mermaid.kayleigh

We have zero fun while on expeditions! 😂 After the guests were finished for the day it was time to play with some chill blue sharks that were hanging around. 💙🦈 #blueshark #shark #savesharks #snorkeling #freediving #mexico #ocean #sharks

Spotted! 👀 The tiniest baby octopus hitching a ride on a piece of trash in the open ocean in Hawaii. These larval octopus will use any floating debris as shelter to cruise the surface surviving on plankton until they grow larger and move to the sea floor. This baby was removed from the plastic trash (so it could be thrown away) and placed on natural debris to continue its journey! Grow strong little one! 🐙 @KaimanaOceanSafari #babyoctopus #octopus #ocean #hawaii #marinedebris #plasticpollution

Sometimes I pinch myself! My inner child is very happy to be where I am today! What did you love as a kid and do you do it today? 🧜🏼‍♀️ Mermaid photo by @chiaraphoto #mermaid #ocean #underwaterphotography #hawaii #oahu

I just love women. We are the best. The energy of women uplifting and being in support of one another is hard to describe. That energy is magnetic, giving you a natural high. This particular week on my @kaimana.expeditions in Cabo with @latitude.encounters was filled with women being in deep support of one another & creating life long bonds. It was magical to witness. Part of why I love running these trips is seeing the relationships that come out of them & the community built. This was a core memory created as we let loose and danced and sang our hearts out with a pod of orca nearby! It was incredible to spend the entire day with them just enjoying their presence! Can’t wait to share more from this magical day! 💙🌊🐼 #orca #girlhood #women #mexico #oceansafari #snorkeling #girlpower

Swipe to see me catchin’ teeth 🦈🦷 Whenever the sharks are at the fish head we intensely watch to see falling teeth. Spotting the teeth through the particles takes a trained eye but eventually you can see how they fall differently than the debris around them. It’s always the best souvenir to leave with a piece of the sharks. 🥰 It makes me happy that on my trips we usually catch enough teeth for everyone to leave with one! Thanks to the generosity of the @latitude.encounters crew as well always sharing their catches! Already missing the blue and mako sharks & can’t wait for next year! Who’s coming with me?! @kaimana.expeditions ⚓️ Photos by @tarashay_ 🦈💙 #blueshark #sharkteeth #mexico #ocean #savesharks #sharks

San Ignacio lagoon was such a special and amazing place where gray whales seek out interactions with humans. Being able to connect with whales in this way was absolutely mind blowing & something I’ll always remember! Can’t wait to go back with @Nautilus Liveaboards again one day! This year’s season is finished but I highly recommend checking it out for next year! 💙 #graywhales #whalewatching #ocean #whales #greywhales #mexico

If you have followed me for a while you know I always try to provide some natural protection for our little fish friends with the top of the pineapple we always serve on tours @KaimanaOceanSafari. 🍍🐟 Sadly, this little guy freaked out & took off before we could offer him a home. It always makes me a little sad to see such a small fish in a big open ocean but there is a circle of life that happens out here in the vast blue desert. 💙 Good luck little guy. #fish #smallfishinabigpond #ocean #hawaii #snorkeling #openocean

Sharks often open their mouths to investigate without biting as a form of sensory exploration! They use their mouths like hands to test objects, enhance electroreception, & assess potential risks or prey through curiosity rather than aggression. Makos have such awesome teeth & jaws it was nice to get a better look at them! 🦈 #makoshark #ocean #sharkdiving #sharkdiver #savesharks #mexico

Another week of picking up trash out of the ocean! The journey of trash in the ocean and how far it can travel is always so fascinating. Sadly, it can harm marine life on this journey so removing every little bit helps! I dream of the day when the ocean is clean. 😌 Mahalo everyone for cleaning up @KaimanaOceanSafari 💙 #marinedebris #kona #hawaii #cleanuptheocean #ocean #singleuseplastic

Every time I’m in one of those moments when an animal is just as curious about us as we are of them, I’m reminded why I spend my life in the ocean. These gray whales in San Ignacio were a huge reminder that we are a part of nature and not separate from it. That whales can adore us as we do them. Hearing the excited yells in everyone on the boat in the background is the icing on the cake. 🥹🐋✨ #greywhales #mexico #sanignacio #graywhales #ocean #whalewatching #whalewatch

Truly one of my favorite moments in the ocean! It’s impossible not to be left in awe having these powerful predators pass by you. The male at the end was HUGE. We also witnessed them harassing some gray whales in the area & I can’t wait to show you more of that interaction! Video by @camgrantphoto 💙🐼 #orca #ocean #snorkeling #whalewatch #orcas #mexico

Each species of shark you dive with can behave completely differently. As a general rule with all sharks you should always move calmly, avoid splashing, make eye contact & be ready to redirect a shark away from you. Blue sharks are one of those species that often requires more redirecting as they can come close to investigate. They cruise the deep open ocean which is like a blue desert so they may not come across a hunting opportunity very often. This requires them to bump into things more to really get a good idea if there is a meal in the area. We also use bait in this situation so they can smell there is food around & they just need to find it. Using your fins & cameras are great ways to block or redirect the shark but sometimes you want to use more force to assert your dominance with the extra curious sharks so you may opt to push down with your hand. I miss them already and can’t wait to go again next year! 💙🦈 #blueshark #ocean #mexico #sharkdiving #savesharks #sharkdiver

A few images by Michelle Yeager on our @kaimana.expeditions as we witnessed a pod of 15-20 orcas harass a few different groups of gray whales! 😳 Of course it’s always sad to watch any animal being hunted or attacked but it is the wild, open ocean & that’s nature. Watching orcas work together in calculated teamwork was so impressive. No gray whales were killed in the attacks as they used one another to huddle close and roll their backs toward the orcas as they rammed and bit them. We were able to observe this event via drone as well & can’t wait to share more! Stay tuned! ⚓️ #orca #graywhale #ocean #mexico #whalewatch #orcas