Claudio Contreras / Grey whale (Eschrichtius robustus) breaching, San Ignacio Lagoon, El Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve, Baja California, Mexico, March

Claudio Contreras / Grey whale (Eschrichtius robustus) tail, San Ignacio Lagoon, El Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve, Baja California, Mexico, March

Claudio Contreras / Grey whale (Eschrichtius robustus) calf, San Ignacio Lagoon, El Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve, Baja California, Mexico, February

Mark Carwardine / Grey whale (Eschrichtius robustus) at water surface with mouth open showing baleen plates, San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja California, Mexico

Tony Wu / Grey whale (Eschrichtius robustus) calf at ocean surface, with its mother visible, Magdalena Bay, Baja California, Mexico.

Mark Carwardine / Hands of a tourist leaning from boat to touch the mouth of a friendly Grey whale (Eschrichtius robustus) lying on the surface, San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja California, Mexico, April 2009

Mark Carwardine / Grey whale (Eschrichtius robustus) underwater, San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja California, Mexico

Mark Carwardine / Split-level of tourist in small boat leaning out to touch a Grey whale (Eschrichtius robustus) San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja California, Mexico, April 2009

Mark Carwardine / Tourists watching Grey whale (Eschrichtius robustus) spyhopping, San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja California, Mexico, February 2010

Mark Carwardine / Grey whale (Eschrichtius robustus) spyhopping, San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja California, Mexico

Mark Carwardine / Tourists in small boat leaning out to touch a curious Grey whale (Eschrichtius robustus) San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja California, Mexico, March 2007

Mark Carwardine / Tourists in small boat watching curious Grey whale (Eschrichtius robustus) spyhopping, San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja California, Mexico, February 2007