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Humpback Whales
The magnificent humpback whale visits the Eastern coast of Australia every year during the months of late July through till October on their annual pilgrimage to warmer waters.
On this journey large males or “Bulls” play together giving you the opportunity to see natural whale behaviour up close, whether it be a cheeky glance or fin slap, to an enormous breach in which the whale can soar up to 3 meters into the air and come crashing back down into a plume of water and white spray.
Females accompany their young during this journey or for the very lucky you can witness child, or whale, birth first hand and watch the mother teaching her offspring to swim and take it’s first breaths. Truly a once in a lifetime experience!
Watch these gentle giants of the oceans from the serenity of your vessel and learn more about their behaviour from our experienced and knowledgeable crew.
Early in the season you can also see pilot whales in vast groups or “pods”. Commonly mistaken for killer whales and giving them the second name “False Killer Whales” these smaller whales delight onlookers as they roam around the Whitsunday Islands feeding and playing with boats
Also Dwarf Minke Whales visit the area during their annual migration, to great interest from researchers, who know very little about these elusive animals.
Dolphins
The two most common dolphins to be seen all year round in the Whitsundays are the spinner dolphin and the easily recognisable bottle nose dolphin. These intelligent animals are playful, family oriented animals that never fail to delight the young and old alike. At night you can even witness feeding as dolphins have a sweet tooth for squid and it’s quite common to see mother and baby feeding around your boat where the food is lit up by the boats lights. Although it is unlikely to see one jump through a hoop while balancing a beach ball on his nose!
Many people say that swimming with dolphins is a life long dream and here in the Whitsundays is where that dream may become a reality!
Manta Rays
The silent and graceful Manta ray also is a seasonal visitor to the Whitsundays. During the months of July and August these huge rays, sometimes as big as 4 meters across soar around the shallow reefs feeding on microscopic plankton. Their timid nature provides an unforgettable experience for any diver or snorkeler whom they come across.
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