Whale Watching Adventures

AztecAdventures asked:

Aztec Adventures, the outdoor program at San Diego State University, takes you on a “trip of a lifetime!”

LUCAS

essex2222 asked:

This video was taken from a Cape Ann Whale Watch boat Hurricane II. The whales are doing a close to boat activity, which is a favorite to whale watchers. We will be doing more HD whale watching videos in the future. Please check back in the summer. HD4000Bits www.SeeTheWhales.com

MATHEW

Tyler Bliss asked:


During the winter months, Humpback whales love the warm waters of Maui. Each year, anywhere from 1,500 to 3,000 whales make the 3,000 mile trek from the frigid waters of Alaska to the wonderful waters of Hawaii.

From mid-December through April or May, you can see them frolicking just off the coast, slapping their flukes, spouting, and leaping out of the water. There is no doubt Humpback whales are impressive to see. At around 45 feet long, they can weigh up to 40 tons.

In 1997, some of the waters around the Hawaiian Islands were designated as the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary – the country’s only single-species federal sanctuary.

Where to enjoy whale watching in Maui

If you want to experience Maui whale watching for yourself, you generally need only to gaze out at the ocean from shore to witness the beauty and grace of these amazing marine mammals. You will find that whale watching in Maui takes very little effort during the winter months.

There is no one time of the day that is best for whale watching in Maui, but they do tend to appear most often when the surface of the ocean is glassy and the tradewinds are calm. For those who want to get out on the water, there are many Maui whale watching options available by boat. From large tours to intimate sailing excursions, you can get a front-row seat for whale watching – along with some other friends, such as the fun-loving Hawaiian spinner dolphin. Some visitors are even brave enough to venture out in kayaks and rafts to view these enormous creatures up close.

To experience Maui whale watching from solid footing, there are many points around the island that are particularly well known for their whale watching vistas. Try visiting one of these, and don’t forget your binoculars.

McGregor Point

On the way to Lahaina, just before the tunnel, is a great place to enjoy whale watching in Maui. Find a safe place to pull over around mile marker 9 for a great vantage point.

Outrigger Wailea Resort

As a public service, the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary has installed a public telescope at the resort, along the Wailea coastal walk. Stop here and enjoy Maui whale watching on the south shore.

Olowalu Reef

On the Honoapiilani Highway, between McGregor Point and Olowalu, you can enjoy Maui whale watching. From this area, you can see the whales leaping out of the water as they frolic. Be careful, though – traffic can come to a screeching halt as excited whale watchers abandon their cars in the road and run to the water’s edge. If you stop here, please take a moment to pull your car out of traffic.

Puu Olai

A vantage point on top of the cinder cone overlooking Makena Beach, this tough climb offers the best vantage point for shoreside Maui whale watching. You can see them dodge Molokini Crater and enjoy the waters of the Alalakeiki Channel, between Maui and Khoolawe.

If you are staying in one of the many resorts along Ka’anapali Beach, you may even be able to just relax on your balcony and witness the majesty of these amazing sea creatures.

Wherever you decide to go whale watching in Maui, you will not be disappointed by their grand splendor and majestic grace.



MARCUS

Ifc Submissions asked:


For more than two decades, The Whale Centre located in Tofino, British Columbia has offered whale watching, bear watching, bird watching and hot springs tours in Clayoquot Sound to the eco-minded explorer. Our eco adventure tours combine a learning atmosphere with the excitement of personal encounters with wildlife in their natural habitat. Our friendly and experienced staff is committed to providing you with an exceptional wildlife experience and greater understanding of the local environment.

What sets us apart from other outfitters is our staff. We are mostly locals that have grown up and spent our lives in Clayoquot Sound as well as our knowledge to educate you while ensuring a safe viewing of the marine mammals and wildlife you will encounter and we love. Whale Watching-Tofino-Bear Watching-British Columbia-Clayoquot Sound For more than two decades, The Whale Centre located in Tofino, British Columbia has offered whale watching, bear watching, bird watching and hot springs tours in Clayoquot Sound.

Cruise through the spectacular waters of Clayoquot Sound on our 24’ Boston Whaler in search of whales as they journey northward during their annual migration. Visit their feeding grounds and get a glimpse of them in action.

Killer, Humpback and Gray Whales, Orcas, Sea Lions, Dall’s Porpoise, Sea Otters, and Eagles are some of the wildlife you will be on the lookout for on our 2-1/2 hour nature cruise. Don’t forget your camera and don’t forget to dress warm!

