Vanessa James

Vanessa James

Born in New Mexico, a landlocked state, Vanessa's passion for marine life was ignited during family vacations to San Diego. Inspired by the rich marine ecosystem, Vanessa pursued their love for the ocean, volunteering at a local aquarium and later working at a veterinarian's office during high school. Their journey into marine biology took flight when they transferred to San Diego State University, where they earned a bachelor's degree in Marine Biology. Toward the end of her academic career, Vanessa volunteered with the Museum Whalers at the San Diego Natural History Museum and served as a board member for the American Cetacean Society-San Diego chapter. She also interned at the Southwest Fisheries Science Center in La Jolla, interning with a marine mammologist digitizing journal publications to expand the access to older scientific journal publications. In addition to her academic contributions, Vanessa collaborated with a consulting firm conducting aerial surveys for marine mammals along the Southern California Bight and in Seattle, WA. Her dedication led to a role as a Marine Mammal Observer, where she assisted with seismic oil exploration activities in Cook Inlet, Alaska, and continued their work in San Diego monitoring marine mammal populations. For nearly a decade, Vanessa has been apart of San Diego Whale Watch, working in various capacities as a Naturalist, Ticket Booth Representative, and Deckhand. Today, she is training to become a Captain, solidifying her longstanding commitment to marine education, conservation, and stewardship. With a diverse background in fieldwork, research, and public engagement, Vanessa remains dedicated to understanding and protecting marine mammals while fostering a deep appreciation for marine life in others.
May 28, 2023

May 28, 2023

We had a fabulous day out there! Our morning trip had about 130 long beaked common dolphins roughly 2 miles out of Mission Bay. We pushed further west and found 2 Fin whales about 9 miles out. We got some great looks as we stuck with them for several cycles. They got...

May 27, 2023

May 27, 2023

We had a FIN-omenal day on the water today! We started the day watching 3 Fin whales! They were circling around our boat allowing for us to get up close and personal! While watching a mola mola near by, a pod of ~40 Risso's dolpins swam right up to us! We got got...

May 26, 2023

May 26, 2023

We enjoyed two amazing tours today! During the morning tour, we set out to the north and caught up with 3 Fin whales! They were super friendly, mugging us a couple times! We watched one swim upside down underneath our boat. The three fin whales swam toward us and one...