Socorro's Cycle of Existence Unveiled
In the crystal-clear waters of the Socorro Islands, Rodney Bursiel, a music, surf, and underwater photographer based in Austin, had an unforgettable experience that he will cherish forever. He embarked on a journey to witness the gentle giants of the Pacific Ocean, and the trip did not disappoint.
Bursiel chose the Socorro Islands for its promise of encounters with giant mantas, dolphins, hammerheads, and humpback whales. His expectations were met on the very first dive at Cabo Pearce, where he encountered mantas, hammerheads, dolphins, and heard a whale singing loudly.
The highlight of his trip, however, was the bond he formed with the humpback whales. On one occasion, he followed a mother and her calf for an hour, witnessing the circle of life firsthand. The mother's eyes appeared sad and angry, while the calf learned buoyancy by surfacing every three minutes to take a breath. The interaction was healing for Bursiel and his group during a session of "bubble therapy."
However, tragedy struck on the next morning. Orcas, known predators of humpback whale calves, injured the calf and took him away. The mother humpback whale seemed frantic, circling the island at a frantic pace. Despite this heart-wrenching event, Bursiel's spirit remained undeterred. He has already booked a return trip to Socorro to potentially encounter the mother humpback whale again.
In a touching finale, Bursiel's departure seemed to have an effect on the mother whale. He noticed that she seemed to be mating with her escort after his departure.
Bursiel's photographs, shot with a Nikon D800, Nikkor 10.5mm fisheye lens, Ikelite D800 housing, and Ikelite strobes, capture the raw emotion and beauty of his encounters with these magnificent creatures.
This article is published by Bluewater Travel, and for those interested in similar once-in-a-lifetime experiences, we recommend checking out our articles on once-in-a-lifetime humpback whale experiences, shark diving in Cuba, sea turtle photography, and an ultimate guide to Socorro (BluewaterU.com).
[1] [Reference 1] [2] [Reference 2]
Note: The survival rate of humpback whale calves in the presence of orcas in the Socorro Islands could not be determined from the provided search results. For accurate and detailed survival statistics, consulting specialized marine biology research papers or monitoring databases from organizations studying the Socorro Islands whale populations would be necessary.
- Rodney Bursiel, an underwater photographer specializing in music, surf, and photography, had an unforgettable trip in the Socorro Islands, known for its diverse marine life.
- His encounters with giant mantas, dolphins, hammerheads, and humpback whales were a result of choosing the Socorro Islands for their promise of such experiences.
- Bursiel's highlight of the trip was the bond he formed with the humpback whales, witnessing a mother and her calf for an hour, capturing the circle of life firsthand.
- Tragedy struck when Orcas, known predators of humpback whale calves, injured the calf and took him away, leaving the mother humpback whale frantic.
- Despite this heart-wrenching event, Bursiel's spirit remained undeterred, already booking a return trip to Socorro to potentially encounter the mother humpback whale again.
- Bursiel's photographs, taken with a Nikon D800, Nikkor 10.5mm fisheye lens, Ikelite D800 housing, and Ikelite strobes, offer a glimpse into the raw emotion and beauty of his underwater adventures.
- For those interested in adventure-travel, similar once-in-a-lifetime experiences can be found in Bluewater Travel's articles on humpback whale encounters, shark diving in Cuba, sea turtle photography, and an ultimate guide to Socorro (BluewaterU.com).
