Aloha,
We had a wild weekend of Whale Watching, starting with our Friday cruises, with our 8:00 Breakfast with the Whales reporting sightings of 10 different whales, multiple tail lobs, 2 pectoral slaps, a breach and some very loud singing. Nate, our naturalist aboard that trip reported that 6 of those whales were in 2 competitive pods of 3 chasing each other down the coast. At 10:00, Whale Watchers report seeing 5 different whales with 3 close encounters and 2 really close encounters (whales swimming under the boat), and our 3:00 Whales and Cocktails Cruise reports seeing 4 different whales multiple times. Saturday and Sunday brought more of the same — with the Whales & Cocktails cruise on Saturday reporting 5 whales, but the highlight of that cruise was watching a full breach about 400 yards from the boat! Sunday’s 8:00 Breakfast with the Whales cruise reports the most sightings — 15 different whales in all, and guests aboard that boat were “mugged” 3 different times (in this case, a “mugging” is a good thing, because we use the term to describe one of those really, really close encounters!). At 10:00, whale watchers saw 6 different whales and were treated to a close encounter and some very loud singing. Sunday’s 3:00 Whales & Cocktails cruise reports seeing 13 different whales multiple times…and to end the weekend with a bang (or a splash), FIVE BREACHES!
Join Ocean Sports on one of our 3 daily Whale Watch Cruises departing from 2 different locations within the Hawaii Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Waters. Call 886-6666 ext 103 or visit hawaiioceansports.com to reserve your adventure today.
Humpback Whale Fact of the Day: The Whales “mugging” us are definitely taking a look at us. Though hearing is the most important sense for the whale, based on the shape of the Humpbacks’ corneas, they can certainly see us…but, they’re probably a bit farsighted when looking through water, and a bit nearsighted when looking through the air. And in case anyone asks you, Humpbacks have beautiful brown eyes (with at least one notable exception…but I’ll tell you about that in a future email)!
Mahalo,
Captain Claire