Whale Watching & Marine Wildlife Guide

Responsibilities

• Lead whale watching excursions in Banderas Bay during the December–March humpback season: Banderas Bay is one of the most consistently productive whale watching locations in Mexico — the humpbacks use the deep warm bay as a breeding and calving ground, and encounters are frequent and close throughout the peak season
• Provide marine naturalist commentary: humpback behavior (breaching, tail slapping, pec slapping, spy hopping), population biology, breeding ground selection, and conservation status are the core naturalist content for each excursion
• Lead year-round marine excursions: manta ray encounters at La Corbeteña seamount (June–October), dolphin watching in the bay, sea turtle snorkeling at Punta de Mita, and bird watching at the Marietas Islands biosphere reserve
• Manage responsible approach protocol for all marine wildlife: minimum approach distances, engine-off procedures during voluntary whale approaches, no feeding wildlife, and group management on the vessel observation deck
• Develop and maintain current knowledge of Banderas Bay's seasonal marine wildlife calendar
• Assist with vessel operation as a deckhand during excursions: line handling, anchor management, and tender boat operation for shore excursion landings

Requirements

• Marine wildlife guide experience with specific humpback whale protocol knowledge
• SEMAR deckhand or recreational vessel crew certification
• Marine naturalist knowledge of Banderas Bay and Pacific Mexico seasonal wildlife
• English and Spanish bilingual; ideally a European language for the PVR international whale watching market
• Genuine marine conservation passion

Benefits

• IMSS, aguinaldo, paid vacation + premium
• Fixed monthly + tour tip income + December–March seasonal peak bonus
• Marine excursion access for personal naturalist development outside guide hours
• Connection to Banderas Bay marine conservation programs
• Career development in responsible marine wildlife tourism

Work environment

Marine wildlife guide in Banderas Bay and the Marietas Islands biosphere. Year-round marine excursion operation with seasonal humpback whale watching as the primary December–March product.

About the role

The Puerto Vallarta whale watching guide who is on the water in January — who has watched hundreds of humpback surface encounters over three seasons — who still stops mid-sentence when a male begins singing and the hydrophone picks it up, and who holds the microphone over the side and plays the song over the boat's speaker for 14 guests in complete silence — is providing something that no brochure can prepare someone for. The Sea of Cortez gave it to them. The guide's job is to put it in a context where it can be received.