Picture Adventure Team leaders Patrick Dykstra and Joshua Barton were among the very first photographers to locate and interact with blue whales off the coast of Sri Lanka following the nation’s civil war and they have developed an expertise that is unmatched when it comes to getting close encounters with the whales of Sri Lanka.

Unrivalled Excellence

While blue whale sighting have diminished in the last few years – likely due to climate conditions – they are still seen- and the sperm whales, Omura’s, Bryde’s, Eden’s, pilot, orca, and many different species of dolphins are regularly seen.  Picture Adventure has developed a capability, information network and local team that delivers the best possible results to see and swim with the cetaceans of Sri Lanka.

Personal Attention

We have a maximum of four guests on this expedition.  Hosting only four guests allows for the maximum number of whale encounters for each guest. Some days we are joined by a local Sri Lankan researcher who provides valuable and fascinating information on the whales of his country.

Living the Good Life

We stay at an excellent hotel on the coast. Days are spent swimming in the warm azure waters of the Indian Ocean and afternoons and evenings are spent relaxing on the beach, eating fresh seafood, and seeing unique sites along Sri Lanka’s coast.

Detour

To witness the world’s largest marine animal and the world’s largest land animal on the same expedition, book a prior or post expedition detour and spend some time visiting some of Sri Lanka’s amazing national parks: comfortably kayaking a remote section of Sri Lanka’s Mahawali River where you spot wild elephants from your kayak; or take a safari to see elephants and leopards at Willpatu National Park;  or perhaps a cultural tour of Sri Lanka’s ancient Buddhist sites – let us know and we will arrange an exciting add-on.

Amazing Diversity

Although blue whales are the focus of the expedition, the group may well see huge pods of 16-meter+ sperm whales (the largest of the toothed whales), spinner dolphins, white risso dolphins, short-finned pilot whales, Omura’s whale, Eden’s whale, Bryde’s whale, sea turtles, manta, mobila, sailfish, and marlin. All of these have been spotted during past expeditions.

Incredible Encounters

There are no guarantees with wild animals, and these are some of the most challenging in the world to approach, but Picture Adventure has an unprecedented success rate given our commitment to research, training and proper equipment.

The Blue Whale

The blue whale is the largest animal to ever inhabit the planet. It is more massive than even the largest dinosaur discovered so far. A blue whale’s heart is the size of a car and its tongue weighs as much as an elephant. The subspecies present in Sri Lanka grows up to 24 meters (79 feet) in length.

Picture Adventure Expeditions

Picture Adventure hosts a very small number of guests on bold “expeditions of a lifetime”. Each Picture Adventure expedition is highly customized and often requires working in close partnership with top researchers to ensure that we are on the vanguard of what the natural world has to offer.

We have scouted, designed and personally lead each journey, and strive to ensure that guests capture excellent photos and video, as well as advance their imaging skills