Every year, when mobula season wraps up, I sit down and try to put into words what just happened. And every year, I realize words aren’t quite enough. But I’ll try anyway, because what we witnessed this season in La Ventana deserves to be told.

This year, people joined us from every single continent on Earth: all brought together by the ocean. That alone says something pretty special about this place.

First things first — the species list

One of the things that makes La Ventana so extraordinary is the sheer variety of life. Scientists call it a biodiversity hotspot, and after this season, I understand why more than ever.

Not every animal shows up every day — or even every week. But the fact that all of this lives in one place? That’s La Ventana.

What made this season different

1. Warmer water: a mixed blessing

The water was warmer than usual this year, which brought something beautiful: incredible visibility early in the season. Crystal clear, blue, gorgeous. But here’s the thing about mobulas: they follow the plankton. And plankton blooms in cooler, murkier water. So while the visibility was stunning, the mobulas were harder to find than in a typical season. Fewer numbers, and often deeper. We still had solid encounters.

2. The most Mobula mobular we’ve ever seen

Mobula mobular — the larger, rarer cousin of the pygmy devil ray — showed up in numbers we’ve never seen before. If you’ve ever watched one glide past you underwater, you know: there’s something almost otherworldly about them. Slow and elegant.

My favorite encounter of the entire season happened on a day when we were far offshore, just our small group, all by ourselves. We dropped into the water and found a fever of 12 Mobula mobular in the middle of courtship. The males were chasing the female in slow, graceful circles, spiraling upward, then deeper, then back again. They circled all around us. They didn’t leave. We didn’t leave. We stayed in the water with them for over an hour.

(My action camera had no battery that day. Of course. 😂 Thankfully a guest had their camera rolling so I have proof it happened, I promise.)

“Encounters with this species usually last seconds to minutes. An hour is something I’ll never forget.”

3. The squid arrival — and everything it brought with it

By late June, our captains started noticing something: fishermen were pulling up squid. More than usual. A lot more. Anyone who knows the ocean knows what squid means: the predators follow. Within days, pilot whales arrived. And they stayed.

Weeks into July, we were seeing them every single week! Pods of 50 to 300 individuals, cruising slowly at the surface like they owned the place (they do). Their rounded heads bobbing, calves swimming close to curious snorkelers completely relaxed.

4. Sperm whales: the giants arrived

Squid also attracted sperm whales, the largest toothed whale on Earth. May brought mostly solitary individuals, just one or two at a time. But by June they were coming in groups, and by late June and early July we had two days that I still can’t fully believe happened: pods of more than 50 to 100 sperm whales!

In Mexico we can’t swim with them, so we watched from the surface — these massive, prehistoric-looking animals logging at the surface, breathing, socializing. It’s the kind of thing that makes you feel very small in the best possible way.

5. Cormorants (yes, really)

Okay, I know. Some people hear “cormorants” and think: boring. Wrong. While most enjoy the sea lions near the colony, I get completely absorbed watching the cormorants hunt on the reef. Birds that dive are basically feathered freedivers. I kept trying to follow them underwater and match their breath-hold. Sometimes I managed it. Sometimes they absolutely smoked me. Fast, funny, underrated. Come for the whales, stay for the cormorants.

6. Porcupine fish bay

Every season, without fail, someone visits the porcupine fish bay and completely loses their mind with joy. These round, spiky, wide-eyed little fish have absolutely no business being that cute, and yet here we are. If you come to La Ventana and skip the porcupine fish bay, did you really go to La Ventana?

7. Orcas and the July pattern

Orcas are the animal people ask about most. They’re elusive, unpredictable, and when you find them, nothing else compares. This season we saw them in May and June, but not in the numbers we hoped for. And then July happened.

Orcas. Every single week. Sometimes multiple days in a row. Cruising, hunting, socializing… in some of the bluest water ever. The best orca encounters of the entire season happened in July, in conditions that felt almost unfair in their beauty.

“Here’s what’s interesting: last year was the same. July was exceptional. Is this a pattern?”

Maybe. Orcas are notoriously hard to predict, and two or three good years in July doesn’t mean next year will be the same. But it’s an observation worth paying attention to. We’ll be watching closely.

A note before you book

If you’re thinking about joining us next season, here’s the most important thing I can tell you: Come with an open heart and an open mind. La Ventana is not a zoo. We can’t promise you’ll see every animal on that list. Some days the ocean gives you everything. Some days it gives you something quieter, smaller, and just as beautiful if you’re paying attention.

Thank you — really

None of this happens without the people who show up. Every single guest who joined us this season, whether for one day on the water or a full expedition, brought their own curiosity, their own energy, and their own love for the ocean. And that makes every encounter richer.

Ready to join us?

If you’re coming for a day and want to experience the magic of La Ventana, the Ocean Safari is your starting point. If you want to maximize your time in the water and have more variety of interactions, the Mobula Expedition is for you.

See you underwater. — Valentina, Freefall Academy