Photo Albums  |  Video Clips  |  Trip Details  |  Sighting Log  |  About Whales  |  Conservation  |  Site Info & Contacts  |  Home
.
.
Watching Whales
There's nothing quite like watching whales out in their natural habitat doing what whales do. A lot of people have asked me questions over the years about whale watching, what to bring, and where to go. For that reason, I made this page which offers info and advice for picking a good whale watching company and pointers on how to make your whale watch enjoyable and memorable.
.
Choosing a Whale Watch Company
Choosing the right whale watch company can make or break your whale watching experience. Here are some guidelines to help you choose a good company.
  • Respectful of the Whales Safety - Companies that intentionally put whales in danger or continuously harrass whales is not only being disrespectful, but they're also irresponsible! Most whale watches will simply go on looking for a different whale if the one that they found doesn't co-operate or is showing signs of being bothered.
  • Affiliated w/Research - It's best to pick a whale watch who either donates a portion of their profits or is affiliated in some way with a research and conservation organization. This is to ensure that they are promoting conservation.
  • Sightings Guarantee - Most companies will say 'sightings guaranteed', but because whales are wild animals and able to roam wherever they choose, it's nearly impossible to really 'guarantee' sightings. It's important that they also offer rainchecks (which is the most poplular) or your money back when they don't find whales.
  • Quality Time with Whales - You'll definitely want a whale watch company who spends quality time with individual whales instead of just trying to make their numbers increase. In other words, wouldn't it be better to get several really nice looks at an individual whale as opposed to getting a quick glimpse at 10 different whales?
Tips For a Successful Whale Watch
  • Take Some Dramamine: The boat is constantly in motion. Rocking from side to side on the waves. I've seen a lot of people get really sick while on the boat because they suffer from motion sickness. Taking Dramamine ahead of time would most likely have helped them. Wristbands may also be available at some places.
  • Dress in Layers: Because the ocean is about 10-20 degrees cooler than the temperatures inland, you should always dress in layers. I always get a kick out of people who show up wearing sandals, a pair of shorts, and a tank top without a sweater or jacket. More times than not these people end up sitting in the cabin because they're to cold to be out in the air. I always (even when it's supposed to be hot and humid) dress in a pair of sneakers (sometimes the boat is wet and sneakers help if you have to move around to see the whales), a pair of jeans, a t-shirt, and either a rain coat or a sweater. In all of the trips that I've been on, I can only remember not needing the sweater a few times. It's much better to be prepared.
  • Bring a Camera With a Decent Zoom: You never know what you're going to see while you're out on the water. You may be unfortunate and only get a quick glimpse of a whale or you may get extremely lucky and have a whale or two come to within feet of the boat!! Since whales are wild animals and you're seeing them in their natural habitat you may be able to see some unexpected behavior (open mouth feeding, breaching, etc.). These are the things that you should definitely try to catch on film!! I know I couldn't imagine going on a whale watch without my camera. Keep in mind thought that these are wild animals and more times than not, they will stay pretty distant from the boat. A good zoom is normally required in order to get good pictures.
  • Watch the Young Ones: If you're going to bring your young children on a whale watch, please be sure to pay attention to them. I can't say how frustrating it is to be trapped on a boat with screaming kids running around and/or climbing on the railings/benches (which is a safety hazard). It's definitely not fair to the other paying passengers or the crew on the boat to have to watch your kids.
  • Don't Give Up: If you've gone on your first whale watch and was disappointed due to the weather/ocean conditions or lack of sightings, don't give up thinking that all trips are like this!! If I based my whole whale watching experience on my first sighting I never would've went again. My first trip out was a cold and windy day. The ocean was rough and we only had one short sighting. It was a humpback whale named Pinball, but she was swimming very erratically and stayed far ahead of us so we didn't get a very good look. It was disappointing, but I knew that this was just "one of those days" and that I should give it another shot. As you can see by the galleries my patience and persistence has paid off as I've been able to see so many unforgettable things.
.
.
Pictured Above
An adult Fin Whale
at the surface.
7/21/07
More About Whales
Whale Terminology
Whale Naming Process
Humpback Whale ID's
www.whalesightings.com (c) 2002 - Current
Please contact me directly if you wish to use any images or video clips on this website prior to using them.