A black and white logo featuring a stylized seagull in flight with its wings extended.

Whale watches

Our whale research is conducted primarily from commercial whale watching vessels, which provide a platform from which we can educate thousands of people each year while collecting unique data on the whales in our area and human impacts on these animals. We provide naturalists and interns aboard whale watches run by Granite State Whale Watch in Rye, NH.

Recent whale sightings →

Spreading awareness

We strive to share our love of marine life with the public in the hope of spreading greater awareness of the Gulf of Maine and inspiring environmental stewardship. Through conducting research and education aboard local whale watching vessels, we are able to reach thousands of people each year and collect data on hundreds of whales.

The whale watching season runs from mid-May through mid- October. Whale watching is a great experience – you never know what you’ll see! Through whale watching aboard one of our recommended vessels, you’ll also be supporting our research and education efforts! Each whale watching company is privately owned and makes their own schedules and reservations.

Please contact companies directly to make your reservation. Reservations are highly recommended, especially during July and August.

Join a whale watch with us and our partners at Granite State Whale Watch →

A humpback whale breaching out of the ocean water with its head and upper body visible above the surface, and water splashing around it. The background features a distant shoreline with trees, buildings, and a partly cloudy sky.
A young man with blond hair wearing sunglasses and a dark jacket is smiling on a boat with the ocean in the background. There is a laptop open on the boat's surface and some bags and equipment nearby.

Naturalists & educational programs

On whale watches, naturalists and interns collect valuable research data, but their main role is education. An experienced naturalist can make the difference between a good and great trip!

We also have many educational displays and visuals for both adults and children, including real whale baleen, children’s books, fact sheets and posters!

A woman with curly hair and wearing a white cap and glasses stands next to a young girl with blonde hair in a pink dress on a boat, both looking at equipment while sailing on the ocean with a bright blue sky and sunlight overhead.
A young woman with blonde hair wearing a hoodie and cap, sitting on a dock at a marina, blowing into a small fish, with boats, rocks, and trees in the background.

How to prepare for a whale watch

  • Bring extra layers. It’s usually 10-15 degrees cooler on the water!

  • Wear sturdy shoes.

  • Take motion sickness medicine before you board the boat if you’re prone to seasickness.  

  • Don’t worry if you forgot your camera. For a nominal donation, you can usually purchase the photos taken by your naturalist. These are taken using professional-quality digital cameras and you get a copy of every photo taken on the trip! Ask your naturalist or a volunteer/intern on board the boat for details.

A large whale surfaces in the ocean with part of its head and blowhole visible above the water.
Three smiling people on a boat near a harbor, with houses and boats in the background, cloudy sky.

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