Bear Watching

West Coast Black Bears roam the shorelines at low tides searching for crabs, shellfish, barnacles and fish to feast on. These generally nocturnal carnivores wander a great distance through dense bush and wooded mountains throughout most of B.C. The black bears spend the summer feasting and putting on a great supply of fat so they can find a sheltered place to hibernate for the winter. Our local skippers will take you out in our 24’ Boston Whaler to view these majestic animals in their natural habitat.

Bird Watching

Clayoquot Sound intercepts thousands of birds on their migratory journeys north and south. Its sandy shores, vertical cliffs, offshore islands, sanctuaries and forests offer attractive sites for bird populations. Our tour begins with a visit to an active Bald Eagle’s nest in the harbor. Whether we explore sheltered inlets or Cleland Island’s ecological reserve you will view Auklets, Murrelets, Puffins, Murres, Guillemonts, Oystercatchers, Harlwquins, Herons, Gulls, Ducks and much more wildlife on this nature tour.

Fishing

Clayoquot Sound is one of the premier saltwater flyfishing and bucktailing locations in the world.

Tofino is a world-renowned fishing destination. Divers, surfers and beach-lovers travel from the far reaches of the globe to experience our breathtaking scenery and our warm west coast hospitality, but for many, salmon fishing offers the most exhilarating experience Clayoquot Sound has to offer.

For more information on whale watching visit

http://www.tofinowhalecentre.com/



MORRIS

Ballyhoo asked:


I am looking for a unique experience with researchers or something that is less crowded. Any suggestions?

BRUCE

Larry Reaves asked:


San Diego is not just a large port and military base; it is also a center for a bustling metropolis situated on some of the most beautiful coast anywhere in the country and is a source of major interest to wildlife experts and conservationists because of the unique aquatic habitat it provides.

You will find large breeding colonies of many different types of seal, the waters are populated with many species of shark including the formidable Great White Shark and dozens of species of dolphin and whale are also to be found making their home in the fish rich waters off the coast.

The location provides an excellent spot for year round whale watching and due to the temperate maritime climate, you don’t have to freeze while enjoying the spectacle of some of the largest animals on the planet and enjoy being up front and personal; literally you can get so close as to touch these huge creatures of the sea. The traditional whale watching season runs from January to April and this is the best time to experience these fantastic animals, but you will find numerous operators providing year-round whale watching excursions. The year round operators tend to be specialists offering services to tourists and also to marine biologists and conservationists which contrasts sharply with boat skippers who are simply trying to fill a gap in their annual fishing calendars in order to make some extra money.

The specialist year round operators know the whale grounds far more intimately and understand better the nature of the whales and their habits; this makes for a far more enjoyable and educative whale watching experience for many visitors. Not every trip is successful at finding whales - the ocean is a very large place within which to hide if you don’t want to be disturbed - and again you are more likely to find whales with a specialist than a fishing skipper and most of the specialist operators boast a success rate of over 96%. Most whale watching excursions are successful at finding whales and you are very likely to see ***** whales, humpbacks, grey and blue whales (the latter being the largest animal on the planet). If you are looking to see blue whales then you should make your trip in the summer months up until Fall.

You will also find that the specialist year round operators have better equipped and visitor friendly boats which are designed specifically with whale watching in mind and their staff are much more targeted upon providing you with an enjoyable experience as opposed to “roughing it” on a fishing skip.

You should expect to find year round whale watcher operators along the coast of Southern California and not situated in San Diego, but the extra travel time is well worth the experience you get from them. Typically you can expect to travel anything from 45 minutes to a couple of hours from downtown San Diego to reach their boats. One thing you will take away is the sheer majesty and intelligence of these amazing creatures and an experience you are never going to forget.



VIRGIL

shelby! asked:


I was wondering, when I went to sea world, they called up volunteers to feed the whale, and they are really close to the whale and could fall in, but has anyone?

LANDON

Erick Laseca asked:


Gray whales are 52 feet long and weigh 36 tons, yet are gentle enough to touch… and Baja California’s Pacific coast is the perfect place to experience the thrill!

Every year in November, more than 10 thousand gray whales trade the freezing waters of Alaska’s Bering Sea for the warmth of Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula. Traveling along the Pacific coastline at top speeds of five mph and with pregnant females in the lead, the whales take about four months to make the 10 thousand miles roundtrip.

Once the whales reach the Mexican coast, they mate, bask in soothing lagoons and give birth, making January through early April the peak time to whale watch. During these months, boat excursions are available all along Baja California, giving tourists the chance to observe these magnificent creatures in their natural environment, see the newborn calves and enjoy the blowhole water shows.

