|
Whale watches
can be exciting and thrilling. To have a fun, safe whale watch, here
are some tips and things to expect for you and your family:
1) Remember that you're not going
to Sea World! While whale watch boats often have an idea of where
whales are, we do not have any equipment (other than our eyes and radio
communication with other boats) to find whales. Whales are in our
area during the summer to feed. They feed on moving things such as
fish and plankton, and follow their prey wherever it goes. That
means whales can range over a very wide area from day-to-day. So on
any given trip, we may see one whale, one hundred whales, or no whales at all.
Along these lines, remember that
whales are out there doing what they do best - living their whale
lives! Imagine the tables were turned and the whales were watching
you for a day. What would they see? For many of us, they'd be
watching us sit at a computer all day long! When we
encounter whales in their natural environment, occasionally they are very
active, displaying all the behaviors you see on TV. Most of the
time, they are doing less active things, such as feeding below the surface
and only coming up to the surface to breathe. Remember seeing the
world's largest creatures - especially since the majority are endangered
animals - is amazing in itself.
Also, most whale watches are 4-6
hours. If sightings are good, we spend 1-2 hours with whales. This
means there is a lot of cruising time. During cruising time, there
is always the chance of seeing whales, but be prepared for downtime if you
have young children.
2) It's cooler on the ocean. While
boat companies always appreciate last minute sweatshirt sales, keep in
mind that it's 10-15 degrees cooler on the ocean, and since we're in New
England, it can rain or get cooler suddenly. If you're not dressed
appropriately, it can be a VERY long trip.
Also, wear rubber-soled shoes,
preferably without heels, because decks can get slippery.
3) When Taking Pictures... While close encounters with whales can produce amazing
pictures, we are required by guidelines to stay at least 100 feet away
from most species unless they come to us. If you have a camera with
little or no zoom lens, you may be better off just enjoying watching the
whales and imprinting them on your memory, rather than seeing them through
the viewfinder of a camera. Take few fun shots, then watch the
whales closely so you can actually see what they're doing!
4) Guarantees. While we often
see whales (about 98% of the time), many operators offer "guaranteed
sightings". Read the fine print closely on these offers - some
offer cash back if no whales are sighted, but most just give you a free
pass to come back again.
|
