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 Ocean Friendly Tours
Involved in whale and dolphin field research programs in Bahia de Banderas since 1994, Oceanologist and Nature Photographer Oscar Frey founded Ocean Friendly Tours & Images as a new concept in responsible tour operation in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico with a unique visual and acoustic approach to the marine world of Bahia de Banderas and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
At Ocean Friendly Tours we provide a specialized and personalized service that blends professional knowledge of the marine environment and safety with love and care for nature.
You will be guided by a specialized bilingual crew that is highly qualified in responsible whale watching techniques, diving, marine biology, oceanography and safe nautical operations. Ocean Friendly Tours have become a respectful and sophisticated way to approach the marine life and landscapes of Bahia de Banderas (Banderas Bay) off Puerto Vallarta.
 Oscar Frey, Oceanlogist
Born in Mexico City his parents encouraged him in developing his interests and abilities, therefore he has experienced interaction with the marine environment since childhood. Oscar started whale watching at the age of 8 and discovered photography with a reflex camera at age 10.
He moved to Bahia de Banderas in 1985 and attended high school at the Marine Technological Studies Center and further in 1989 went to Baja California to attend college in the Faculty of Marine Sciences at the University of Baja California.
Oscar participated in the Paleontological Research Program of the University of Baja California sponsored by the National Geographic Society in 1992 and 1993 and completed specialization courses in adventure travel and ecotourism. He was certified by SECTUR (Tourism Bureau) in La Paz, Baja California Sur in 1994.
Later Oscar moved to Puerto Vallarta and in 1995 created a privately founded Humpback Whale Research Program and whale watching tour operations in Bahia de Banderas. This program created a Whale Identification Catalog containing over 991 unique whales, a photographic record of the behavior of Humpback whales and other marine mammals of this region. In addition, analogue and digital recordings of the songs of Humpback whales have been obtained providing acoustic data that has proved helpful in determining the abundance of mating activity and the acoustic disturbance of boats as it relates to whale behavior and their distribution inside the bay.
Oscar’s most recent research involves the use of Kite Aerial Photography (KAP) to document whales of coastal habitats in their breeding grounds in Mexico.
“My passion for photography and science helps me to share with others the magical experience of interacting with nature and its amazing creatures.
Whale watching is not only an interactive way to approach the world of whales and dolphins, it also brings out a greater understanding about the perfection of nature.” ~ Oscar Frey, Oceanologist
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