Mexico: Swim with Striped Marlin & Sea Lions

23 - 29 November 2025

Just

Spots Left

with

Karim Iliya

Guided Trip

The Story

Travel with award-winning photographer and filmmaker Karim Iliya to Mexico’s Magdalena Bay, where ocean predators gather in a high-speed hunt unlike anything else on Earth.

Each year, striped marlin, sea lions, and seabirds converge here to hunt vast bait balls of sardines in a spectacular feeding frenzy. It’s fast. It’s raw. And it’s one of the most cinematic underwater events on the planet.

You’ll be out on the water each day with Karim and a local captain, scanning the blue for signs of action. When the moment comes, you’ll slip into the water with snorkel gear and witness the chaos firsthand: marlin slicing through shoals, sea lions diving in formation, and bait balls swirling like galaxies. Sometimes, you’ll be at the centre of it.

But this isn’t just about adrenaline. It’s about perspective. Karim will guide you through the action with calm expertise, offering one-on-one support in photography, storytelling, and underwater ethics. Whether you're an experienced shooter or picking up a camera for the first time, you’ll leave with sharper skills, a deeper respect for ocean predators, and a hard drive full of moments you’ll never forget.

Evenings are spent in a peaceful coastal lodge, sharing meals, stories, and photo reviews with a small group of travellers who came for more than just a thrill. They came to see the ocean through the eyes of a storyteller.

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Experience

The Highlights

Glide alongside marlin chasing shimmering sardine bait balls
5 full days on the water with sea lions, seabirds, and other marine life
6 nights safari-style camp accommodation
All-inclusive meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
Photography masterclasses with Karim Iliya
Intimate group — max 5 guests
Snorkelling in one of the ocean’s wildest spectacles

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STORYTELLER

Karim Iliya

Mexico: Swim with Striped Marlin & Sea Lions

Why Travel With Karim?

Karim Iliya is an acclaimed wildlife photographer, filmmaker, and conservationist whose work offers a rare glimpse into the lives of Earth’s most extraordinary creatures. From swimming with whales to capturing volcanic eruptions from the air, his images have appeared in National Geographic, BBC Earth, and other leading publications.

Karim brings more than technical mastery. He brings heart. His approach blends artistic vision with deep respect for the natural world, using storytelling to build empathy and awareness for fragile ecosystems and their inhabitants.

As your guide and mentor, Karim will be with you in the water and behind the lens, sharing his insights on both photography and the wildlife you encounter. Whether you’re a seasoned shooter or just starting out, you’ll learn to capture meaningful images and walk away with a deeper connection to the ocean and its wild residents.

Travelling with Karim means more than just documenting beauty — it means bearing witness to it, and being inspired to protect it.

Day by Day

Itinerary

You'll get picked up

discover the

Experience

“Photography lets me see the Earth in a new way, where I take my time looking at the details that you don’t usually see"

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- Karim Iliya

The Trip

In Pictures

FAQ

Questions?

REVIEWS

What Our Travellers Say

“Thanking the stars I found Airguides and Jono's trip. We were totally taken care of! Paul answered all our questions and took care of the details so all we had to do was get there. Jono Allen is an amazing, talented photographer who created a special group experience. The WHALES were mind blowing. What a gift to be in Tonga staring into the eye of a baby whale! This trip was a lifelong dream come true. I highly recommend it so much we’ve already signed up again for next year!"

Laura

United States

"The Airguides trip to Tonga to swim with humpback whales was the experience of a lifetime. I have traveled all over the world, and nothing compares to being in the wild, rustic, deep blue waters of the South Pacific while interacting with whales and their calves. A wonderful and caring team made our adventures stress free. Absolutely amazing, so much so, that I am doing it again this year! Thanks a million Paul, Jono, Al, Alistair, Christian and Polly!"

Mary

United States

"Thank you for your help in putting together our trip to the Northern Territory. Everyone agreed that it was the best family holiday we'd ever had and - even better - everyone nominated something different as 'the best thing'."

Elizabeth

Australia

"The trip with Airguides was magic. Paul was our kind and patient guide, Mark Fitz was our talented and positive photographer/storyteller. It was a perfect mix of activity and relaxation and I’m already planning my next Airguides trip."

Lisa Thomas

Australia

"I recently visited Lady Musgrave Island with Airguides. They have a unique and meaningful approach to travel and travelling with and learning from a world-class photographer, who was on the trip, was incredible."

Katie

Australia

"I cannot say enough amazing things about Airguides and the amazing honeymoon they planned for us. We began our trip planning by being overwhelmed with travel blogs, not knowing what was actually the best plan for us."

Ashley Ferrel

United States

“Just had an amazing trip to Heron Island organised by the Airguides team. Perfect balance of activity and relaxation, they made it so easy. Can't wait until I can do another trip!“

James Crowley

Australia

“ We recently organised our trip to Heron Island with Bibi and Paul as a last minute getaway. Seamlessly dealt with and an added bonus of having a world-class photographer/ free-diver as our story teller. The trip has only whet our appetite for more positive and relaxing experiences with the Airguides team- Awesome “

Damon Faint

Australia