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Whale Watching 101
Most people come to their whale watching catamaran armed with a good camera, a blank memory card and lots of batteries. If you don’t want your camera to lie on the bottom of the ocean, then you’d better get a neck strap as well. Many people are disappointed to find that their basic point-and-shoot cameras don’t always have enough speed or magnification to get a clear shot, no matter how big those 90-foot blue whales are! Your best bet is to attach a 200-300 millimeter lens to your 35 millimeter camera to get the maximum zoom and stability. You might even find you’d rather just soak it all in, rather than be distracted dealing with getting “the perfect shot.”
Deciding where you would like to go to catch a glimpse of these magnificent animals is an enormous task since they move freely around the world. However, there are a number of whale spotting destinations right in America. Whale watching in California, from San Francisco and Monterey Bay down to San Diego and Baja is very popular because pods of gray, blue and humpback whales migrate from the north down to warmer waters for the winter. Hawaii is another popular American hangout for these species as well. Boston whale watching tours in Stellwagen’s Bank offer guaranteed sightings of humpbacks, grays, blues, pilots or minkes. If you’ve always wanted to see killer whales in person, then your best bet is Seattle, British Columbia or Alaska whale watching tours.
Before you go whale watching, check out several tour operators to find which one will suit you best. Companies may vary in the length of time they’re out at sea. Most tours range from 2 to 4 hours, with some of the time spent traveling out to the whale’s habitat. Since you could pay anywhere from $40 to $100, you’ll want to make sure you’re getting on board a sailing vessel you feel comfortable with. Some ships offer water and soda, while others may serve snacks, cocktails and full-service lunches. Some companies have onboard marine biologists, naturalists and historical narrators. Some companies are affiliated with whale research or non-profit organizations. Be sure you check the company’s cancellation policy and look for the International Whaling Commission logo that lets you know they’re ethically responsible.
To get the most out of your whale watching experience, choose a tour operator that has onboard naturalists or marine biologists. These whale research experts can explain the whale behaviors to you and point out which species are frolicking in the water. Some larger ships have a guide narrating over a PA system, while smaller ships allow for intimate interaction with your captain. The type of experience you’re looking for is really up to you. Look for a whale watching cruise that has experts from local aquariums, research centers or non-profit organizations, as these are usually your best bet.
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