Gray whales are so friendly that on many occasions they swim right up to the boats and even allow human contact. In early spring, the calves and their mothers are the last to head back up north, and without the presence of the males, mothers are less protective, often allowing their young to approach tour boats more freely.

Where to watch

Although a small percentage of whales, particularly those that are not giving birth, make it as far south as Cabo San Lucas and the East Cape on the southern tip of the Baja, most whale-watching takes place in three major lagoons all the coastline of the Baja Peninsula.

Laguna Ojo de Liebre: Also known as Scammon’s Lagoon, this body of water is located half-way down the peninsula on the Pacific side in Guerrero Negro, about 440 miles south of the border. It was the principal hunting lagoon used by commercial whale hunters in the 19th century. Today tourists arrive to the lagoon by car, but a national airport is also available for tourists flying in from other destinations in Mexico.

Laguna San Ignacio: Located 100 miles south of Laguna Ojo de Liebre, access to this site is mostly through charter air service from international airports such as San Diego and Tijuana.

Bahia Magdalena (Magdalena Bay): This bay in becoming increasingly popular for whale-watching due to its proximity to the La Paz and Loreto International airports.

How to get there

Tourists can arrive by charter plane and/or ground to the lagoons. Loreto’s International airport is the closest international airport to the lagoons, with limited service provided by Aeromexico and Aero California. Baja California’s capital, La Paz, is located approximately halfway between Loreto and Cabo and its larger airport offers more flight options.

Whale-watching options

Gray whale excursions comprise half-day or day trips, packages based out of whale-watching camps, and cruise programs that allow tourists to sleep onboard ships. There are various tour operators that specialize in whale-watching, including some major ones below.

Baja Expeditions: Based in La Paz and one of the oldest and largest whale-watching outfitters, Baja Expeditions service both the Magdalena Bay and San Ignacio lagoons. It offers charter flights directly from San Diego to San Ignacio and five-day, all-inclusive packages, including accommodations at the camps. It also offers seven-day combined kayaking and whale-watching programs to Magdalena Bay, meeting at the La Paz International Airport. Programs run from February to end of March.

Baja Discovery Tours: Boasting more than 20 years experience, Baja Discovery Tours it offers all-inclusive service from the San Diego International airport, including ground service to Tijuana, charter service to San Ignacio and accommodations at the San Ignacio camp. Five-day programs run from February to end of March.

Lindblad’s Special Expeditions: This provider offers nine-day cruises featuring whale-watching at Magdalena Bay along with other destinations and activities. Groups meet in Los Cabos.

Miramar Adventures: Offers three-day excursions to the Ojo de Liebre lagoon. Tourists arrive by car.

For those not interested in signing up for a whale-watching package, Puerto Lopez Mateos or Puerto San Carlos at Magdalena Bay are quaint sleepy villages where boats can be rented for US$50 a day, skipper included, and are located two hours by car from the Loreto International Airport.

Gray whales aren’t the only species to see while in Baja. Sea Kayak Adventures: also offers kayaking/camping adventures out of Loreto on the Sea of Cortez, located on the eastern side of the Baja Peninsula. Tourists can watch finback and blue whales, along with dolphins, sea lions and exotic fish. Apart from paddling among islands, additional activities include snorkeling and hiking up scenic canyons offering breathtaking panoramas.

More on gray whales

Hunted for their oils, blubber and other valuable products, gray whales were once victims of massive slaughters in the 1800s and early 20th century. The hunting continued until the numbers were reduced to only a few hundred, and the whales were subsequently placed on the endangered species list.

Thanks to an international protection agreement made among several countries in the 1940s, the whales’ numbers have grown at an incredible rate. Today, more than 20,000 gray whales exist and although still protected, they were removed from the endangered species list in 1975. Gray whales are among the oldest species of mammals, inhabiting the Earth for about 30 million years.

About the Mexico Tourism Board

The Mexico Tourism Board (MTB) brings together the resources of federal and state governments, municipalities and private companies to promote Mexico’s tourism attractions and destinations internationally. Created in 1999, the MTB is Mexico’s tourism promotion agency, and its participants include members of both the private and public sectors. The MTB has offices throughout North America, Europe, Asia and Latin America.

FOR PRESS ONLY: For additional ideas, help with a story or general travel and tourism information about Mexico, please contact the MTB’s North American Press Room directly at 1-800-929-4555, by e-mail at northamericanpress@visitmexico.com, or visit our press Web site at www.visitmexicopress.com. To access an online warehouse of free, downloadable b-roll, visit www.thenewsmarket.com/visitmexicopress.

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Erick Laseca

Mexico Tourism Board

312-228-0517

erick.laseca@bm.com



ELLIS

essex2222 asked:

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MARTY