Okay people, today we had the media and public launch of the 2012 Whale Watching Season – and what a start to the season it was! Sunny skies and a slight breeze. After a rolly trip out to around 11 miles offshore, we struck gold!! Three young males surfaced about 200m off the starboard side and hung around and put on a show for the 120 people lucky enough to be on board. And what a show it was! The boys hung around for about an hour, showing us all what they have been learning, testing out their rolls and pectoral fin slaps, their tail slaps, diving under the boat, and coming up on the other side – and at one stage, almost bumping into the back of the boat! They were so close, you could see the lichen and barnicles on their fins, bellies and tails!
It looks like the pros are correct – we are in for a bumper whale season, with over 60,000 gorgeous hump back whales predicted to travel the current to warmer waters to mate and breed, before heading back to the cold Antarctic waters. If you have never experienced whales up close and personal, do yourself a favour and book a trip in now! You will NOT regret it!
Until next time, happy Whale Watching Season!!
Sally Hansen