dived before, and encounter marlins, sea lions, dolphins and more — all in one expedition. Normally you’d need three trips. Here, it’s one.
No certification needed — beginners welcome. AIDA 1 included during the expedition.
Some experiences change you forever. Mine all happened underwater — and I’ve spent the last decade taking people there.
This is what I live for. To connect humans with the ocean — and with themselves.
I’m Valentina. Born in Argentina, raised in the Mexican Caribbean — I grew up discovering cenotes and fell completely in love with freediving. By 19 I was a certified instructor and in 2017 I moved to La Paz to make my dream come true: study marine biology.
In 2019 I broke two Argentine national records in freediving. But what really changed me wasn’t the competition — it was watching a guest cry after diving with dolphins for the first time. That’s what I do this for. Connecting people with the ocean, wildlife and with themselves.
Freefall Academy is built on that. Small groups, real encounters, no shortcuts.
Marine biologistAIDA master instructorArgentine national record holderFounded 2019
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Valentina hat uns einen wunderschönen Tag mit den Grauwalen beschert! Sie hat sehr viel Wissen und uns an diesem teilhaben lassen. Zudem wurden die Tiere und die Natur stets ausgesprochen respektvoll behandelt!
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Maggie Feld
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The whale watch trip with Valentina was fantastic! She is so easy to communicate with and very friendly and we loved her enthusiasm for seeing the whales! She is also very knowledgeable and shared many facts about the whales. We enjoyed the 2 hour ride from La Paz and the stop for coffee and homemade burritos on the way, along with a delicious lunch at a restaurant in Puerto Chale. We highly recommend FreeFall Academy for tours in the Baja!
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Aditya Purav
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Did the grey whale watching tour with Freefall academy and it was one of the best experiences of my life. Valentina was a great host and simply amazing, loved how she handled everything. She was on schedule and made sure we had the best viewings. Highly recommend!!
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Tasha Yadrentseva
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We spent a beautiful day with Valentina and her team in Baja, and I truly recommend this experience.
Valentina is a professional and a scientist, which makes a real difference. She shared clear, thoughtful information about whales, the surrounding ecosystem, and the broader environmental context. It felt grounded, informed, and respectful.
The tour is very well designed. We spent around three hours in the water, and her team consistently found quieter spots away from the crowds, which made the experience feel more intimate and calm.
The day ended with a delicious meal of fresh seafood with a local family. It was also my birthday, and they prepared a small surprise with decorations, which was very touching.
I would definitely recommend going on a tour with Valentina, and I’m looking forward to joining her for a freediving course in the future.
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Alexis Cross
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Perfect day! We learned so much, saw a lot of whales, and ate great food! The small group is definitely the best way to experience this.
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Tiffany Rae Azzarito
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The tour exceeded expectations. We got very lucky and met a very sweet and friendly whale that wanted pets, but even if that encounter hadn’t happened, the experience still would have been worthwhile. Valentina was lovely! She was so good with the kids on our trip, and just as excited as we were to see the whales. She took great pics and was willing to share! Our captain Jose was also wonderful— he navigated in a way that put us in great positions near the whales without crowding or distressing them— and after he welcomed us in his home where his wife had a delicious lunch waiting for us. If you want an organization that cares about the whales and gives you an authentic and amazing experience, go with Freefall Academy. Valentina gives a percentage to conservation organizations and also shares her pics with organizations monitoring the health of the whales and ecosystem. And she’s just a truly lovely person!!
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Maggie van Praag
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Freefall Academy offers an incredibly special and memorable experience.
The owner and operator, Valentina, is outstanding. She is a marine biologist who is extremely knowledgeable, passionate, and a genuinely wonderful person to spend time with. Her respect for the ocean and marine life is evident throughout the entire experience.
What truly sets Freefall Academy apart is its integrity and heart. Valentina donates 10% of the company’s profits to organizations that help rescue whales trapped in ghost nets, and she actively supports local people and the surrounding community.
Valentina picked us up directly from where we were staying and took us out on a boat to see the gray whales. The whales came very close to the boat, and at times they will even scratch against boats or position themselves to be gently touched — something that makes each outing unique and unforgettable.
Unlike most companies that spend about two hours on the water, Valentina spends a full three hours with you. There is no rushing, and the extra time makes a noticeable difference in the quality of the experience.
After the boat trip, Valentina takes you to the boat operators home where she made arrangements for a lunch prepared by his wife and family and hosted in their home. The food was fantastic, and the experience felt warm, personal, and authentic — a wonderful way to support the local community while sharing a great meal.
This was an incredible experience and one that many people would consider once-in-a-lifetime. I highly recommend Freefall Academy for anyone looking for an ethical, thoughtful, and truly special whale-watching experience.
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Jane L
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Our trip with Freefall academy is such a great experience through and through. Quick and clear communication during the consulting phase. After booking, Valentina had a video call with us to set expectations and make sure we pack accordingly, which turned out to be very crucial given how cold the MagBay boat ride can be.
Well organized transportation (airport pickup, boat rides, intercity car rides etc), comfortable lodging with welcoming touch etc. We really just need to show up, perfect if you don’t want to plan everything yourself. Valentina really puts her heart to it and it shows.
The variety of wildlife and action we saw is AMAZING it makes me RAD. The scenes will stay in my memory forever. There’s no guarantee in nature and local policies changes but what is guaranteed is that Valentina will go above and beyond to give you the best animal experience while respecting the wildlife. She also works with the best captains with sharp eyes to spot the animals.
