Conservation Program
We’re proud to announce the launch of our Apex Conservation Department.
We’re proud to announce the launch of our Apex Conservation Department Our mission has always been to connect people with the ocean through respectful and life-changing encounters. Now, we’re taking that connection one step further by actively contributing to research, education, and conservation. We want to thank our very first intern, Alice Desrousseaux (Université de Lille), whose dedication and passion, guided by Isabelle Nelson and Alexander Schmidt, helped bring this vision to life.
Her work Included:
- Organizing and cataloging our entire 2024–2025 wildlife archive
- Creating a database now shared with our partners at MMAPE La Paz (UABCS)
- Contributing to citizen science platforms like Happywhale (366 photos submitted, 58 encounters logged, 12 individuals identified)
- Designing educational infographics and a standardized field sighting log used on every expedition
- Producing a complete species ID guide from our past encounters
Thanks to her efforts, we’ve confirmed at least 27 marine species recorded, from whales and orcas to whale sharks, turtles, and rays.
This is just the beginning of a long-term vision: bridging ecotourism and ocean conservation. At Apex Ocean Divers, we believe that when people connect with the ocean, they’ll be inspired to protect it. I’d also like to emphasize that this isn’t a one-time project. It’s the start of an ongoing effort to bridge ecotourism, conservation. For us, it’s now part of our daily work that will continue across all seasons.
Frequently asked questions
What inspired the creation of the Conservation Department, and how does it expand your mission?
We’ve always shared our observations with researchers, but bringing in marine biologist Isabelle Nelson this year gave us the structure to take it further since she took the lead of this department and could finally bring to reality the dream of documenting and sharing all this information with other local organizations. Since 2022, we’ve been collecting data on every trip in Baja, and this department allows us to formalize that work. It strengthens our research impact, deepens our guests’ experience, and builds on our mission of inspiring people to connect with and protect the ocean.
How do your intern Alice’s contributions make a real impact?
Because we spend so much time on the water, we capture rare encounters and behaviors that science often misses. Our photos help identify individual animals across regions and years, revealing migration patterns, calving histories, and more. By contributing to citizen science, every expedition becomes a chance to generate data that supports global research and conservation, besides that she helped to create all the materials to make every single trip a learning experience and not just an activity.
Why is documenting biodiversity so important?
Biodiversity records tell the story of ecosystem health. Every sighting helps track seasonal arrivals, population changes, or shifts in distribution. This data not only supports conservation but also helps us design thoughtful expeditions, ensuring encounters are both meaningful and ethical, Baja plays a vital role in migrations of cetaceans primarily but also sharks and documenting,
A big part of your vision is bridging ecotourism with conservation. How do you see these worlds supporting each other, and how does it change the experience for your guests?
To us, ecotourism go hand in hand, working together they both become stronger. Ecotourism gives us the possibility to spend so many hours out on the water, something that sometimes scientists cant do due to budget, or long hours in the lab, so we help recording valuable information that can support research and conservation. At the same time, science adds meaning to what we do by helping us understand better the wildlife we encounter and the ecosystems we explore while educating our guests. Our expeditions also support local communities, as we always source our experiences locally, working with local captains, suppliers, and partners. This strengthens the bond between guests and the region they are exploring. It’s about learning and understanding their behaviors, their migrations, and the challenges they face. It is part of our work as ecotourism providers to help them make those connections and provide them with the information in a way that is meaningful for every single one of them. When people gain that deeper knowledge, they leave not only with incredible memories, but also with a stronger connection to the ocean and a desire to protect it.
This is just the beginning. Looking ahead, what’s your long-term vision for the department, and how can people get involved or support the work you’re doing?
Our vision is to continue expanding the department’s role in conservation. We’re working toward joining the emergency response network for rescuing and disentangling cetaceans, so that when animals are in need and response teams are far away, we can provide immediate support. We’re also building a bond with the University of La Paz to ensure our data contributes to long-term research and publications, especially tracking cetaceans across seasons and regions. On top of that, we want to grow educational projects that involve kids and local communities, creating opportunities for them to connect with and protect the ocean. Most importantly, our guests are at the heart of this mission. Every tour they join makes these efforts possible, and we want them to feel part of the process, whether by collecting data, sharing ID photos, or simply carrying this knowledge forward. Together, we can create experiences that not only inspire awe, but also leave a lasting impact for ocean conservation.