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.
April 22, 2023

April 22, 2023

Our morning trip had great conditions! We had glassy seas and really nice visibility. We came across a small pod of long beaked common dolphins and there were so many babies, even a couple that still had their fetal folds. We also came across another pod of long beaks...

April 17, 2023

April 17, 2023

The Fin whale action continues! We set out out of the Mission Bay jetties and sighted a handful of Inshore Bottlenose dolphins south of the jetties. About 2-miles out, we encountered a big pod of Long-beaked Common dolphins cruising to the East. We caught up with the...

April 9, 2023

April 9, 2023

Happy S EASTER everyone! While you were searching for eggs, we were searching for wildlife! We had three great trips! During the morning trip, we set out to the SW and made it 15-miles from Mission Bay! We sighted a couple tall, columnar spouts on the horizon. We...