We also learned a lot about the animal, identification, behavior etc so it’s not just see them but also understand them.
I look forward to checking out all the photos and video footage she took! And if I come back to La Paz, I’d no doubt go with Valentina again.
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Bárbara Pérez
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Super!!! El safari con Valentina fue muy recomendable. Ella fue muy rápida resolviendo todas las dudas por whatsapp cuando estábamos cerrando los detalles de la reserva, muy puntual en la recogida. Durante el tiempo del safari nos contó mucha información sobre los animales que íbamos a ver y el tiempo de navegación fue muy ameno. El equipo que me prestó estaba en muy buen estado y el barco también.
100% recomendable, MUCHAS GRACIAS!!!
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Ion Crespo González
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Contraté este safari por recomendación y ha sido, sin duda, un acierto total. La experiencia fue mucho más allá de lo esperado, principalmente gracias a la profesionalidad y pasión de su equipo.
Valentina (Guía) es un 10. Es una profesional excepcional a la que se le nota cuánto disfruta de su trabajo, y esa pasión es contagiosa. Mantuvo un flujo constante de información, explicando qué buscaríamos, el porqué, y detallando los comportamientos de las especies. Es una experiencia muy enriquecedora.
El magnífico Frenkie, el capitán, es experimentadísimo y sabe perfectamente dónde buscar y encontrar especies, lo que maximiza las oportunidades de avistamiento. ¡Junto a Valentina, hacen una pareja perfecta!
Aunque nunca se garantiza ver animales en concreto, tuvimos una suerte increíble. Ayer pudimos ver una ballena jorobada y su cría y un impresionante grupo de unos 200 delfines comunes que hizo que mereciese muchísimo la pena ir con ellos.
Recomiendo totalmente este safari. Si buscan una experiencia profunda, educativa y con un equipo humano de primera, ¡no duden en elegirlos!
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Giving back
Adventure with purpose.
For us, tourism comes with real responsibility. From how we hire to how we enter the water — everything is designed to give back.
Dive for Change
For every 3 courses sold, we gift a free course to a local coastal community.
Local first
We hire local — captains (former fishermen), boats and businesses — so your trip’s impact stays in the community.
Wildlife on their terms
Respectful and ethical encounters. We enter their home with silence and respect.
Citizen science
You don’t just observe — you contribute. We work with researchers to collect real data for conservation.
10% for the whales
10% of our Gray Whale Watching tour profits go directly to saving whales in the Mexican Pacific.
This is what we mean by responsible tourism. Not a checkbox — a way of doing things.
Free guide — instant download
Hold your breath for 2 minutes in 2 weeks.
No equipment, no experience, no pool required. Just a step-by-step plan designed by a freediving instructor — and the mental tools to actually get there.
The science of breath-holds explained simply
Day-by-day 2-week training program
Mental techniques used by real freedivers
Troubleshooting guide for common challenges
What to do after you hit 2 minutes
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You need to be able to comfortably snorkel in open water. Wildlife expeditions and day tours are open to everyone — no freediving certification required. We’ll give you a full briefing before every water entry.
Baja is active year-round — that’s one of the things that makes it so special. Mobula rays: April to June. Striped marlins and sardine run: October to December. Gray whales: January to March. Humpback whales: December to April. Dolphins and sea lions: all year. We have a full wildlife calendar on our website so you can plan around the species you most want to see.
Very small — and we mean it. Day tours: max 8 guests. Freediving courses: max 4 students per instructor. Multi-day expeditions in Mexico: max 6 guests. Bimini wild dolphins: max 7 guests. Small groups mean more personal attention, more authentic wildlife moments, and a completely different experience from mass tourism.
A few things: every tour and expedition is led by a marine biologist. You will learn so much from your guide — it’s an educational experience too. We prioritize animal welfare over photo ops — always. We work exclusively with local captains and boats. And we keep groups small so every encounter feels personal. We actively engage in citizen science activities and have our own conservation efforts. We’re not a tour company that does this as a side business — the ocean is our whole life, and it shows.
Orcas are present in the waters of La Ventana and the Gulf of California — and when they show up, it’s one of the most extraordinary things you’ll ever witness. Swimming with orcas in Mexico is now legal under specific ethical guidelines. We don’t offer a dedicated orca expedition because sightings can’t be guaranteed, but during certain expeditions and day tours they might appear. We’ve written two honest guides about this — Swimming with orcas in Mexico is now legal and The honest truth about orca encounters in La Ventana.
Freediving is very safe when practiced correctly and with proper supervision — which is exactly what we provide. All our instructors are AIDA certified and trained in rescue and safety. If you’ve never freedived before, our courses start from absolute zero. Most students are amazed at how quickly they relax and how much farther they can go than they expected.
Our courses are based in La Paz, Baja California Sur — but we move around. Depending on the experience, we operate in different locations across Baja: Ocean Safari and Mobula Safari in La Ventana, Gray Whale Watching on the Pacific side in Puerto Chale, and the Marlin Expedition out of Magdalena Bay. The closest airports are La Paz (LAP, just 20 minutes away) or Los Cabos International (SJD, about 2 hours away). We offer airport transfers for all multi-day expeditions. La Paz itself is a relaxed, beautiful city on the Sea of Cortez — famously called “the aquarium of the world” by Jacques Cousteau. Most guests fly into SJD and we take care of everything from there.
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